The Great Barrier Reed
The Great Barrier Reef
With a length of 2,300 km, the Australian Great Barrier Reef is the only one that can be seen from space. Considered a living entity in its own right, this fragile ecosystem is home to 400 types of corals, 1,500 species of fish, and 4,000 varieties of mollusks. It is a visual spectacle and a miracle of nature, and one of the few remaining refuges on the planet.
The Minke Whales
It is 9 o’clock in the morning and we've already been briefed on the day's dive sites. Suddenly, the scientist on board appears and tells us, “This is a whale area”. We all looked at each other with excitement. “At last,” I thought, “at last I can swim with them”. He briefly explained to us that they can reach 8 meters long, weigh about 10 tons, that they are gray with a white belly, etc… I will always remember what he told us: they are very sociable whales. If they turn around and show you their white belly when they see you, it means that they are greeting you, saying “Hello, don’t be afraid, I am not aggressive”. We were all very hopeful, although we contained our excitement, since we all know that nature is not a zoo, and therefore the whales might come, or they might not…
During the 45 minutes of our dive, the whales did not appear. But just at the end, when we were already five meters from the surface, about six whales began to circle us, singing. They paused, docile, calm, elegant… in short, magical. Such an experience changes your perspective on life.
“Hello, don’t be afraid, I am not aggressive!”
Feeding the Sharks
One day the expedition leaders suggested a "shark feeding". It consists of hanging a huge ball of frozen fish from the boat. We all stood around the ball and the sharks came. When we dive with sharks, they are usually calm and relaxed. They approach us, circle us curiously and then leave. But when they feed, everything changes and for the first time I understand the hunting frenzy. They become fast and electric, biting mercilessly into the fish ball and coming much closer to you. At one point one of the sharks came right over me. So close, in fact, that I could have touched its belly just by raising my hand slightly.
The Return to the Mainland
As always, the trip had to end on an extreme note. On the way back to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, a cyclone hit. Luckily it was the tail end of the cyclone, but I had never been so seasick on a ship. It was impossible to stand, sit or lie down. It was a very long night, but the seasickness was worth it!
