Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef has always been on my bucket list and I knew if I was going to Australia, I couldn't miss out on the opportunity. Most people do the excursion out of Cairns but it was cheaper to fly into Proserpine. After doing a little research, I found out that this airport was quite close to the Whitsunday Islands, which I had heard amazing things about. So it was settled; I would kill two birds with one stone. I booked a 2 night boat tour which would sail through the Whitsunday Islands and we would stop off to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef a couple of times (what is my life?!)
I arrived in Airlie Beach the day before my boat excursion and it was so. freaking. hot. Luckily my hostel had AC so I just kind of hid in there but the next day it was even worse. When I got on the boat I was feeling way out of my comfort zone. It was so much smaller than I had expected and somehow 25 people were supposed to sleep comfortably in these stuffy cramped quarters? I tried not to be overwhelmed but I definitely was. Even though it started out rough, it turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. Everyone was so nice and we had the most incredible experiences! We got to go to White Haven beach which is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen in my life. The sand is 98 % silica (whatever that means) and it is so soft! First we hiked up to a viewpoint where you got an eagles eye view. When the tides change, the marbleized look does too!
I arrived in Airlie Beach the day before my boat excursion and it was so. freaking. hot. Luckily my hostel had AC so I just kind of hid in there but the next day it was even worse. When I got on the boat I was feeling way out of my comfort zone. It was so much smaller than I had expected and somehow 25 people were supposed to sleep comfortably in these stuffy cramped quarters? I tried not to be overwhelmed but I definitely was. Even though it started out rough, it turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. Everyone was so nice and we had the most incredible experiences! We got to go to White Haven beach which is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen in my life. The sand is 98 % silica (whatever that means) and it is so soft! First we hiked up to a viewpoint where you got an eagles eye view. When the tides change, the marbleized look does too!
After hiking I was definitely ready to play in the waves
Even though we had to wear stinger suits to actually swim in the water it was still absolutely amazing. This place is breathtaking!
We did a little more sailing then anchored so that we could snorkel the Great Barrier Reef! As I jumped in the water I was so thrilled to see this world wonder. As I swam around and explored, I couldn't help but feel sad. There are so many patches of dead coral it is absolutely shocking. You hear about the Reef dying but it is so different to see it in person. To see it first hand, and to realize what we are doing to our own planet is truly heartbreaking. However I tried to push that out of my mind and really bask in the wonder of this experience. I was surrounded by so much beauty it was overwhelming!
That evening we anchored near a coral beach to watch an amazing sunset and soak up the last moments at sea. The next day we returned to Airlie Beach and I don't know if I have ever been more excited to have a real shower. Although I was exhausted and had sea legs this trip was 100% worth it!
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