A few weeks ago, at 2:50am on the 6th of May, 72 students gathered at Sunshine Beach State High School bus stop with suitcases full of swimmers, sunscreen and snorkels, ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For the next 10 hours on the bus, students bubbled with excitement and eagerly chatted over what they would see and do at the phenomenal, amazing and beautiful Heron Island. The sights began as soon as the group stepped onto the jetty, where directly below them were gigantic groper fish, remarkable reef sharks and startling stingrays. But the sights didn’t stop here, they were endless.
Students interacted with baby turtles, dolphins, sea stars, eagle-rays, mutton birds, Nemos and Doreys, chitons, clams, sea cucumbers, turtle weed crabs, Gonioppora coral… and still only saw a fraction of what Heron has to offer. One of the main highlights was the early morning 6am snorkel; despite having to squeeze back into already-damp wetsuits and face the icy waters every morning, students eagerly raced to the water for an exceptional experience around the shipwreck or in Shark Bay above the incredible tropical organisms. Throughout the trip, students also worked on their extended investigations for Biology or Marine Science and Geography case studies, where they had the unique opportunity to be learning whilst closely interacting with the wonders of nature.
Overall, Heron Island was the trip of a lifetime where many experiences, stories and memories were made and will not be forgotten any time soon. A massive thanks must go to all the teachers who helped make the trip a success, particularly Mr Armstrong for his organisation and leadership.
Brielle Blandford (Year 12 Student)
To see more of the amazing Heron Island have a look at the
Heron Island Photo Gallery.
Below are some videos made on Heron Island.