TIP: If you're ever signed up for this tour, take your normal camera as well as an underwater camera. I had not realized that the pontoon would be all ours (Crystal guests) and was somewhat apprehensive about leaving my camera unattended while snorkelling for example, as we had been told that there were no lockers or other safe places for valuables. Apprehension was unfounded and very soon regretted having taken only a disposable underwater cam (pictures of the reef posted later).
We first went on a semi submersible tour of the reef, our first time seeing one so everything looked just amazing to us (I later heard from others that other reefs can be more colourful, mostly depending on the light and whether the coral is exposed to the air during low tide, as is the case here, which somewhat bleaches the coral). The plethora of fish and other marine life, the vivid blues and other more muted colours of the coral, it was just great.
Then we suited up for snorkelling (these are stinger suits to prevent us from getting stung by jellyfish which can be very painful and even dangerous). I'm so happy I overcame my initial weird reluctance to get so close to all those fish! We spent quite a long time snorkelling. After a while I noticed Blake swimming away from me so I made sure to keep up. When he seemed to be getting away again I tried to make him slow down and look at some awesome fish I had spotted; he was paying no mind to my efforts so I started poking him on the leg. That caught his attention. He lifted his head out of the water... he was not Blake. Awkward :)
Finally found my husband who decided to ditch the live vest (this really helps stay afloat for snorkelling, mainly when you have to fight a fairly strong current as was the case here). He then went on a free dive to check out the reef edge more closely. I happily stayed on the surface looking at it all from above. Having said this, I'm now totally open to scuba diving next time we go to a reef.
There was also an underwater viewing area which was pretty cool.
Finally it was time to get back to Hamilton Island (the centrepiece of the Whitsunday Islands) where the Serenity was at anchor. This time the catamaran ride was wild and bumpy and a few poor souls sitting at the back on the lower deck got soaked a few times. Fun stuff.
Back on the ship a chilled beer and a burger at the Trident Grill were a fitting ending to a great morning.
To cap an already great day, I happened spot what I thought were two dolphins swimming toward the ship. Upon a closer look at the pictures we realized these were dwarf minke whales (mom and calf) and not dolphins.
Dinner at Prego was specially yummy and we ended up sitting right next to our regular table mates whose company we truly enjoy.
The shows continue to be very good, we particularly enjoyed Bernard Walz's piano extravaganza (we had met Bernard and his partner at Tastes on the first night of the cruise and really liked them).
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