Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a coral formation, the largest in the world, and one of the seven natural wonders off the Pacific coast of Queensland, Australia. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to a spectacular array of marine life and offers awesome diving opportunities.

Understand
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef on earth has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, one of the earliest world heritage sites. Unfortunately, due to climate change, the reef is extremely endangered and various factors are responsible for this. There's the change in the global climate and the increasing pollution of the sea through shipping and the sewage through the increasing settlement of the east coast are all some factors. Tourism is also a reason to blame for this. Every visitor to this sensitive region should be aware of their responsibility and do their part to preserve this unique natural reef.

Flora and fauna
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system on earth with 359 hard coral species and providing habitat for a variety of species. Among other things, there are 80 species of soft corals and seapens, over 1,500 species of fish, 1,500 species of sponges, 5,000 species of molluscs, 800 species of echinoderms such as starfish, 500 different species of seaweed and 215 species of birds.

Six of the world's seven species of sea turtles are found in the Great Barrier Reef. These include the endangered loggerhead sea turtles and Pacific green turtles that use the reef to lay their eggs. The dugongs (manatees) that live there are also threatened with extinction. In addition, the humpback whales living near Antarctica use the warm waters to give birth to their young, along with other whale species found there.

The jagged and branched coral masses offer ideal conditions for snails and rare mussels such as Arthritica species or spiny snails such as Murex pecten.

Coral reproduction
A special event is the annual colourful coral bloom, which serves to propagate the corals. This takes place on the Great Barrier Reef during the Australian spring in November and follows a schedule that is strictly set by nature. The factors influencing the time are the water temperature of around 27 °C, the length of the day and the phase of the moon. Only a meticulously coordinated ejection of the egg cells and sperm in large quantities can ensure successful reproduction of the animals under the difficult conditions caused by predators and strong sea currents.

By day trip reef boat
Day trips to the reef run from most of the length of the Queensland Coast. Generally speaking, the further north you leave from, the shorter the trip to the reef, as it approaches the coast near Cape Tribulation.

The general trip plan for the major operators provides for an early-morning departure,  Tie up a few hours later off a pontoon or cay where they have purchased rights, usually lunch is available (or included) and a late afternoon return to port. They always return to one or two specific locations, and it is not unusual for several boats to be within a few hundred metres of each other.

These types of trips are offered (at least) from the mainland coastal towns out of Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas, Cairns, Townsville, Airlie Beach (Shute Harbour), Mackay, Gladstone, and 1770 (from north to south). Check destination guides for more information, as not all trips run every day from every town.

Reef islands


There are many islands scattered off the Queensland Coast in several different island groups. Many cater for day trips, overnight stays, or both, offering widely varying standards of facilities accommodation. Not all islands off the coast are on the reef. Some are continental islands, some coral cays. Some of the continental islands have coral gardens off the beach, others do not. Some islands are teeming with marine life, and others have little. Check the specific destination guides, to see if the island you are thinking of visiting is a snorkeller's paradise, or just a nice place to pull up a deckchair and relax.

The islands that are not on the reef, generally run some sort of day trip by boat to the reef. Some of these trips, especially those in the Whitsundays, can pick up from the mainland prior to picking up from one or two islands, servicing daytrippers from the islands to the coast, coast to islands, and coast and islands to the reef. In these cases, prices are usually similar to what you would pay from the coast. However, there are some islands (typically the premium ones) that offer their own trips, and these can cost considerably more.

Get around
Cairns is considered the gateway to the reef but boats also leave from Airlie Beach, Cooktown, Port Douglas, Mission Beach, Townsville & Yeppoon.
 * Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. There are many places to depart from to get to the reef.

Reef tours

 * Mike Ball Dive Expeditions offers 3,4 and 7 night trips to the Great Barrier Reef, including the Ribbon Reefs and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.
 * Cruise Whitsundays offers a reef trip at Queensland's a reef pontoon at Knuckle Reef. Knuckle Reef Pontoon features an underwater viewing chamber and a giant waterslide.
 * Great Barrier Reef Liveaboards. Large range of Great Barrier Reef liveaboards and Coral Sea dive trips. Great Barrier Reef trips from Whitsunday Islands can be found here.
 * Cairns Tour Advice & Booking Centre. A Cairns travel agency on the esplanade in Cairns for over 12 years offering independent Cairns tour advice & bookings for all Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest day tours.
 * Ocean Free is a Cairns based tour company taking visitors to Green Island and Upolu Cay daily.
 * Passions Of Paradise: From Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef on a 25 metre custom designed sailing catamaran. Depart daily to beautiful Michaelmas Cay and Paradise Reef, giving you the choice of two destinations where you can sunbathe, snorkel, scuba dive, glass bottom boat ride or simply sail. The trip is suitable for all ages. or +61 7 4041-1600, for free in Australia : 1800 111 346

Scuba diving


The Great Barrier Reef is a famed diving destination, although divers with experience of the tropics find parts of it overused and damaged.

