The Great Barrier Reef

Aaron and I went on a two-day/one-night diving liveaboard trip to the Great Barrier Reef. It was amazing.

We went down seven times in two days and checked out three different sites. One of these dives was at night with a flashlight to visit the sleepy fishies. The night dive is almost easier than the day dives because the boat has a huge light beam in the water that guides divers back after the dive.

The Reef is an hour and a half out of Cairns. It felt like we were out in the middle of the ocean. We didn't have the best above water conditions; it was cloudy, rainy and windy both days but once underwater all was calm and peaceful. It was so peaceful I wanted to stay down there.

What we saw: sharks, rays, lots and lots of colourful fish. We touched a 150-year-old giant clam and saw it try to close up on our hands. A huge grouper came straight at us with its huge blue lippy mouth wide open (not threateningly but still impressive). I let out a little scream through my regulator.

Neither Aaron nor I lost our stomach contents on the trip despite the huge swells rocking the boat.

We're in the centre for the next few days. Harry is lending us his ute (aka Australia's favourite utility vehicle) and we're off camping.