We were up at 6:30 as we had to check out and put our cases in the hotel’s storage room to collect tomorrow evening. Then, it was off to the port for 7:30 to check in for our ferry transfer to the pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. The ferry left at 8am and took 3 hrs to reach the reef though it did stop briefly at Hamilton Island to pick up and drop off others. We were given breakfast but the trip was very bumpy and although no-one was sick many of us felt queasy- we had taken sea sickness tablets before boarding and that was a smart move.
On the way over to the reef Pam had booked a scuba dive session and Mark had booked a helicopter ride over the reef. Mark was up first at 11:40 with his ride.
Mark here, I have never been on a helicopter before and was given the front seat next to the pilot. It was an amazing experience flying around the reef even if it only last 15mins.
Whilst Mark was flying Pam was being checked into our underwater room onboard by one of our hosts. The room is behind a door saying private and down 12 steps.. He explained about how the shower works and the privacy blind for the bathroom. The rest of the room consists of a double bed with bedside stands and 2 large and 2 small windows facing out to the reef plus two windows on the floor for looking down at the reef and fish. An amazing room.
Mark came back and explored the amazing room whilst Pam went for her scuba dive introduction. His verdict was that we were humans in a tank and the fish came to stare at us.
Hi Pam here that was not fun as I had trouble breathing through the mask and breathing apparatus. So I had to give up after 10 mins. This was not for me. Even when I was in the learner diving tank I could not do it. I was not the only one who aborted though.
Whilst Pam was doing Scuba, Mark went aboard the boat with an underwater viewing area as it toured the reef for 30mins. This was awesome as we saw lots of different fish and corals and even a large turtle.
We met up again for lunch on the ferry that brought us over. It was a nice selection of hot and cold food. After that we tried to snorkel out on the reef. Pam was still suffering from her scuba attempt and Mark’s swimming ability is not great and the current was very strong. We saw some fish but basically the ones from our room so another failure.
At 3pm all the day trippers, and the previous over nighters left, and 14 of us had the reef to ourselves. 4 of us are in rooms under the water and the rest are in tents up on deck. We were told how our stay would work and given a mid afternoon snack of cheeses, cold meats, crackers and fruit. We also given water bottles to keep.
Our reefsleep package includes a snorkelling reef sarfari and the 4 of us sleeping underwater were taken to another pontoon a little way away and we would snorkel back. We were given the wetsuits and life jackets and were told the current, and the ropes of the life ring we could hold onto, would take us back to our pontoon. We will be honest. We got off to a rocky start and you cannot breathe thru your nose but a bit of water always get in there and you need to ignore and breathe thru your mouth. During the first 5 minutes we both wanted it over as soon as possible but after calming down and getting a breathing rhythm going we relaxed and the most amazing experience of our lives. We saw so many beautiful fish of different colours and sizes plus different sea plants and corals and it was all explained by our guide Romi who dragged us along. Truly an experience we will never forget and so glad we did it.
Once back, they closed the reef to swimming and we got showered and dressed for canapés and drinks before dinner whilst watching the fabulously colourful sun setting.
Then the 14 of us sat down for a lovely dinner. It was steak with vegetables and a wine sauce plus chocolate brownie with cream( Pam got lactofree ice cream with hers) and raspberry purée
After dinner we brought the rest of the group which were 10 on deck sleeps down to our cabins, in two groups, to witness the big fish that had come out to play at night time. The pontoon has a general underwater viewing platform but our rooms are better.
Pam fell asleep just after 9pm watching hypnotic fish swimming past. Mark stayed up longer trying to photograph George (A Queensland Grouper- he is very big).
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