Winner tells of trip to the Coral Sea

Earlier last year WWF and Discovery ran a competition during Shark Week. The lucky winner was Liz who won a once in a lifetime trip to the Coral Sea. Liz kindly tells us about her trip.

When I told my friends I’d won a trip on a Coral Sea research expedition with Richard Fitzpatrick, they all said “lucky you”.

But when I told them I’d be swimming with sharks, they weren’t so sure - and I admit I had the occasional doubts as well.

I needn’t have worried. From the moment the Spoilsport set off from Cairns, it was one amazing experience after another.

Just being on the ship was wonderful, seeing a hundred shades of shimmering blue all around me. But once I entered the warm waters of Osprey Reef, I was in a whole new world - a world of shapes, colours and textures like I’d never experienced before. But most excitingly, it was a world crowded with life.

Schools of trevally circled me. Parrot fish and angel fish floated by. Huge cod gave me a glance, then moved on. Shy clown fish even popped out now and then. And then there were the sharks. Lots of them. White tipped reef sharks, grey nurse, and dozens of hammerheads. All - thankfully - just gliding past, taking no interest in me at all.

The other passengers, all avid scuba divers (I stuck to snorkling), had come from all round the world. None were disappointed. Who could be? It was truly a wonder world.

The highlight for everyone was watching Richard Fitzpatrick lassoing sharks and tagging them for research. Between dives, Richard gave talks on his research and his concerns for the future of the reef and the Coral Sea.

The seven days passed like minutes, but the memories will live with me forever. A lifetime of thanks to WWF, Discovery Channel, Richard Fitzpatrick, John Rumney and all the crew for allowing me the privilege of joining them on this never-to-be-forgotten journey.