Back to Australia October 2014| The best day of our lives...

I’ve just gotten up from lunch with two Swedish couples, one of whom lives in Switzerland. The boat is the perfect size: it’s so easy to meet everyone and get to know a few. With three meals a day and morning and afternoon latte breaks (there's a Nespresso and milk steamer , of course!) there's lots of time to get to know the group. We are all in a permanent state of awe at being here on the reef. This morning at Ribbon Reef #3 I overheard a man and his wife talking that the coral and the abundant fish are so far beyond anything they had ever seen. “This is the best day of our lives “, they said. There’s a sense of urgency too; when will we ever be here again to take this in. I want to be sure to take in every opportunity to dive, swim, or go out in the glass bottom boat. Sometimes even the crew are awe-struck. On this reef in particular there was an amazing garden of cabbage coral that is so large it looks like it would fill my entire back yard. Rick, our kiwi first mate, says he’s never seen anything like it anywhere else.

 In the end, this reef turns out to be everyone’s favourite for its abundance of coral and fish. I went out three times, and each time saw something new: a new colour, a new shape of fish, a coral I hadn’t seen before. Once I got used to the variety it got easier to watch the behaviour of the fish, and notice things. Like the cleaning station with all manner of fish lined up for a turn with the cleaner wasse to spruce up their gills, mouth and nose. It must be date night on the reef.

We’ve sailed to Escape Reef, and Rick and Alice are setting the anchor. Those who took an early power nap are lining up on the back deck, suits on, masks, snorkels and fins in hand waiting to get in the water. Gotta go. It’s our last time in the water and I don’t want to miss it. Time for the reef brief with Alice, our marine biologist and trip host!