The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is among the most biologically diverse regions on this planet. This is the largest coral reef on earth with over 3000 individual reef systems, that stretching over 1400 miles (2300 km) off the coast of Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is a vibrant ecosystem, with a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and many islets that are a home for millions of marine life. The Reefs’ most prominent organisms are the corals. They are small aquatic animals that form large colonies. Many corals secrete calcium carbonate to form hard skeletons that build these diverse reefs. The Great Barrier Reef has a global reputation for its crystal-clear waters and a beautiful kaleidoscope of corals that holds an exceptional ecological importance, therefore, it was an essential item on our must-see list while road tripping in Australia. We sailed out from Cairns, which town is considered the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. We stopped at Green Island, one of the most beautiful coral cays in the Pacific to check out its unique rainforests, pristine sandy beaches and sapphire blue waters.

After leaving this incredible tropical island, we continued our journey to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. We arrived to the reef platform, where we were able to snorkel for hours and see this wonderful part of our planet. We saw countless of beautiful corals and colorful fish swimming around the reefs. I also rented an underwater camera to document our sightings. I have to admit that underwater photography is extremely difficult, and I have very little experience in it, so the images I took here are not the same quality as my “normal” terrestrial wildlife and landscape photos. I still wanted to show them, because snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef was one of the highlights of our Australia road trip, and I also believe that I was still somewhat able to capture the stunning beauty of this amazing underwater world. Sadly, the Great Barrier Reef, like most wild places on earth is threatened by climate change and human interference. Protecting these wildernesses is vital for the future of the planet and humanity as well.

Gear: OM System TG-7, PT-059 Underwater Housing