Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef Cairns, Australia
Cairns Great Barrier Reef
One of the top reasons people visit Cairns Queensland Australia is to experience the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef. The amazing array of marine wildlife and exotic coral reef colours that make up Australia's Great Barrier Reef, cannot be found elsewhere in the world with the ease of access the Cairns and Port Douglas region affords.
Cairns
and Port Douglas offer the ideal departure points for day trips and overnight reef trips to see the outer Great Barrier Reef. Some of the most exotic and rare scuba diving and snorkelling spots in the world are a short distance from the city of Cairns and Port Douglas, courtesy of dozens of reef tour companies. Australia's Great Barrier Reef is an exotic playground Twice the Size of Tasmania, just waiting to be explored by snorkellers and scuba divers.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has been a focal point for the eastern coast of northern Australia for centuries. This massive living coral structure stretches from Bundaberg beyond the northern tip of Australia protecting the coastline from surf and providing nurseries for migrating Humpback and Dwarfe Minke whales and other rare and endangered marine life such as the Dugong and Green Sea Turtles. The magical colours of the ocean and the coral reef intrigued Captain James Cook, an English captain who claimed Australia for Britain in 1770, until he accidentally struck the sharp coral and punched a gaping hole in his vessel Endeavour. The explorer was able to repair the hole in his boat in the Cooktown River and return home to Britain, but not without experiencing the full wrath of Australia's Great Barrier Reef coral.
Since that time, the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef has been a constant source of fascination for everyone who encounters it from not only the land but also from outer space.
| Tour Type | Pricing | Point of Difference | Photo Gallery | |
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| Tusa Dive and Snorkel T5 | $165 AUD | You have now arrived to see one of the seven wonders of the natural world so why not do it in style and without the crowds. Tusa is a fast moving streamlined machine that has you on Australia's Great Barrier Reef in just 90 minutes from Cairns. Limited to only 60 passengers but built to carry 120 you can lounge around in style and receive personalised service from the attentive Tusa crew members. The Tusa company motto is "Diving the Reef is our Passion but "Sharing it is our Obsession" and this rings true once you board Tusa Dive and Snorkel. | 
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| Spirit of Freedom - Luxury Livaboard Scuba Diving | From $1425 AUD | The tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef harbour an ecosystem rich in marine diversity and exquisite natural beauty. Join Spirit of Freedom for your choice of a 3, 4 or 7 night expedition to world renown diving destinations of the Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs, and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. These unique ecosystems showcase an amazing diversity from picturesque coral gardens crowned with delicate anemones and colorful reef fish to the 1000 metre walls of the volcanic atolls of the Coral Sea, home territory for reef sharks, whalers, schooling hammerheads, mantas, schools of barracuda and mackeral, and massive red and yellow soft corals. Spirit of Freedom is one of Australia's most comfortably appointed live-aboard dive vessels, with three decks of living space, generous cabins with private bathroom, and all the amenities of a hotel, complimented by first class meals and outstanding service. |
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| Coral Sea Dreaming | $440 AUD | Amazing overnight Diving 2 Days 1 Night. You will get to experience the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Great Natural Wonders of the World, in a unique setting. We change the cruise to suit the activities you are interested in most. This is one of our personal touches that will make your Australian sail and dive experience one you will talk about for years. |
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| Silverswift Snorkelling & Cruise | $175 AUD | Silverswift visits the best dive sites off Cairns including Flynn, Milln, Thetford and Pellowe Reefs, known for their abundance of marine life and water clarity. With a unique roaming permit and over 16 different sites to choose from, each site is chosen for ecological and visual diversity, and selected for the best experiences on the day. | 
