Great Barrier Reef adventures!!

Hello all,

I saw Stacy and John off last night as they boarded Spoilsport, their 4 day liveaboard with about 20 passengers and 12 crew!  They will be diving day and night, and will be back on Monday morning.  I'm sure they're having a fantastic time and just as you, I can't wait to hear all about it!!

It's Friday night here in Cairns, and I spent my Friday on Reef Experience, a daytripper to 2 outer reefs (Hastings and Saxon).  It was a bit bumpy getting out there (those of you who rode the hydrofoil to/from Naples and Capri may know what I mean by bumpy - I was focused on the horizon for a while!)... Anyhow, once at the reef, the waters calmed.  I got in and it was absolutely amazing!!!  So much coral, so much animal life, and the most different and brightly colored fishies than I've ever seen in one place!  I even saw an eel and a dolphin today!  I almost spotted a whale, but I think he was hiding :(  It was the most awesome experience, I'm so glad I went, even though I was alone!  There was a photographer scuba diving in the waters so I did purchase a few professional pics, which I will post asap.  I had a great day!

After showering off the salty ocean, I had a yummy steak dinner (yes, beef, not roo or emu - yet!) and then of course some gelato, which is quite abundant in the land down under.  Now to relax and get a good night of sleep, especially since I was up so early this morning.  It's supposed to be sunny tomorrow, so I think I may spend the day sunbathing by the pool :)  Aaah, this is the life!

There was a moment today when I was floating in the ocean in the beautiful reef, a World Heritage location, and I just had to savor it.  This is the trip of a lifetime, and today was an experience of a lifetime!  And I am so grateful that I am fortunate enough to be able to take a trip like this and experience the world, live life to the fullest, see as much as possible, take it all in.  I will likely not be back here ever again in my life, and there are many people who will never get here in their lifetime... and I am just so grateful to be here.  I recognize how fortunate I am and promise to savor every moment.  Today was definitely a day to sit back and reflect on how awesome this is.  The Great Barrier Reef is something I've only read about in books - until now!

Well followers, I'm off and will write again in Stacy's absence asap.  Hope everyone has a good start to their weekend and is staying cool!!

Love,
Diana and Stacy
xoxo