ocean freedom upolo cay and reef

Feel Great Features

A “scusi” and a snorkel surprise

When you work on the iconic Great Barrier Reef, inspiring moments are in abundance. However, there’s one memory that will always be ingrained in Taryn Agius’s mind.

The dive instructor and owner/operator of Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom recalls the moment a seventy-year-old life-long snorkeller saw his wife see the underwater wonders of the big blue for the very first time.

“We have had a lot of stories over the years, but this one will remain indelibly stamped on my soul”, she said.

The guests were an Italian couple in their early 70s, they were very fit and active and it was obvious that they were in a very long lasting marriage and were still very much in love. The gentleman was incredibly passionate about snorkelling and the ocean and had snorkelled all around the world during their travels. His wife would always accompany him on these “snorkelling excursions” but would never get in the water.

When I asked why she didn’t join him, he replied “no she will never get in – she doesn’t like the water”.

All of the snorkellers got into the water, including this gentleman. It was obvious that both of them were fit and he was very competent in the water, so off he went!

Meanwhile I found his wife sitting in the saloon reading and sat and had a chat to see if I could encourage her to see the reef so that she could experience the joy of snorkelling, which had been a passion for her husband during all their years together. I gently convinced her to try – just for a second so she could “say” she saw the Great Barrier Reef. So armed with a snorkel jacket, properly fitting mask and ring we ventured slowly and steadily down the ladder into the water.

After a little more encouragement, the head went down into the water and off we went. I could see her husband, who had no idea that she was in the water at this time. I decided to “bump” into him with her “in tow” – he immediately looked up and said “Scusi” thinking he had bumped into us and then I just pointed his wife to him. I will never forget the look of pure emotion and surprise on his face seeing his wife snorkelling for the first time and sharing in one of his passions. We acquainted ourselves with all the “Reef Hollywood” stars and then snorkelled back to the boat. The beauty about this was that the Great Barrier Reef united a longstanding passion of one partner with a new experience of the other but that evening at dinner they would (as all our guests do) be chatting about their “joint” experience of at one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

 

Feel Great Features

Feel Great. Leave Greater.

Into the big blue

Discover more about the Great Barrier Reef and its residents.

master reef guides great barrier reef
Great Barrier Reef
Ways you can help the Great Barrier Reef

There’s a sense of responsibility that comes when you’re visiting one of the world’s seven wonders; a calling to nurture nature. If leaving only footprints (or fin waves in this case) is high on your priority list, here are some ways you can help the Great Barrier Reef during your next holiday.

Read more
Eco Certified
Caring for Coral: Nurturing the Beauty of the Reef

Tourism operators in Tropical North Queensland actively invest in the future of the Great Barrier Reef. They have been dedicated partners in its protection and management for decades. By engaging in research and providing infrastructure for scientists, they ensure the reef is the best managed on Earth. Visiting the reef contributes to its ongoing preservation, allowing future generations to enjoy its beauty.

Read more
spa treatment eleme day spa
Tropical Lifestyle & Culture
Find your zen with these health & wellness experiences in the tropics

A trip to Tropical North Queensland is pretty much like living inside a meditation app. From listening to the soft tinkling of rain and chorus of birdsong in the rainforest from a luxury chalet, to letting go of your inhabitations and being truly present with a massage, a trip to the tropics is sure to make you feel zen.

Read more
daintree rainforest boardwalk
Cairns & Northern Beaches
Walk on the wild side with these rainforest boardwalks

From wandering through the top of the rainforest canopy, to venturing to thundering waterfalls, these rainforest boardwalks are short on distance but big on experience.

Read more
Emerald Creek Falls
Uncategorised
20 waterfalls near Cairns

Mighty mountain ranges and Wet Tropics Rainforest create the optimum environment for a myriad of extraordinary waterfalls. Fall in love with these 20 waterfall wonderlands only a short drive from Cairns.

Read more
lorikeet at birdworld in kuranda
Cairns & Northern Beaches
A wildlife warrior’s 3 day guide to the tropics

Love animals? Love nature? Love khaki? If you answered yes, this guide has your name written all over it, and we’re calling you a wildlife warrior from now on. Trek to the tropics for three days of nature in the north with this itinerary.

Read more
Great Barrier Reef
Marine Biologist For A Day – Inspiring The Next Generation of Reef Warriors

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a marine biologist on the Great Barrier Reef? Sunlover Reef Cruises’ Marine Biologist For a Day Program allows future generations to literally dive into the role.

Read more
Gareth Phillips snorkelling on the reef
Great Barrier Reef
Reef Talk – A chat with marine biologist Gareth Phillips

The Great Barrier Reef is a thriving, living marine environment. It inspires all who visit, even those who see it every day, like marine biologist and owner of Marine Discoveries, Gareth Phillips.

Read more
Leafy rainforest garden at the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Cairns & Northern Beaches
Nourish Your Soul in the Cairns Botanic Gardens

The Cairns Botanic Gardens may just be a stone’s throw away from the city, but the lush greenery and meandering rainforest paths will make you feel like you are a thousand miles away. Megan Woolfe explores this leafy haven.

Read more
Yagurli Tours
Gulf Savannah & Outback
Beneath the Milkyway with Aboriginal Traditional Custodians

Moungibi (Burketown), a small town in the Gulf of Carpentaria with a population of fewer than 300 people, may surprise you with its depth of experiences – Indigenous-owned & operated Yagurli Tours offers a collection of tours run by the Gangalidda-Garawa Traditional Custodians.

Read more