After lying down for a rest for ten minutes at about 1915 the previous evening, I awake to discover that it is 0430 the following morning and that, touch wood, I am feeling a little better. After lying prone for an hour I get up and, with camera, go to the top deck to watch the sunrise. To begin with, there is just some orange on the clouds, countering the darkness of the sea and sky. Then a burst of light as the sun inches its way over the horizon. Worth yesterdays nausea to see this - sensational! Hopefully I can avoid today what happened yesterday, although my stomach is showing very slight signs already. Back to cabin before a 0630 snorkel. Well worth it. Hundreds of little blue fish swimming amongst an open coral, a huge fish of about three feet in length near the boat, a turtle swimming, and a two foot shark! Back on the boat for breakfast.

Bizarelly, given that I'm in the middle of the ocean at the Great Barrier Reef, I see the goals from the Manchester derby (4-3 United) on a TV. So much for being cut off from reality! 'Sunrise' is very similar to 'GMTV'. Then the boats begins to move so I curl up in a corner and try to not watch anything but the pictures of fish on the wall - and am reminded by a story told by Dave (our guide) that Stringrays aren't dangerous, short of being sexually assaulted they'll ignore you. Steve Irwin - unlucky or foolhardy?

A snorkel at the final coral of the trip - this one more like you imagine from pictures you see, cliffs of coral falling down into the murky depths. Your breathing slows almost to a standstill, until you are taken by a large wave and hurled elsewhere. Larget single corals, some like giant mushrooms, others like a giant alien eye, watching you as you swim past.

Out, dry in the sun, then shower properly before lunch. We transfer to another, smaller boat (though still a good 150 people aboard). Very very full, so claim a seat downstairs and, not feeling the last snorkel, pull my hat over my eyes and retire to the world of Big Finish Podcasts to keep me alive for three and a half hours of controllable nausea. Thank heavens for Nick Briggs and David Richardson!

On returning - it takes a whole for my legs to adjust to solid land - meet with Lizzie and book a tour to the Tablelands (inland) tomorrow - $50 down from $90. Then we meet two people she has met, Francine (22, Leipzig) and Monan (?!) (19, Holland) and we go to a cider bar and then buy some reduced food and have a BBQ by the sea! There are free barbeques for people in Cainrs to use, up and down the coastline. We have some burgers, some calamari in chili sauce and some toasted pumpkin (which didn't convince me!) It was a lovely evening - warm, the lapping of the waves on the beach, exactly what you'd think of as a typical Australian evening. Retired at 9, via internet, to bed.