Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia, 5th March 2023

We arrived in Cairns around noon. After docking, we immediately went on a large catamaran to go to the Great Barrier Reef.

The catamaran was spacious and well-equipped. We could eat and drink on board. In addition to snorkeling gear, we could also rent diving equipment. What was especially pleasant was that we were provided with a thin full-body wetsuit for snorkeling, which protected us not only from the sun but also from jellyfish.

After about 1 1/2 hours on the somewhat rough sea, we arrived at the first snorkeling spot. Due to the current, we snorkeled in a designated area. Another 1/2 hour later, we went further into the reef to a platform where we could snorkel and dive. We could also observe the reef through underwater windows. With a semi-submarine, we could see even more of the reef without getting wet.

We mainly saw many different types of corals. However, because the sky was cloudy and no direct sunlight reached the water, the colors were rather muted. We didn't see many fish. There were colorful, but rather small fish, and only a few larger ones.

After snorkeling, we headed back to Cairns, passing by islands. After 1 1/2 hours, we arrived back in Cairns in the dark.

Cairns itself seems to be a nice city, with lots of greenery, a beautiful beach promenade, and surrounded by hills. Unfortunately, we didn't see much of it as we were at the Great Barrier Reef for the entire duration of our short stay.