Most travellers learn to dive in Townsville, Cairns or Port Douglas: all have a very competitive dive industry. Most students prefer to do a two day pool and classroom course, followed by a two or three day liveaboard visiting the reef to the east of Cairns. It's possible to learn with some of the operators that travel to the Coral Sea, but check first about the difficulty of their dive sites. Land based learn to dive courses cost about $500, dive courses including a liveaboard start at about $700.

Some day trips to the reef are available from Cairns and Port Douglas diving operators. These trips involve about 2 hours boat travel in each direction and will cost $170-$200. Most operators do three day liveaboards to the reefs east of Cairns, starting at about $500 for 3 of days diving and 2 nights on the boat, meals included. Snorkelers can travel on these trips for reduced prices, but check first about the suitability of their sites for snorkelling. Serious divers generally prefer the five or seven day liveaboards visiting the Coral Sea to the north.

Most boat trips, particularly liveaboards, may be up to 40% cheaper if booked at the last possible moment on standby rates. A certain amount of risk is involved in doing this: you must arrive at the destination hoping that a booking will become available, you need to be able to be somewhat flexible about your date of departure, and you may not be able to travel with your first choice operator. However, most divers report that they are able to find at least one standby trip when they try this. Dive travel agents may also be able to advise you.

Some of the islands have a fringing reef, and it is possible to dive or snorkel from shore.

The southern part of the reef off Townsville is known mostly for the wreck of the Yongala, visited on both liveaboards and day trip operators from Townsville, Ayr and Magnetic Island. The Yongala sank in 1911 in about 30 metres (100 feet) of water. As the bottom is otherwise featureless in this area, it is a haven for fish and coral. However, as the site is unprotected many trips have to be cancelled if weather conditions are not favourable.

Eat

 * Seafoods at the Great Barrier Reef islands and nearby coastal areas are delicious. There are restricted fishing areas, although it would be better if you go a restaurant. Reef fish are also available in fish and chip shops.

Drink
Reef day trips sell alcohol on board. Reef islands nearly always have at least one bar, usually much at the centre of island life. Some have innovative pool bars. Some have a young party scene, others have cocktails by the pool, and others close early, targeting the demographic that prefers to wake early to see the dawn, rather seeing it through the haze of the night before. Check the destination guides.

Stay safe
There are marine threats on the reef, from Stonefish to Sharks, Sea Snakes to Jellyfish. Many trips to the reef are made all year around, and injuries due to any of these causes on the reef are rare. Still, take advice from authorities, obey all signs, and pay close attention to safety warnings.


 * Box jellyfish occur near beaches and near river estuaries from October to April north of 1770. They can occasionally be found outside these times.  They are usually not found in deep water or over coral, and most people snorkelling on the reef do so without stinger protection.  However wearing a wetsuit (available on all the dive boats) will give you added buoyancy, and also some protection against stingers.  They are very rare, but deadly.
 * Sharks do exist, however they rarely attack humans. Most sharks are scared of humans and would swim away.
 * Saltwater Crocodiles. Crocodiles do not actively live in the ocean, their primary habitat is in river estuaries north from Rockhampton They can use the ocean as a means of travel between river systems and islands. It is very rare for them to enter the coral reef areas. Most crocodiles will not swim through the reefs.
 * Sunburn and dehydration The QLD sun can burn unprotected skin within a very short time (approx 20 minutes). Even on cloudy days sunscreen is recommended for all exposed skin areas, particularly for children.  Most advice available suggests staying out of direct sun between the hours of 10am and 3pm, but a broad hat, sun-smart clothing and high SPF sunscreen will go a long way towards making sure you can enjoy your time in the tropics.  A nasty case of sunburn will force you to remain indoors for a couple of days, so its just not worth it.  Also, carry drinking water with you as even mild dehydration can lead to heatstroke/ sunstroke.  Drinking alcohol in hot weather without also drinking plenty of water is not safe, and at the very least will lead to a nasty hangover!