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| Frankland Island Snorkelling | $136 AUD | All of their tours include: Fresh Tropical lunch with seafood Glass bottom boat or semi-submersible coral viewing tours Guided Island Walk Reef Ecology Presentation Maximum 100 People All day snorkelling plus equipment Morning and Afternoon Tea |
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| Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises | Adult $77 Child $38.50 |
Green Island is a tropical island paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel, dive and swim in the warm island waters, view the spectacular reef from a semi-submarine or glass bottom boat, explore the National Park or just relax on the idyllic sandy beach. Big Cat offers a range of full or half day tours which depart daily at 9am, 11am and 1pm from Cairns. Big Cat has Advanced Eco Certification and due to its zero carbon footprint has achieved Leader level Climate Action Certification. |
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| Sunlover Family Pontoon | Adult $180 Child $65 |
Luxury travel to the reef on-board our air-conditioned catamaran; Informative presentation hosted by our marine naturalist; Delicious chef-prepared buffet luncheon featuring fresh seafood, hot dishes, salads and sumptuous tropical fruits; Guided coral viewing from our semi-submersible craft and glass bottom boat; On-board touch tank to experience unique marine life up close; All snorkelling equipment; Afternoon tea; Optional activities to personalise your day on the water including Certified and Introductory Diving, Seawalker® Platform Helmet Diving and Guided Snorkel Tours; Scenic Helicopter Flights are also available and may be booked onboard. |
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| Ocean Freedom Upolu Cay Snorkelling | Adult $179 Child $100 |
One of Few Boats that goes to the World Famous “Wonder Wall” |
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| Ocean Free | $135 AUD | Explore Green Island and Upolu Cay in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with Ocean Free | 
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| Passions of Paradise | $139 AUD | Travel with us from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef on a magnificent 25 meter custom designed sailing catamaran. We depart daily to beautiful Michaelmas Cay and Paradise Reef, giving you the choice of two destinations where you can soak up the sun, snorkel with the fish, scuba dive, glass bottom boat ride or simply enjoy sailing on a really special boat. | 
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| Tour Type | Pricing | Point of Difference | Photo Gallery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taka Dive 4 days (Cod Hole) |
Stateroom: $1725 Twin/Double Ensuite: $1525 Twin/Double Standard: $1370 |
All trips on Taka include Air Fills, Bed Linen & Towel, Hot Fresh Showers, All Meals & Accommodation, Fresh water / Tea & Coffee, and City Accommodation Transfers. |
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| Taka Dive 5 days (Coral Sea) |
Stateroom: $2200 Twin/Double Ensuite: $1930 Twin/Double Standard: $1725 |
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| Taka Dive 7 Days (Cod Hole & Coral Sea) |
Stateroom: $3550 Twin/Double Ensuite: $3145 Twin/Double Standard: $2840 |
Cairns and Port Douglas in north Queensland offer the fastest access gateway to the Great Barrier Reef - the world's largest, most spectacular coral reef system – where scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, cruising and island hopping are a part of everyday life.
Tourists the world over have the Great Barrier Reef on their lists as a must see destination at least once in their life and most choose to take a snorkel or scuba diving trip from Cairns or Port Douglas as these ports offer a fast boat ride out to the fertile snorkelling grounds of the Great Barrier Reef.
Here you can discover a whole new underwater world and greet over 6,600 species of flora and fauna, including 1,500 species of fish, 4,000 species of molluscs and 400 types of reef coral. Over 30 boat tours depart for the Great Barrier Reef and islands daily from Cairns and Port Douglas, the only hard part about getting to the Great Barrier Reef is deciding which reef tour boat to go on!
Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef tours offer a range of activities including snorkelling, introductory or certified scuba diving, and live aboard dive courses and dive adventures with multi lingual, professional tutorage. For those who prefer to stay dry but still want to see the reef, spacious pontoons, semi submersible submarines and glass bottom boats provide popular introductions to the Cairns, Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef, and helmet dives and motorised underwater scooters allow you to reach the ocean floor without even getting your hair wet! These weird and wacky underwater devices make fantastic fun holiday photos, too.
In Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, escaping to a tropical island is not a dream, it's a reality. From uninhabited secluded retreats to lively tropical islands full of day trippers, luxurious island resorts to beach camp sites on deserted islands; all of our 17 islands are pearls of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. But don't just take our word for it – come and see for yourself!
A trip from Cairns or Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef is a holiday you won't forget. Beautiful reefs to snorkel, exotic fish to find and photograph, clear warm water and the hot sun combine to make a glorious experience. Whether you are interested in deep – sea scuba diving among giant Humpheaded Maori Wrasse, or paddling in shallow water surrounded by tiny fish on the edge of an idealic coral sandy cay, Australia's icon the Great Barrier Reef is a place you must visit not once but several times as each time you will discover something new.
Tropical Far North Queensland; specifically Cairns, Port Douglas and Mission Beach are the best places to base yourself if you plan on visiting the Great Barrier Reef because it is the shortest boat ride in proximity to the coral reef than any other place on the east coast of Queensland Australia. Reaching the Barrier Reef from Cairns and Port Douglas only takes from 35 minutes to one and a half hours depending on your boat type and the location you are going to snorkel and scuba dive, whereas from everywhere else on the east coast of Australia it takes two and half to three hours to reach the snorkelling and diving spots of the best sections of the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns – Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef Boat Trips
Everybody is different, and we all like different sorts of experiences. Thankfully, there are MANY Cairns and Port Douglas reef trips to choose from, and usually the greatest problem is choosing which boat tour to go on and visit the Great Barrier Reef in the way that suits you and your partner or family.
We have broken down all the Great Barrier Reef trips into an easy to read format, just click on the category you think might apply to you.
- Great Barrier Reef Trips for Non-Swimmers
- Great Barrier Reef Trips for Families with Children
- Day Trips with Introductory Diving (no medical required)
- Attain a Scuba Dive Certificate, Option One / Option Two
- Relaxing on a Cairns Tropical Island, Half Day / Full Day
- Snorkelling & Glass Bottom Boat Tours
- Private Reef Boat Charter on Luxurious Sailing or Motor Boats
- Scenic Helicopter Flights over the Great Barrier Reef Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tours
- Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tours
- Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef Accommodation Packages including Reef Trips
The Great Barrier Reef
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has been described as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, and there is little wonder why. As a World Heritage Listed area, the 2600km plus stretch of coral reef is home to more species of plants and animals than any other area of this size in the world. The combination of glorious tropical weather, unspoilt Daintree Cape Tribulation rainforest, long white beaches, and warm blue water sets a scene for a tropical holiday in paradise. (Be aware though, during the green season from December to March, you may encounter tropical downpours at night with the bonus of waking up to beautiful sunny days just perfect for the reef with no trade winds around normally at this time of year unless you encounter a tropical low!) Australia's Great Barrier Reef is also reputed to have the cleanest and clearest body of water in the world.
The Great Barrier Reef is literally brimming with wildlife:
- Dugongs, Turtles, Dolphins, Humpback and Dwarfe Minke Whales
- More than 1500 species of tropical fish
- 4000 types of mollusc
- More than 200 species of bird life, and a lot that migrate annually from around the world.
You're likely to see marine creatures like:
- Moray eels
- Coral Trout
- Anemones
- Shrimp
- Star fish
- Sea cucumbers
- Sea whips
- Giant clams
- Potato Cod Fish (grouper)
- White tipped and Black tipped reef sharks (harmless to humans)
- Barracuda
- Lion fish
- Puffer fish
- Turtles
- Dugong
- Humpback and Dwarfe Minke Whales
- Dolphins
The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland Australia consists of more than 3000 reefs with 400 types of coral. Among the coral are 618 pristine tropical islands and 300 coral cays that look just the same in real life as they do in the holiday brochures at a tour desk or travel agency. The coral sand cays can be completely un-vegetated and disappear underwater at high tides. Others can be slightly vegetated and support a huge array of bird life, while some have trees and animals.
