

Beginner courses typically include equipment hire and interactive demonstrations before two or three guided dives from a cameraman, on such as Agincourt Reef. Surely there can be no better place to learn to dive than the Great Barrier Reef? And for experienced diver, not many other locations offering such a diversity of dive sites and marine life to discover.Ī number of Great Barrier Reef diving tours are available from Cairns and other coastal towns. Many Great Barrier Reef cruises dock alongside a floating pontoon to allow for more space and somewhere to store equipment, but this also allows for a spot of sunbathing and reef viewing for those not wishing to get wet. To sail to the outer reaches of the reef takes about two hours, after which you will have plenty of time to experience the reef first-hand, whether by snorkelling, diving or on a glass bottom boat tour.
#The great barrier reef full
Most Great Barrier Reef cruises last a full day. Day cruises operate from various harbours and marinas along the coast, with Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach offering the most departures. There are many ways to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, but a boat cruise to the outer reef is almost an essential part of any Queensland holiday. The coral itself is a living organism, but acts as an underwater wildlife haven. The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 different species of fish, including 130 species of shark, as well as six of the world’s endangered species of turtles. It is a staggering feat of marine architecture that creates a vibrant ecosystem. Actually, the Great Barrier Reef is made up of almost 3,000 individual reefs and more than 900 islands. Even today, the coast towns remain relatively small, and industry mostly focuses in farming and tourism. The reef has also been a barrier for big ships, which has had a knock-on effect of reducing the industrialization of Northern Queensland.


In particular, the outer reefs absorb the energy of the waves reducing their impact on the rest of the coast. Why is it called a Barrier reef? Originally named by the explorer Matthew Flinders, in the early 1800s, the Great Barrier Reef protects the eastern coastline of Australia from storms and waves generated in the Pacific Ocean.Reaching from beyond the northern tip of Cape York down to Bundaberg, just north of Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef covers an overall area greater than 130,000 square miles. The Great Barrier Reef stretches for nearly 1,500 miles along the eastern coast of Queensland. Why do so many people want to visit the Great Barrier Reef? What draws people from all around the world to see this natural marvel? The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish With waters reflecting every shade of blue, and corals made up of every other colour, it is clear to see why the Great Barrier Reef features in most Australia holidays. However, perhaps its most precious of all, is the Great Barrier Reef. Uluru and Kakadu, Sydney Harbour and the Blue Mountains, The Kimberley, and Kangaroo Island. Australia is blessed with an abundance of awe-inspiring natural wonders.
