The Great Barrier Reef (D28)

It's an early start to be at the South Jetty at 8.15 prompt. All I need is my swimmers and scuba diving here we come. At 8.35 the big cat arrives. Andy jumps off. He's the captain and tells us what to do. The reef 100km away so we sit down and make ourselves comfortable. Cost is $104.50. Our MC for the day is Gary, he's Scottish and lets us know. He's very funny you know. He points to the sun and explains to the Brits what it is. I told you he was funny. The Barrier Reef is one of the UN's world heritage sites along with places like the Amazonian rain forrest and the Grand Canyon. It covers an area half the size of Texas.

We have to sign a piece of paper to say we've been told that it is stinger season. Jelly fish. They hardly ever do sting but it can be very uncomfortable, says Gary. The thing to do is not to panic and squirt vinegar over where it gets you. I remember my brother being stung when we were kids in Mauritius. It seemed rather more than just uncomfortable.

There are several groups of people on board. There's a small group of French, or should I say a group of small French people. One of them is clearly in charge of them. I think he may be Corsican. There are Americans too, a few English but mainly Aussie.

Our part of the reef, Knuckle Reef, is apparently quite healthy. The average temperature of the water needs to be 29 degrees, any higher and the coral dies. The health of the reef is partly due to a generous donation by the tour company of $4.50 per passenger. Scuba diving will be another $100. I haven't brought any cash, well not much and no credit cards. Anyway I'm not sure they'd work any way after yesterday. Oh well another ambition thwarted. Actually I went 20 years ago. The colours of the coral were disappointing then, and now I find out why. The interesting wavelengths get filtered out by the water, so you loose the red end of the spectrum. If you cut your finger deep down it looks green. Coral is an animal you know, and lives symbiotically with algae. It is this that gives them their colour and feeds them. The bright colours we're used to seeing on TV is because the photographers shine ultraviolet light on the coral.

Snorkeling it is then, and it's free. Actually, most of the interesting coral is nearer the surface anyway and can't be seen by the scuba divers. Lots of bright blue, and pinky purple and yellow.

My highlight is a giant clam. They get up to a meter in diameter, and I think this one is. Two French people are looking at it and photographing it with an underground camera. I heard them talking on the pontoon. I'm sure his name is Jack. The clam has a blue rim and inside it has a purply blue belly. Wonderful. Jack dives down and wafts water towards it and it closes a little. Amazing, fabulous and awesome.

Nothing else comes up to that. I went on the glass bottom boat and the submarine. Boring. No turtles or shark or stingrays unfortunately.

On the way back the French and Americans seem to be getting on very well. I wonder whats going on so move to the front to listen in. The French seem now to be talking American. Maybe they're Canadian after all.

We arrive back at Daydream. It's been a long day. You can get pictures of the reef, but there's nothing like actually being there, and collecting the T-shirt.

The TV tonight is full of the Copenhagan meeting. Meanwhile in Australia the opposition is underfire for having no policy on climate change. Aussies seem to be taking the issue very seriously. The issues here are difficult. Australia is a major exporter of coal to China, but temperatures are rising. Bush fires are threatened, and there's a ban on fires in the Sydney area. Other parts of the Barrier Reefs are dying. We have two weeks to save the world, Sky News tells us.