Great Barrier Reef

We booked a day tour of snorkeling and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef near Franklin Island. The tour included a full day on an uninhabited island, food, snorkeling gear, and a discovery dive in the reef. Almost immediately upon arrival we started our scuba tour. It was a discovery dive which is designated for those who are not scuba certified (that’s us!). The difference between our discovery dive in Thailand and that experienced here was interesting. They held your hand far more in Australia. The view was absolutely amazing. The reef, while considered ‘dead’ to the locals, was full of life compared to what we viewed in Thailand. There were huge walls of colorful coral full of fish and other sea life. We saw two leatherback (?) turtles, stingrays, and a little shark. If only my pictures turned out better! The reef went right up to the island so it was convenient snorkeling for the rest of the afternoon. The reef was so close that as the tide went down the reef actually stuck out of the water! We really had a grand time playing in the sea and exploring the island.