VW Bus T4&5+ – July 2019

VWBUS T4&5+

http://www.vwbusmagazine.com 45

himself, although communication

is sparse when the mouth is taken

up with breathing equipment.

We dived as much as we could,

snorkelling until Dan’s lips were

blue with cold. The reef was

incredible, but we couldn’t get

away from the blatant fact that

it was dying. All you had to do

was snorkel for a few minutes

in one direction, heading to the

edges of our designated zone, to

see the bleaching for real. Corals

were bone white, strewn across

the ocean floor. Despite this the

havens of living corals were bright

and colourful, providing food

for parrot fish and homes to the

biggest giant clams I’d ever seen.

We finished the day absolutely

exhausted and amazed by the

majesty of the reef. After we had

gotten off the boat we headed back

to the van, falling quickly to sleep

without even attempting dinner.

Probably thinking about lunch

We were awoken rudely the

next morning by a staccato

knocking on our sliding door.

“There’s no camping allowed

here; you need to get up and

move. A $261 fine is in force

for illegal camping in the

shire of Port Douglas”.

We had prepared for this.

Frame to frame blackout curtains

on the rear window, as well as

a full coverage one between the

back and the cab. Months ago,

we had agreed to lay low if this

situation were ever to occur;

we thought that as long as the

ranger couldn’t see us sleeping,

they couldn’t fine us. They

would surely need proof, right?

“I know you’re in there, and

if you don’t come out in the

next 30 seconds it’s a $261 fine!”

Against what may have been in

our best interest we stayed silent

and deathly still. Of course, this

Crazy coral formations at Agincourt

Malana Falls

Looking over the edge

Tiny waterfall at Babinda

The reef was incredible, but

we couldn’t get away from the

blatant fact that it was dying