No photos for this post as we didn't want to take the phones and risk them being stolen while we snorkelled.

The day started a little earlier than we planned when workmen appeared in the next street and started digging up the footpath at 7am, but still managed to get to the ferry terminal a few minutes late :-)

We took the Sunlover cruise to a fixed platform in More Reef - part of the Outer Barrier Reef. It took about an hour and a half to get there with a stop at Fitzroy Island. Luckily the seas were pretty calm - a rare calm day between the two Cyclones - but still half of the people on board seemed to be using sick bags, making even the usually iron-stomached Dean feel a little queasy. Julie was OK after a dose of sickness tablets before we left the hostel.

On the floating platform, we went on a glass bottomed boat and a semi-submersible to see the reef from above then alongside. Finally, we snorkelled the reef - each wearing a sting suit to protect us from jellyfish, which, amusingly, made us look like power rangers :-) The coral was beautiful and really colourful and was so close we had to be careful not to accidentally damage it with our fins. We saw every colour of fish imaginable, but couldn't Find Nemo - they inhabit a region about 3m below the surface and rarely appear.

We cruised back and picked up many passengers at Fitzroy Island, who were talking about all trips being cancelled tomorrow due to the coming cyclone. Looks like we picked the best day!

We finished the day again at the Woolshed for another free Chilli con carne, but there was a more relaxed atmosphere with a chap playing a guitar and no drunken backpackers.