Cairns: snorkeling, scuba, sun, oh my!

The second leg of my amazing Spring Break adventure took me way up north to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, where I spent three days soaking in the true Australian sun, plus one extra special day which I will explain later on! I was staying at JJ's Backpackers which turned out to be a really nice hostel with both breakfast and dinner being provided! All the hostels around Cairns had a deal set up with a local pub called the Woolshed where we were given meal tickets for each night and a variety of set meals to choose from. I was very pleased plus each night they had some sort of entertainment planned for everyone eating.

You can't swim right off the coastline because of poisonous jelly fish and stingers so there was a large pool/lagoon built right in the middle of town where everyone goes to cool off in the water and tan. This is where I spent the majority of my first day, just relaxing, napping in the sun, reading, swimming, and of course working on my tan (sunscreen was always worn mum!). Ate lunch at a lovely little Italian sandwhich cafe and walked the shops. A very good day one. I had to be up and going the next morning around 6:30am so it was early to bed for me. Who said anything about sleeping in on this holiday!

Day two: Snorkeling at Green Island out in the middle of the reef!! The boat ride took a little over an hour to reach the island and in that time I made a friend from Wisconsin who was on a two week holiday. Since April is a prominent month for stingers and jelly fish around the reef, it was recommended that if you are snorkeling, you should get a full-body stinger suit, and I didn't want to take any chances by having my day ruined by a stinger and all that pain. The suits may have been practical and meaningful, but they certainly were not fashionable!!  I saw so many incredible looking fish that I barely ever looked up to see where I was going. So many different colors: teal, yellow, black, orange and the fish were everywhere around the coral and in the reef. I saw an eel, spotted sting ray, and my favorite... BABY TURTLE!! I was a very happy girl. I think I followed the turtle for a good 15 mins taking 30+ photos and 2 videos of it. So so so so cool!

Day Three: Today I would be aboard the Sea Quest vessel doing my Introductory scuba dive! So excited yet so nervous all at the same time. Boy did I have butterflies as I walked up to the edge of the boat to jump in with all my gear. My biggest fear: contacts getting washed out! The day was perfect with blue skies, hot and the most amazing colors of blue and teal for the water. After getting briefed on all the procedures that will take place in the water like hand signals and basic skills to learn, it was time to get all suited up. We had to wear a weighted belt along with the very heavy gear. I struggled to stand up with everything on. The group of four intro divers plus our guide made our way quickly and most importantly correctly through all our skills, then it was off to explore and scuba!! I was the first one of the group to spot a group of Nemo fish which I quickly begin to freak out about because it was soooo cool!!!! i was smiling on the inside the whole time. What a different view compared to snorkeling. Even got my photo taken by a professional while underwater! I ended up doing two dives that day because I had enjoyed it so much and when was I sure I was going to get another opportunity to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef! The rest of the day I snorkeled and chatted with all the other passengers and crew.

Day Four: My flight was supposed to leave Cairns around 2am for Melbourne on the very, very cheap Tiger Airways. Around midnight it was announced that the flight was canceled, oh joy! I was able to get another flight for the next night with Virgin Air. Luckily, I made three friends while standing in the front of the line so we all got two really nice rooms at the Holiday Inn in town. We were a great mix of internationals from: England, Italy, Norway, and myself. We laughed the whole night and next day while laying by the pool reading and napping before finally heading to the airport. Luckily, my flight to Melbourne this time was not canceled!!

Goodbye Cairns! :)