There is a stingray under this slab of coral - you can barely see the tip of its business end.

I didn't see a need to get too close and maybe frighten it (yeah, right!). It was actually rather pretty with neon blue spots on a brown background...

Lots and lots of fishies...

These photos were taken with a disposable underwater camera. We didn't have a camera made to withstand the water pressure for taking photos while scuba diving.

Giant clams - and I mean, GIANT.

We got in the water as soon as we arrived and were immediately introduced to a giant manta ray. Not being a marine biologist, I didn't know it was harmless. All I saw was the Starship Enterprise coming at me full on and I thought I was going to be lunch. The manta turned away when I screamed into my snorkel and flapped my fins at it though... "just another crazy human female..."

See turtle? I believe it's a loggerhead.

I got certified to dive in Las Vegas, NV in man-made Lake Meade - visibility was about 15 feet and there was nothing to see but a couple of sun perch, old tires and trash. Imagine how much better the sights were at the Great Barrier Reef!

One of Nemo's buddies...

The humpback whales were migrating through the area when we were there. We could hear them singing to each other when snorkeling or scuba diving - an awesome experience. We also had a mother and calf surface within 50 feet of our dive boat - it was an absolutely amazing experience to be out there so close to nature in the big, wild ocean with no other boats or humans around, quite humbling too.

The fishies are mighty curious...

This is a flute fish - doubtful that it's musically inclined.

Lovely purple (and fragile) starfish were everywhere...