Seeing the Great Barrier Reef had been on my bucket list ever since I was a child. All these years I had snorkeled and dived around the world, but this experience was the ultimate.We began our journey in the Australian city of Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Partnering up with a company called Compass Cruises, we packed the camera gear and set off on our adventure.
Pro-tip: If you go snorkeling or diving from Cairns, make sure the company you choose is going to the outer reef. There is much better coral and it is less touristy.Â
The Great Barrier Reef goes on for hundreds of miles along the North Eastern coast of Australia, there are so many different places to snorkeling and dive. It all depends on what kind of sea life you want to see.
After a two hour boat cruise, we arrived to a place called Hastings Reef. Half of our team went on a dive trip and the rest of us snorkeled. This was finally it, the moment we all had been waiting for!
Immediately after I jumped in there were hundreds of beautiful fish everywhere. The water was clean, clear, and aquamarine colored. Suddenly I was surrounded by massive brain coral, reef sharks, sting rays, fluorescent fish, barracuda, sea horses, and the biggest clams I have ever seen in my life (about 7 feet wide). Did I just find the lost city of Atlantis? No, but this was one epic underwater paradise.
We followed this Reef Shark around as it was feeding
These were the biggest clams I have ever seen in my life
We snorkeled and dove here for an hour and then moved on to the second location – an even bigger reef called Green Island. Â Â
You should all visit the Great Barrier Reef soon as it is slowly dying due to climate change and gradual increase in water temperature every year. I am extremely thankful for this opportunity because the reef will not exist in a few years.Â
When shooting underwater photos on the Gopro I recommend using a red lens. Without it, the photos will have glare and become distorted. You can purchase the red lens here on Amazon -> Buy NowÂ
