Briefly, the Reef is the largest coral reef system anywhere, stretching over 1,400 miles off the coast of northeast Australia. That size technically makes it the largest living creature in the world, if that's the right word, since it was constructed by a lifeform. You can see it from space.
But of course, it's not exactly on the Interstate, and it doesn't have parking lots. You need to take a boat out to it, traveling for about two hours on a ferry. In our case, upon arrival we were transported to a pontoon owned by the ferry company. It's easy to tell when you are in range of the reef because the water takes on different colors as it reflects the reef below. There the adventure begins.
The obvious way to see the reef is to put on some equipment and dive in. That gives a good close-up look at a tiny section of the reef., and those who do that come back saying it's a remarkable option. But for those who don't do water well, there are other choices.
Our ferry company had something of a submarine that travels near the pontoon on a 15-minute ride or so. Yes, the windows are tinted and it's a bit dark under the surface, but you get the idea. Some underwater windows from the pontoon also offer a chance to see tons of fish swim by the reef. (One such view was used in the photo here.) And if you want the view from above, you can take a short (10-minute) ride on a helicopter above the area. While those who took it enjoyed the experience, many others (guilty) found it quite expensive for the time spent.
By the way, the ride to the Reef went into a stiff wind. Therefore, we did some considerable bouncing on the way, which caused some upset stomachs. Some people in the outdoor back section of the boat got quite wet and eventually fled for a dry area. The trip home was much easier.
The Great Barrier Reef qualified for a list in an article about things we might not be able to see for much longer, due climate change. We need to do better. It's a unique spot on earth.
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