These pictures are from a Mike Ball expediation to the Great Barrier Reef. The trip was sponsored by Lancaster Scuba Center in January 2009. There were 2 nearby cyclones that delivered significant rainfail in Cairns causing severe flooding. At sea, the storms combined with a full moon to deliver significant currents. On the first day of diving, most of the day was spent searching for 2 missing divers swept away by shifting currents. They were found in the late afternoon. Despite the anxiety caused by our first day, we continued on with a splendid week of diving. Sharks entertained us on night dives. Giant clams, potatoe cods, and multiple sea snakes highlighted our dives during the day. My favorite encounter was a friendly turtle who placed his left fin on my shoulder and looked into my video housing.
© Mark Etter Underwater Photography
