I Found Nemo

I really did... he was in Cairns. I did a dive and snorkel tour of the Great Barrier Reef yesterday (I have the sunburn to prove it, if you don't believe me) and felt like I swam into the Disney movie with all the colors and fish swimming around.

We started off on a 45 minute boat ride out to a reef site... then had the chance to snorkel and swim out to see different sections of the coral. It was beautiful... so many fish swim right next to you, and if you just float and watch them, you get to see them in a totally natural state. I am considering myself very lucky to experience one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

We had lunch on the boat, and moved onto another section of the reef. The second one was better than the first. I saw a sea turtle, and a ton more fish. The coral comes up pretty high in the water, so you are swimming only a few feet, sometimes inches above the coral. I don't have any pictures of the coral... the only cameras being sold on the boat were film cameras, and I knew they wouldn't take very good pictures. I stole a few from the internet that looked similar to what I saw.

I tried my first scuba dive, and lets just say I'm no expert. I really had trouble getting used to the breathing, so I didn't last too long. But, since the coral was so close to the surface, I really didn't miss out on seeing much. (At least that's what I am telling myself.)

And, to top off an amazing day, we all got free champagne on the boat ride back... not a bad way to finish up the experience of a lifetime.

I'm going to start working down the coast to Brisbane, then fly to Sydney over the next few weeks. Tomorrow I'm headed south to a smaller place called Magnetic Island. Should be fun!