409 Dive Log Australasia December 24

Spirit of Freedom text and photos by Mike Scotland

One of the greatest adventures on Planet Ocean is a week of scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef . What a joy! I boarded the Spirit of Freedom in Cairns. I admit that I was excited to be freed from the shackles of my land locked existence over the last few months; I was excited to immerse myself in the greatest coral ecosystem of all on our beautiful blue planet. From the moment that I saw my first Butterfly fish and clam, I was so thrilled to renew my acquaintance with my fellow tropical lifeforms. The Great Barrier Reef is an amazing place! Every clam I saw was so colourful; just like a psychedelic

School of Bump Headed Parrotfish

palette of dazzling colour. No two clams have the same colours and patterns. It is hard to believe that billions of clams are all individual, varied and stunning. I have travelled all over the Pacific Ocean. There is no other dive destination there this mind-blowing biodiversity of clam artistry can be found. What magic spell that these clams have cast on me! The same goes for the Butterfly fish. I do like to collect Butterflies, that is, in my camera. My first recorded sighting is the beautiful Pacific Double-Sided Butterflyfish. It does not take long to count quite a few species.

Curious Cuttles were seen on many days.

My pampered Titan Triggerfish

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DIVE LOG Australasia #409 - December ‘24

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