We were collected from the hotel at 7:55am for the journey from Cairns to Port Talbot. We had a few pick-ups on the way, and the journey took about 1 hour up the coast road, giving spectacular views.
We embarked on the large catamaran about 20 minutes after our arrival and were given free tea or coffee with biscuits. We were given a programme of events, and staff came around with information on what was available. There is swimming and snorkelling from submerged platforms (wet suits are advisable due to jellyfish at a cost of A$5), the underwater observatory, semi-submersible boat rides (in glass-bottomed boats), and fish feeding at regular intervals. We also saw some people in the diving helmets, suits, and boots walking partway to the reef underwater near the observatory.
The journey took 1.5 hours and took us past Snapper Island, which is a rain forest-covered national park with Thorntons peak (at 1,374m), the third highest peak in this part of Australia. After this came Undine Cay, which is in the early stages of becoming a coral cay.
The Great Barrier Reef itself is made of 2,900 separate reefs that stretch over 2,300km, and we travelled to the outer edge. Farther out is Agincourt Reefs, and 2km beyond this, the sea floor drops away to over 500m deep. The clean water washing over the outer barriers helps the marine life for which they are famous.
At 12pm a buffet lunch is served. This consisted of hot dishes such as curry and chicken and cold dishes such as prawns, salads, cheeses, and ham. The food was plentiful, although drinks weren't included but were available from the bar.
The only things that weren’t plentiful were tables and chairs. People in the know had put belongings on tables and chairs to reserve them whilst they were involved in activities.
At 2:40pm, a blast of the ships horn signalled that it was time to embark for the return journey. Tea and nibbles were served until the boat set off.
Upon our return, there was a short amount of time for shopping before boarding the coach for our trip back to the hotel. We were very lucky with the weather, as we had only a short shower whilst at the reef, but it rained all night and the next day. Of course, it doesn't matter if you are in the water!
From journal Great Barrier Reef Cruise