On Heron Island, we have snorkeled from the beach right into the coral of the Great Barrier Reef, which is only a few meters away and you can just keep swimming in between coral and fishes everywhere. It's like swimming in a giant acquarium. However, not even an acquarium is necessarily safe. We realized this when we were snorkeling in a place appropriately called "Shark Bay". And guess who met over there (besides all the small sharks that occasionally said hello). Yep, this big fellow (see pic above). Now Sois didn't even notice it immediately, but when he did, we both decided to stay as still as possible to not upset Mr. Shark.
Can you spot 2-2.5 mtrs. Mr. Shark?
Now he swam away again but guess what we saw then coming by within 1.5 metres... a manta-shark (= rog-haai). Pfff... but this guy looked more relaxed as he casually glanced at us with his almost human-like eyes. We didn't know who was watching who. Humans may be self-proclaimed kings of the land but definitely not the sea. Wow!
A fish called Chel
Jacques Soisteau
Our other two snorkeling adventures were with a group of people. They took us with a boat directly to the reef to snorkel. What an experience! Just look at the pictures of some of the things we encountered (no sharks this time). Everyone should try in to at least snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, at least once in their lifetime. The enormous array of the underwater world is almost incomprehensible. We had a wonderfull time floating around and saw Nemo, box fishes, parrot fishes and lots and lots more. However, we didn't know that the dangerous Irukandji jellyfish could also have been present. But more on the dreaded jellyfish later. G-R-E-A-T!!!
Little blue fishes hiding in the coral
Fluorescent parrotfish
On Heron Island, we have snorkeled from the beach right into the coral of the Great Barrier Reef, which is only a few meters away and you can just keep swimming in between coral and fishes everywhere. It's like swimming in a giant acquarium. However, not even an acquarium is necessarily safe. We realized this when we were snorkeling in a place appropriately called "Shark Bay". And guess who met over there (besides all the small sharks that occasionally said hello). Yep, this big fellow (see pic above). Now Sois didn't even notice it immediately, but when he did, we both decided to stay as still as possible to not upset Mr. Shark. 
Can you spot 2-2.5 mtrs. Mr. Shark? 
Now he swam away again but guess what we saw then coming by within 1.5 metres... a manta-shark (= rog-haai). Pfff... but this guy looked more relaxed as he casually glanced at us with his almost human-like eyes. We didn't know who was watching who. Humans may be self-proclaimed kings of the land but definitely not the sea. Wow!
A fish called Chel
Jacques Soisteau
Our other two snorkeling adventures were with a group of people. They took us with a boat directly to the reef to snorkel. What an experience! Just look at the pictures of some of the things we encountered (no sharks this time). Everyone should try in to at least snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, at least once in their lifetime. The enormous array of the underwater world is almost incomprehensible. We had a wonderfull time floating around and saw Nemo, box fishes, parrot fishes and lots and lots more. However, we didn't know that the dangerous Irukandji jellyfish could also have been present. But more on the dreaded jellyfish later. G-R-E-A-T!!!
Little blue fishes hiding in the coral
Fluorescent parrotfish
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