It was the fourth day of my Great Barrier Reef getaway, and my frustration had neared its crescendo.

For years, I’d fantasized about diving this world wonder. In June 2025, I made it happen. My accommodation, Lizard Island Resort , a remote property on the reef’s northern fringes, put me right near the path of the dwarf minke whale migration.

To reach the cetaceans, and other showstoppers like human-sized potato grouper, travelers typically take a scenic ride from Lizard Island to the outer reef. Yet four days of incessant wind meant we couldn’t swim more than a stone’s throw from shore.

While I’d known this was a possibility—island weather is always unpredictable—I let the angst get the best of me. On that final shore dive, though, I made a pact with myself. Instead of bemoaning what

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