Green Island, only 45 minutes from Cairns aboard a fast ferry, and is a prime example of a wooded island cay. This Cairns island was naturally built up with coral over thousands of years. Birds from the mainland transported seeds to the cay, which eventually culminated in a beautiful tropical island that now supports a holiday resort and guest facilities and a marine park that has monsterous salt water crocodiles and rescued green sea turtles on display for tourists to enjoy whilst enjoying a day on Green Island snorkelling and scuba diving.
When you snorkel or scuba dive up close to the myriad of corals on the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef, you'll notice the intricate design and tiny features which make them so remarkable. Tiny coral polyps - jelly blobs covered with tentacles - are minuscule creatures that combine together to form colonies. Each polyp lives inside a shell of aragonite, a type of calcium carbonate which forms the hard shell of the coral. The polyps connect together to form elaborate forests of brilliantly coloured coral in all the shapes you can imagine. Some look like brains thus their name brain coral, some like deer antlers, some like dinner plates, and some reef coral looks like noodles.
Minute algae create the colour of the coral. Some corals are slow growing and can take hundreds of years to develop as big as a basketball. Others are faster growing.
The corals variation in shapes and colours between the hard and soft corals makes an amazing spectacle. One visitor said:-
"I'm convinced that Walt Disney designed the reef - it's almost too perfect. There were so many things to see that I got sensory overload on every scuba dive."
Cultural & Historic Significance of Australia's Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is also important for cultural reasons. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups of the coastal areas of northeast Australia maintain a strong spiritual connection with the ecosystem. Some examples can be found on Lizard Island and Hinchinbrook Island where there are spectacular galleries of indigenous rock art paintings in caves and cantilevered rock walls.
There are also about 30 shipwrecks of historic importance on the Great Barrier Reef. The hazards of navigation on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, which were experienced by the very first explorers in the region, resulted in the construction of many lighthouses along the east coast of Australia and on outlying tropical islands and waterway entrances. Some of these lighthouses have particular historical importance such as the lighthouse at Lady Elliott Island, built in 1866 and still operating today. This light house was the first of many lighthouses to be built using a timber structure which was then clad with cast iron to protect it from the tropical weather.
Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef Trips
You have many options for a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. You can choose from:
- Half-day snorkel and scuba diving tours
- Full-day snorkelling and scuba diving tours
- Overnight scuba diving and snorkelling tours
- Multiple-night scuba dive and snorkel trips
Deciding what Great Barrier Reef tour option to take depends on how keen you are to scuba dive the reef and also how much time you have to spend in Cairns or Port Douglas Queensland Australia.
If you are travelling from overseas to visit the Great Barrier Reef just make sure you allocate enough days to visit Cairns and all the other attractions in the region as there is so much to see and do. If the weather is not a good day for a reef trip then a day trip exploring the Atherton Tablelands could be the perfect alternative.
Great Barrier Reef Half Day And Full Day Tours
The half-day reef trip gives you the luxury of slotting a visit to another Cairns or Port Douglas sightseeing tour or attraction into your day for either the morning or afternoon.
The reef boat journey can take from 45 minutes to 90 minutes dependant on your island destination and that will give you around two hours of snorkelling and scuba diving adventure.
Day trips usually leave Cairns or Port Douglas at about 8am and return to Cairns at 5:30pm. This allows you more time to experience the reef without needing to check your watch and you will be back in your Cairns holiday accommodation in time for sundowner drinks.
All Great Barrier Reef trips from Cairns and Port Douglas include morning tea, buffet lunch and afternoon tea to suit all palletes. Some even offer tea and coffee and danish pastries and muffins when you first board the boat in the morning.
