In January of 2023, I took a semi-submarine voyage, played off the shores of Low Isles in the coral lagoon, stood on a platform 4.5 meters underwater where I came face to face with a large red bass, and snorkeled in the middle of the Coral Sea!
This occurred in Far North Queensland, Australia, on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef to see the array of spectacular coral. The reef is one of the world's Seven Natural Wonders.
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| I captured this photo while on a semi-submarine voyage. |
Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef were both checked off my bucket list in less than two months!
My daughter and her hubby gifted me the trip to Uluru for my birthday, and my visit to the coral reef was a Christmas gift from my co-grandmother, Judy, who accompanied me on the trip.
You gotta love family!
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| Me (Sistah) and Judy (co-grandmothers) |
Judy and I took a 3-hour flight from Sydney to Port Douglas, a small tourist town 1,140 miles south of the Equator, to experience the Great Barrier Reef. We stayed at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas.
The Great Barrier Reef consists of more than 3,000 reefs making it the world's largest colony of coral reefs. It dates back million of years!
It stretches 1,429 miles off the coast of Queensland, starting from the Pacific's shallow waters to the depths of the Coral Sea, where the two bodies of water merge.
It is home to a diverse population of marine life that is beautiful, exotic, unidentified, and deadly!
We've all heard that every animal in Australia is out to kill you, but don't believe everything you hear!
Our adventure started with a cruise on the Wavedancer sailing vessel to our destination - the inner reef, off the coast of a sandy coral cay called Low Isles. The ship has several viewing decks and a dining area serving morning tea and a hot lunch. Its capacity is 156 passengers.
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| The co-grandmothers board the Wavedancer sailboat, which accommodates 156 passengers. The vessel serves morning tea and lunch and has a dining area and several viewing decks. |
While on board, a marine biologist showed us a presentation where we learned that the reef and Low Isles are a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and have been declared a World Heritage Area and thereby protected, making it illegal to take any substance from the reef or island.
Removing sand from any beach or desert location worldwide is illegal, including in the US.
I was excited about the trip but had no expectations, leaving me open to everything!
As we approached the small island, I was captivated by its remoteness. The crystal clear turquoise waters, beautiful white sands, and the flocks of beautiful birds circling over made it look like a fantasy island.
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| Approaching Low Isles |
However, from above, the approach is even more stunning. I'm not the worst swimmer in the world, but I come close! And because I fear heights, I had no intention of flying over; I would have to get into the water to see the coral.
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Arial view shows an extensive amount of coral reef surrounding the island. Photo from Wavedancer brochure |
January, when I was there, was prime jellyfish season, so I had to wear a stinger suit made of lycra for protection against sea creatures that sting, puncture, and bite!
When worn, jellyfish slip off the fabric, protecting you from its tentacles and the sweltering tropical sun.
I put on a stinger suit, life jacket, mask, and snorkel, but I used the moment as a photo op instead of rushing into the water.
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| Me (Sistah) getting ready to get ready. |
When I did get into the water, it was warm and clear - no jellyfish in sight. Being on a tropical island in warm waters under the hot sun felt incredible.
I practiced my snorkeling technique along the shoreline, which was too shallow to see any coral.
I tripped over my fins and fell backward as I attempted to go further out.
My mask rapidly filled with ocean water, and for a moment, I thought I would drown in the shallows!
Eager to breathe air, I pulled off my mask and decided I had enough snorkeling for one day.
I looked up at the crew members standing on the shoreline and said, "I'll just be right here splashing around."
The water was lovely!
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| Crystal clear water |
Folks came out of the water saying they saw turtles, sharks, and beautiful colored corals, but I didn't feel I had missed out - I was enjoying the moment.
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| This is what I missed building sandcastles while everyone else snorkeled! Photo from Low Isles from Wavedancer brochure |
Besides, I got breathtaking photographs from the shoreline.
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| Low Isles shoreline |
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| Low Isles shoreline - beautify crystal turquoise waters. |
We took a brief tour of the island, which was small enough to walk around in 10 minutes while listening to the marine biologist explain flora and fauna.
While she spoke, I was mesmerized by the birds flying overhead.
The island's beauty was unmatched, and I thought, move over, Gilligan! I could be stranded on this island forever if it weren't for all that water!
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| Low Isles reminds me of a painting. |
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| Beautiful from any view |
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| Low Isles small island footpath |
After the island tour, we rode on a glass-bottomed boat to where we could view the coral and other marine life below our feet.
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| Glass Botton boat attached on the right to the Wavedancer vessel. |
Molecules in ocean water filter out colors, and red is the first color to be absorbed underwater, which explains why everything in the video below appears green.
The deeper you go, all colors are absorbed, and the ocean becomes black.
After our great day on the island, we returned to Port Douglas to decompress.
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| Manhattan |
For our next adventure, we took the Quicksilver 4.5 Wavepiercing Catamaran to the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs, adjacent to the continental shelf in the Coral Sea.
The pristine waters in this location get lots of sunlight - perfect conditions for coral growth and marine life.
