Thatford Reef, Great Barrier Reef Day 1

We boarded the Rum Runner, a 20m motor sailing schooner, in Cairns on Tuesday morning (7 AM!) for 2 days out on the reef. That mean 6 dives, including a night dive...more diving in such a short time frame than this adventurer has ever done...and how I felt it after dive 4 on day 1. The space on the ship was cozy, we'll say...but not at capacity, which was helpful. The crew was fantastic and really made it a terrific trip...I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Shout out to Soaps, Sabrina, Hannah, Jase and Masa!

The reef lived up to expectations, although I'd hoped for calmer waters for better visibility. I was awed at the size and complexity of the coral colonies and the vibrant life in, on and around them. We could see some of the effects of coral bleaching, unfortunately...not unexpected but I'd hoped not to see evidence of reef damage close up. So hard to pick out 10 photos that give a flavor for the trip. So, I'm doing day 1 and day 2 posts to give myself more leeway. Trip adventures must be shared!Read more