Great Barrier Reef, Day 1

After sailing all night, we arrived in Cooktown, on the Cape York peninsula., still part of the wet tropics. Like the Daintree, slightly south of here, it is very lush. The terrain reminds us a bit of Kauai, with its steep, tree-covered mountains surrounded by water.

We got a little walking tour of Cooktown, where Captain Cook stopped to repair the “HM Bark Endeavour.” As good a navigator as Cook was, he underestimated the vastness of the reef and smashed a hole in his ship on the coral. Our trip leader, Dani, said that Cook’s maps are remarkably accurate, using much more rudimentary tools than now.

In the late afternoon, we arrived at Lizard Island, where we could snorkel from the beach. The water temperature is a bit cool, but the clarity is spectacular. We saw plenty of fish, many that we’ve seen in Hawaii (parrot fish, moorish idols, wrasse, etc.), but the amazing array of coral formations and the giant clams were something we have not experienced. The clams almost look like they have a cozy fleece blanket around their ‘lips.’ Each clam’s markings are different, like fingerprints

At sunset, we were taken back to the ship from the island in a 14-passenger glass bottom boat. Underwater photos are courtesy of Nance & Sande’s GoPro. The video of the nurse sharks was during a fish feed off the ship’s deck after dinner.Read more