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| Quicksilver Catamaran compliments of InDepth Video & Photography |
We boarded the vessel at 10 am. for a 90-minute cruise. Signs were posted around the marina to let us know it would be another great day in the tropics.
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| Metric Conversion Site |
Most of our time in Queensland was spent on boats going to and from reefs and watching the light bounce off water particles in the ocean, changing its color from blues to greens, silvers, and back to blues!
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| Blue ocean waters |
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| Green ocean waters |
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| Aqua ocean waters |
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| Silver ocean waters |
While onboard, we learned that the Great Barrier Reef is half the size of Texas and about the size of England.
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| A picture from a vessel slideshow |
And if you thought I was nervous about the inner reef, this vessel was taking us to the outer reef.
Our vessel docked next to a pontoon in the ocean, and someone said, "We're here!"
I looked, but all I could see was the ocean!
Leaving the vessel and stepping onto the pontoon was simple. The platform felt very stable and was spacious enough to spend the day experiencing various activities they had planned, which included morning tea and lunch.
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| Quicksilver vessel attached to the pontoon in the Agincourt ribbon reefs. Photo compliments of InDepth Video & Photography |
I picked up a brochure outlining several ways to explore the reef besides snorkeling. Ocean Walker - Helmet Diving was one of them.
Of course, I was terrified by it all but curious enough to go for the helmet diving experience, which involved standing on an underwater platform wearing an oxygen helmet.
I could do that!
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| Helmet Diving Gear |
The brave me showed up, and before I could change my mind, I had a rubber suit over my stinger uniform and a pair of comfortable water shoes for traction.
Guided to the platform, I walked down a flight of stairs until submerged. The air pressure built up in my ears, which I relieved by yawning.
Fourteen feet underwater, what I saw was dazzling, if not mind-blowing!
Countless beautiful fish, most of them flamboyant, in striking colors and various shapes, swimming so close to me I could see their canines, molars, and incisors. It was like looking from the inside of a fish tank.
The spectacular underwater world that I now felt a part of exhilarated me!
Being a sistah, the best part was that I breathed naturally out of my nose and mouth and didn't have to get my hair wet!
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Ocean walker helmet diving While wearing protective gear, the fish looked harmless! |
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| I would definitely do this again! |
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| Judy's turn to play with the fish! |
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| Judy Helmet Diving: Check out the fish swimming nearby. |
This experience was the highlight of my trip, and because of it, I'll never look at the ocean the same way again. It is truly another world!
I was determined to see more - I was going to snorkel!
However, before jumping into the sea, Judy and I took a fantastic semi-submarine voyage!
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| Coral branching Search coral classifications |
I felt privileged to be back in the water, looking at turtles and schools of fish swimming past me aloofly in their tropical ocean habitat - and so many of them just below the surface!
Who knew?
While the pictures below were not the best - the experience was!
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| Lots of marine biodiversities |
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| Coral branching and boulders Search coral classifications |
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| Coral Branching |
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| Border Coral & schools of fish Search coral classifications |
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| Branching |
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| Coral boulders |
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| Coral Plate & Branching Search coral classifications |
I caught myself turning into an underwater 'junkie.'
Finally, it was time to snorkel!
I was told there were deep water mooring ropes for scaredy cats like me to hold on to, so with that, I slid into the warm water, mask and snorkel securely fitted.
It was a "Mom, look at me!" moment.
Although I wore a life jacket, I grabbed a noodle for extra buoyancy.
While holding onto the ropes, they guided me further out until the coral disappeared, and the ocean floor DROPPED. Not expected!
I looked down into the abyss - miles and miles of dark water.
That's when I remembered that I was afraid of heights!
I let go of the noodle to get a tighter hold on the ropes; then, I hauled myself back to the platform on pure adrenaline!
A little bit shook, but I did it! Yah!
Meanwhile, Judy was having a ball snorkeling independently from the rope! She was impressive!
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Thank goodness for those ropes! Quicksilver Brochure picture |
Afterward, we watched the crew feed fish. An abundance of large red bass swam amongst us, and since I only had to get my feet wet, I stepped into the water with them.
They didn't mind; we're now practically family!
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| Fish feeding time! |
Rain was predicted for the boat ride back to Port Douglas, which often happens in the tropics. But that was okay with me. It was now time to savor the experience.
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| Me (Sista) on the deck of the Quicksilver stationary pontoon in the Coral Sea. |
When we returned to the hotel, we took a swim in one of their thirteen lagoon pools and, afterward, a stroll to the beach adjacent to the hotel grounds.
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| Lagoon pool |
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| Pool access from 1st-floor rooms |
After reading the sign, we decided we had seen enough ocean for this trip.
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On departure day, our friendly driver Wayne, whom we liked, picked us up to take us to Cairns airport one hour south.
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| Wayne, Me (Sistah), Judy |
Talk about an adventure! It was the best trip ever!
Coral reefs . . .
Helmet diving . . .
The abyss . . .
Crocodiles on the beach . . .
I am NOT in Kansas!