Sarah and I arrived at the dock, still sleepy but nervous with excitement for our adventure. After a a short briefing, my guide tossed me a wet suite, flippers and a mask and summoned the certified divers to the back of the boat. I wiggled into my hood and wet suite with a little help from a friend. I checked the BCD, regulators, releases and weights on my gear. With that, I flopped carefully to the edge of the boat and took one giant stride into the turquoise waters of the Coral Sea!
The diving was incredible - excellent visibility and fish and coral of all colors. Nemo pops out of the protection of a sea anemone. A sea turtle gracefully glides above our heads at the surface of the reef. Brilliantly-colored coral decorates the waters below - mushroom coral, brain coral, staghorn coral. A black-tipped reef shark lurks on the ocean floor. We play with sea cucumbers and touch the soft, slippery lining. A sting ray sits below us, camouflaged by the sand. Unicorn fish, parrot fish and butterfly fish swim between our fins. Several large trigger fish, with bulging eyes and front teeth exposed, wrestle smaller fish for the food we hold in our fingertips.
