It’s been a while, about 15 years, since our last visit to Airlie Beach. A lot has changed. Some good, some not so. There are new suburbs, another harbour, another marina & more than just a few more resorts have been built in that time. Here’s a part of Airlie from the air as we flew out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Marinas. New One – Bottom Left. Old One – Top Right
We couldn’t decide between two different reef trips. One to the outer reef (hard coral) or one to the inner reef (soft coral). So in true VanExtraOrdinaire style, we did both… One sailing and one flying. Jayne loved doing both! Much to my relief.
Sailing to the Inner Reef was first up & drawing strength from the last successful catamaran experience on Grace II in Yeppoon we booked an even bigger one this time. This one was more than twice as big!
Camira- 85 feet long and very fast
Sailing on the 85′ Camira was good fun. It carries up to 80 people on a day trip. Luckily we only had about half that number on board so there was plenty of room for all. Nice big sails, as Jayne points out in the video clip below (This is the first video clip on the blog, fingers crossed it works).
Snorkelling was good fun with clear water and lots of fishies & coral but it felt a bit like we’d been dropped off in a play pen as the area we could explore was fairly restricted and about the size of a footy field. Good to see an attempt at preserving the reef but I don’t think this sort of activity is what’s doing the most damage to the reef.
More pics of the trips below.
The underwater shots above are the last from my old camera. It died later that day. At least now I have an excuse to buy a new one.
For a brief time while sailing Jayne was at the helm holding a less than clear course as she displays her recently acquired navigational skills. After a while the bubbly reflection instrument she was holding became a little bit uncalibrated and we went back to using the big screen SatNav.
Steering and holding a sextant at the same time
[Ref: A sextant is a bubbly (sic. doubly) reflecting navigation instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects.] Can you see me? I can see you!
Down below deck next to the head (look it up) there was this interesting hatch that opens (if & when needed) between the two huge cat hulls. You can just make out the other one on the opposite side. It’s half underwater.
This way to Davy Jones’ Locker
With the emergency exits in mind it was time for a Titanic moment
I’m Flying!
The next day we went to the Outer Reef. This is the Great Barrier Reef proper about 30km out.
Our Flying Tinnie
On the way out we flew over Heart Reef, so named because, well, you’ll work it out.
Brief Simplified Reef History. The Great Barrier Reef first began to grow about 18 million years ago. Since this time, various geological events, such as Ice Ages and low seawater levels have interrupted reef growth. The reefs we see today have grown on top of older reef platforms during the last 8000 years – since the last Ice Age.
After snorkelling on the reef in a slightly bigger football field we dropped in at Whitehaven beach for some refreshments, a walk & a swim. Then it was time to take off and fly back to Airlie Beach.
Swim across the runway?
Clear the runway! As the Seaplane was about to take off from just off Whitehaven Beach we had a couple of snorkelling tourists trying their hardest to swim across our runway but we got around them. Buduump, buduump…
Simon in the Seaplane
Goggles on, chocks away!
Simon landing the Seaplane
Luckily there were 2 Simons on board. One was a pilot & the other one just wore a stupid grin the whole time. We made it back Ok.
Upon reflection. While the whole reef thingy is a spectacular natural icon, it’s also a great money spinner. We had a great time, but, I just get the feeling reef tour formula is a bit over cooked, worn & tired these days. The sites we viewed were far from pristine. Yes there are spots that are exceptional but overall there appears to be a lot of damaged reef. Trashed in some areas. The cause? Over use/abuse? Recent storms? Global Warming? More research required. I suspect it’s been a while since any of the operators have actually dived to check on the conditions. One admitted to not being in the water since a big storm about 18 months ago.
I believe there will come a time when tourists will not pay to see a dead reef. Later again, a time when there are no people… Then, maybe, about 8,000 years after that, the reef will regain its strength, it’s heart will be strong & it’s health pristine once again.
In the mean time get up here and have a look at it while it’s heart is still pumping!
VanExtraOrdinaire.com 
Still looks pretty spectacular. Shame we aren’t looking after it.