We spent time at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef with teens this summer.
One was cautious, the other bold.
The grandmother was timid–with a stomach proving her point.
My husband kept laughing.
Other than that–it was a magical time.
Why visit the Great Barrier Reef with teens?
Everyone in our party of five (including their aunt) wanted to go.
It is one of the wonders of the natural world and we don’t expect to return.
Rather than describe, let’s just look at the photos.
Fortunately, the aunt borrowed an underwater camera, so you can see what we saw!
Floating above the water (and hanging on to a life ring), I marveled.
Shapes, colors, lots of life.
Fish swam by periodically, often wearing “startling” colors.
But I also was struck by how oblivious the fish were to all of us floating above them.
It reminded me of all the people who live their lives without considering that God is watching them from above.
I’m often just as oblivious.
Do any of us live our lives without remembering others notice us?
Was it safe?
Perfectly.
We caught our ship from Passion of Paradise Tours in Cairns, Australia.
The ship operates with a slew of professionals.
They explained how the snorkels worked, checked we wore them correctly, provided lenses that matched eye prescriptions as needed, and also checked our flippers fit.
We all wore lifebelts, and the ship posted spotters watching for anyone having trouble.
They had us practice an “all fine” sign in case the Great Barrier Reef and teens, children, grandparents, and other adults needed help.
Several employees swam with us, toting life rings in case people got tired.
Snorkeling makes me feel claustrophobic, and I quickly tired from trying to work the mask, the flippers, the snorkel.
I gladly hung on and hung above the Great Barrier Reef and teens.
They laughed, played, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
We visited two sites that day, seeing pretty much the same sea flora and fauna.
The girls loved it.
And my husband just laughed–when he wasn’t snorkeling himself.
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Snorkeling and laughter: visiting the Great Barrier Reef with teens. Click to Tweet
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