Island Time crew goes to Australia
Part 5

 Day 17   We finally head out to the Great Barrier Reef with Whitsunday Cruises an all day tourist excursion.  It takes three hours to get to the reef on a high speed power catamaran.  The Great Barrier Reef itself is 2000 km (1200 miles) long and is comprised of 3000 individual reefs.  The reef is difficult to see from afar as there are no little islands identifying its location at least in the area where we were.  Our tour went to Knuckle Reef. 

The cruise company had a large pontoon permanently anchored at the reef.  The barge had lounge areas, food service area, scuba gear, water slide, snorkeling gear, a semi-submersible and a glass bottom viewing area - all very touristy.    We had to wear stinger suits when snorkeling although the stingers usually do not go out this far.

As with all the tours here we are served morning and afternoon tea as well as a buffet lunch.

   
Knuckle Reef a part of The Great Barrier Reef – The buoys set off the snorkeling area that we were to stay within.  The square floats are safety areas for the swimmers to hang onto as there were  many first time snorkelers.  

Day 18 was our last day in Airlie Beach and we went for a sail on a monohull called Ragamuffin.   Ragamuffin is a Racing Maxi Yacht 84 feet long built in 1979 as Bumblebee IV and won the Sydney to Hobart race several times under both names.

We sailed about 2 hours from Shute Harbour to Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island the northern most island in the Whitsundays.   Another great opportunity to take more pictures of the Whitsunday Islands. 

The sail again included morning and afternoon tea and a lunch.  At the Blue Lagoon we anchored for snorkeling and diving.  I (Genie) actual took a 30 minute introductory dive lesson.  It was easier than I had anticipated.  The view of the reef and fish is fantastic from underwater.  After diving and snorkeling we had lunch and then sailed back to Shute Harbour.  The crew was great and we had a great time.

Ragamuffin and Crew

Visitors

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2011
  Grenadines New

2010
  Martinique 
  St. Lucia
  Trinidad

2009
  New Zealand P.16
  New Zealand P.15
  New Zealand P.14
  New Zealand P.13
  New Zealand P.12
  New Zealand P.11
  New Zealand P.10
  New Zealand P.9  
  New Zealand P.8
  New Zealand P.7
  Australia Part 6
  Australia Part 5
  Australia Part 4
  Australia Part 3
  Australia Part 2.5
  Australia Part 2
  Australia Part 1
 
  Tyrell Bay
 

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