Australia > The Great Barrier Reef

The alarm goes off at six o’clock. I have breakfast in the hotel room with coffee, yogurt, and a cheese sandwich. Around seven, we walk back to the harbor. Today I’m going snorkeling again, but this time at the Outer Barrier Reef. I board a catamaran sailboat from Passions of Paradise. Here too, I receive a mask, fins, and a wetsuit. A table has been reserved for our group. This trip feels much less crowded, which is good since we will spend the whole day on this boat. Still, I estimate that including the crew, there are about a hundred people on board. It’s a two-hour sail to the coral of the Great Barrier Reef. During the trip, a medical declaration must be filled out. People with conditions like asthma get a red sticker on their snorkel so they can be watched more closely while swimming. Guides swim along for inexperienced snorkelers, who can hold onto a lifebuoy.

Australia - Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef with the catamaran

The organization appears professional and seems to take no risks. Regular headcounts are done to ensure everyone is on board, and after snorkeling, everyone is checked by name to make sure they are out of the water. Attending the snorkeling briefing is mandatory. After about two hours of sailing, the captain secures the boat to a buoy. Snorkeling is allowed in an area about a hundred meters behind the boat. There is constant supervision of the swimmers from the boat. Special signals have been explained to indicate when you need assistance. Immediately in the water, I see the beautiful coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. I let myself drift with the waves to fully enjoy the coral. Nature can be so magnificent. Various fish nibble on pieces of coral. Small fish swim nearby to pick up leftovers.

Australia - The beautiful coral reefs of the Barrier Reef

I see fish in all kinds of colors. How special! Because everyone snorkeling looks downward, I sometimes have to dodge a fin from another snorkeler. I stay in the water for about three quarters of an hour, then return to the boat. On the lower deck, a buffet lunch is ready with salads, chicken, and curry. After snorkeling, I’m quite hungry. Meanwhile, the captain sails to another snorkeling spot. At first, the coral color here is a bit disappointing. It looks somewhat brownish. Has the coral here died? The large number of fish makes up for it. Hundreds of big and small fish swim together. None of the fish seem bothered by me or the other snorkelers. It’s a beautiful sight to see all the creatures swimming through the coral, sometimes in whole schools.

Australia - Viewing coral and fish at the Great Barrier Reef

Once all snorkelers and divers are back on the boat and everyone is carefully counted, the catamaran heads back to Cairns. On the return trip, there is a presentation explaining the coral and fish. Rising seawater temperatures pose a threat to the coral, we are told. When coral gets too warm, it loses its color and dies. There were some warm periods in 2016 and 2017. However, in recent years, the quality and size of the coral have been increasing again. The color of the coral is also affected by lighting. When coral is illuminated, it appears more colorful. By five o’clock, we’re back at the harbor. We’ve definitely earned a beer on the terrace. In the evening, we choose a restaurant near the hotel — convenient that way. Back in the room, the power goes out around ten o’clock. Everything is dark. From the balcony, we see that the entire neighborhood has lost power. I decide to go to bed.