Cairns/Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

May 5 - 9, 2003

After my sojourn through the outback, ending in Darwin, I flew to Cairns in Queensland.  My main, really only, interest in Cairns was as a jumping point for the Great Barrier Reef.  Cairns is not much to speak of, just a small town crowded with backpackers and Japanese tourists.  The big attraction is the reef, and I headed out on a 2 day scuba trip. Unfortunately, due to several days of rain, the visibility was poor, and I missed out on seeing the reef in all its splendor.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed my first night dive, and my first dive to 30 meters, and I upgraded my scuba certification from Open Water to Adventure Diver.  So, all was not lost...
 

Cairns station, across from my hostel.	My hosts at Gecko's Backpackers, my home in Cairns.	Aboard the boat I  took for the scuba trip.	The day's schedule.
The Cairns shoreline from the boat as we return from the reef.			Captain Cook shows the way under the moon.