Heron Island -- The Great Barrier Reef

This trip was yet again a “research trip” but it was a week long and in one of the best places on the Great Barrier Reef. This island was tiny, and you could walk around it in a matter of minutes. The only way you can stay on the island is if you pay $400 a night at the resort, or if you get permission to go to the research station, which our group of 50 got to do  So the ride there sucked, as it was an 8 hour long night bus ride. But it picked up as we took a two hour long speed boat out. The waves were massive and shook the entire boat violently. It was so intense that half of the group got sea sick and spewed. Eww. Fortunately, I did not fall into that category. Once we got there we got situated into our bunks, and research groups. My research involved counting the rate of crab grazing in relation to time, which we observed over one 24 hour period every 3 hours. Yep, that was my “research.” Now onto the good stuff… I got to snorkel, in fact that is what I did for most of my stay! First day there they taught us how, and we had a practice run I guess you can say. In fact, that is when I had my first encounter with a shark, which I was totally unprepared for may I add. It was a wobbegong shark. But that was just the beginning as the next day we went snorkeling at shark bay, where we saw loads of sharks and sting rays. I was scared, not gonna lie! We also got to take a boat out deeper into the ocean, and we got to go snorkeling there. Beautiful corals. I saw Nemo, and I got to chase down a huge sea turtle, which I nearly touched! Only an inch short. Also I got the chance to do a night snorkel. Remember that sharks feed at dawn and dusk, so yes my heart was racing the entire time. Fortunatly there was a group of us and we had flashlights, but there were times when I would look left, then right, and behind to find no one… so I would say “just keep swimming, just keep swimming” and catch up to those ahead. When we weren’t snorkeling what better thing to do than to tan, watch super cute baby turtle hatchlings make their way to shore, and drink on the beach at night. Our professor snorkel chugged goon (cheap Australian boxed wine- that has fish eggs in it). So a gang of us on the beach that night came to a consensus- that everyone should do THIS.
Hear that guys!?