The grey day starts with a wobble as the helicopter shakes into the air to give me a view of the vast coral reef and its cays and islands. Despite the drizzle and greyness, the amazing sight of this vivid undersea kingdom cannot be dulled. The view from above allows me to truly appreciate the size of this wonderful and rich ecosystem. The wobbling starts again as we come into land on a tiny pontoon - impressive piloting to say the least.
We bounce across from the small pontoon to the main vessel in a flat-bottomed boat to begin getting up-close and personal with this aquatic marvel. After the safety briefing, I submerse myself in the menagerie of marine life and dazzling corals. Moore Reef has an abundance of colourful coral and fascinating fish. At first, my senses are overwhelmed, but soon I can fully appreciate much of the rich and colourful coral that lies just underneath the surface.
Back on the main vessel, we blast north-east to the outer reefs. The gorgeous shallow coral gardens and bommies of Milln Reef have countless species of fish hiding in the Staghorn coral and offers a different experience to that at Moore Reef.
I try to keep my lunch down as the boat bangs and slaps its way back to Cairns. Towards the end of the journey - in the shelter of the bay, the cultural guides acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land and Sea on which their business operates. They share the traditional stories and pay their respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging. It is my first experience of the history, culture, conflict and reconciliation in Australia. I have a lot to learn...
Back on land, I take my knowledge of the reef to new depths with an evening lecture at Reef Teach. Marine experts explain how to identify species of fish and coral, how to approach the reef respectfully, and the truth about Finding Nemo ;-)
I try to keep my lunch down as the boat bangs and slaps its way back to Cairns. Towards the end of the journey - in the shelter of the bay, the cultural guides acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land and Sea on which their business operates. They share the traditional stories and pay their respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging. It is my first experience of the history, culture, conflict and reconciliation in Australia. I have a lot to learn...
Back on land, I take my knowledge of the reef to new depths with an evening lecture at Reef Teach. Marine experts explain how to identify species of fish and coral, how to approach the reef respectfully, and the truth about Finding Nemo ;-)
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