Day 36: The Great Barrier Reef

Our morning started with the best run I've had in quite some time. We ran down to the shore and followed the boardwalk for a mile or so each way, and found really cool workout stations along the way. They had pull up bars, a decline bench, dip station, and several others. With arms and core burning and sweat pouring, we ran back. After a shower, we ate breakfast and ventured into a market in the heart of town, where locals were selling artwork, pottery, jewelry, photography, and everything in between. I am a sucker for local things and supporting small business, soo I spent more than I should have. Oh well, I know I won't regret it (once the credit card is paid off, that is)... We finally left after being suckered into several deals, and prepared for the journey sure to check a thing or two off the bucket list.

We embarked at noon for Nautilus Aviation, where we caught a chopper ride out to Hastings Reef. Our 25 minute ride out could've been all day, as we absolutely loved every second of it. The views of The Great Barrier Reef from 500-1000 feet were breathtaking, and the fact that we were about to be down in the turquoise water was surreal. Every direction was another scene from a post card, and I just caught a glimpse of why this was truly the GREAT Barrier Reef. We finally landed on a floating barge, and boated to our catamaran home for the next 6 hours. We got our sting suits, lathered on the sun screen, finned up, and plunged into the warm clear water. This was my second time snorkeling (the first time being in the Florida Keys) and I knew this was going to be the best one yet. I opted out of taking a noodle or life jacket, and free dove down to 20-25 feet where the reef was teeming with life. I'll let my GoPro footage speak for itself, but I was blown away by the beauty and scale as I swam with fish and under coral. Every fish was another vibrant variation of green, blue, red, orange, yellow, purple, and so bright I could've never dreamt them up. I envisioned looking at a new, crisp set of Prismacolor colored pencils. We enjoyed every second of our two hour dive, and the only thing I can say in hind-sight is that I wish I would have paid A$60 to scuba dive for the first time. Planning another trip it is... We returned, ate a filling lunch, and boated back to town. We enjoyed the rest of our day, then went to Gilligan's, a hostel with an amazing club/bar attached to it. Gilligan's was honestly the coolest, craziest place I've ever danced and bought drinks. We danced the night away, drank probably a pitcher (or two) too many, and soaked in the Australian experience.