7-25-19 - Scuba diving @ Great Barrier Reef
/ Kyle HuebnerDay 39. One of the top items on Justin’s list was scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Today is that day as we all head out for a combination scuba and snorkel adventure. There is a bowl full of Dramamine on the counter and we are all highly encouraged to take it. Guess it’s going to be a bit of ride I’m thinking as the boat guns full throttle and I go flying across the cabin into my seat. That boat could move.
On the ride, we learn about the challenges of the Great Barrier Reef. If the water temperature goes above 31 degrees, the coral dies and gets bleached out losing all its color. A few years ago, the reef suffered three consecutive summers of greater than 31 degree temperatures resulting in ~20% of the reef dying and bleaching out. The last two summers have not reached 31 degrees leaving people to debate the cause as global warming or merely a mathematically driven statistical anomaly. In addition, we learn that the colors also temporarily retreat in the colder waters and given July is Australia’s winter, the water temperature is cold enough to cause the loss of color.
We get to the first dive spot. Notwithstanding the lack of color, there are an amazing amount of variety of fish. It is fairly mind boggling to think that the reef is 2,300 kilometers long, by far the biggest reef in the word. Still definitely worthy of its UNESCO world heritage site designation.
On the second dive, we descend and see a ~6 foot white tip reef shark on the ocean bottom. As Corey, Justin, Ashlynn, the dive instructor and me get to the bottom, the shark swims 5 meters ahead and stops on the bottom. Hmmm. I swim 5 meters after him and he moves 5 meters. I’m thinking that If I swim really fast, I can get right up next to him. I’m just hoping that the shark hasn’t seen Jaws and suddenly realizes that he’s the one who’s supposed to be chasing me and not the other way around. I get within 2 meters of him but the shark outswims me into the deep blue vastness of the ocean.
All in all, there was a great mix of scuba diving and snorkeling. We had an underwater camera that captured some really great photos. We saw a humpback whale on the way back to the marina as we stood on the front deck of boat holding onto the railing with all we had as the boat threatened to pitch us into the blue waves flying by us.
For dinner, I am once again elected to the position of head BBQ grill master on high. I gladly accept as I firmly believe in sticking to my strengths in the kitchen – grilling and operating the microwave.