Children on the Great Barrier Reef
Children are fully catered for on most reef trips and some more than others. Snorkelling gear, down to the smallest sizes, is available for kids. Also, small floatation vests and pool noodles are on board for children to hold onto while swimming. Some of the larger boat pontoons also have safe swimming enclosures for the little ones to paddle around in safely whilst the parents take it in turns to snorkel and dive. The children's swimming enclosures are on pontoons located on the outer Barrier Reef from Cairns.
Some of these bigger pontoons have a kids club program during the school holidays so that the parents can go off together and enjoy a snorkel or dive.
Cairns Tropical Climate
Cairns Tropical North Queensland has glorious warm weather and sunshine most of the year. However, sometimes it is more humid than you may be used to and in the green season from December to March you may just get a welcoming soaking now and again with tropical downpours.
The most popular time of year to visit Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef is from May to December and this is classed as the peak season so obviously hotel costs and airline costs are more expensive than other times of the year. At this time of year the temperature is a just perfect for everyone and there is less chance of rain than other times of the year.
Needless to say, Cairns and Port Douglas is the tropical destination you were yearning for so the suns rays are strong and the air is warm. Make sure you wear a hat and sunscreen at all times while outdoors in the sunshine.
| Month | Air TempMax (°C) | Air TempMin (°C) | Humidity (%) | Surface WaterTemp (°C) | Av. Rainfall (mm) | Rain Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31.5 | 23.6 | 75 | 29.0 | 405 | 17 |
| February | 31.1 | 23.7 | 78 | 28.8 | 434 | 16 |
| March | 30.5 | 23.0 | 78 | 28.3 | 424 | 18 |
| April | 29.2 | 21.5 | 78 | 27.3 | 198 | 15 |
| May | 27.5 | 19.9 | 77 | 25.9 | 100 | 12 |
| June | 25.8 | 17.6 | 74 | 25.5 | 49 | 9 |
| July | 25.6 | 17.0 | 74 | 25.1 | 30 | 7 |
| August | 26.5 | 17.5 | 71 | 24.7 | 27 | 8 |
| September | 27.8 | 18.6 | 67 | 24.9 | 35 | 6 |
| October | 29.4 | 20.5 | 66 | 25.4 | 38 | 7 |
| November | 30.6 | 22.2 | 67 | 27.0 | 89 | 9 |
| December | 31.4 | 23.3 | 70 | 27.8 | 176 | 12 |
Scuba Diving The Great Barrier Reef
Most people who scuba dive on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have never experienced anything like it before. If you are not a certified diver, introductory dives are available on most of the tour boats. You will need to complete a health questionnaire and participate in a short scuba diving theory lesson for an hour or so prior to taking your first leap into the amazing underwater world of the Cairns Great Barrier Reef.
Other Ways To See The Great Barrier Reef
If you don't feel like you want to scuba dive and strap a tank of air to your back and turn into a human fish, a snorkel and mask can give you just as good a view of the coral reef systems and the fish that call it home. From the waters surface you can still view incredible coral reef structures and marine animals. Some of the most spectacular animals and corals are found in the first metre of water. It's also much cheaper to snorkel as your snorkel equipment is included in the reef tours ticket price along with all of your meals!
If you don't want to get wet but still want to see the coral reef and it's marine life then you have the option of viewing the reef from the comfort of glass-bottom boats, helicopter or fixed wing scenic flights, semi-submersible submarines and underwater observatories from the pontoons on the outer barrier reef. These facilities provide a wonderful clear view of the reef while keeping you dry.
Scuba Diving Areas Of The Great Barrier Reef
Places like Green Island, Fitzroy Island, Michaelmas Cay, Frankland Island, Moore Reef and Arlington Reef are in close proximity to Cairns and Port Douglas and are ideal for day trips. These locations have exotic reef life and extensive marine animal activity. They are great if you are visiting the reef for the first time. Green Island and Fitzroy Island have resorts and dining facilities, bathrooms, and Resort Accommodation.
For the purposes of visiting areas of the Great Barrier Reef, it is best to divide the reef into sections. The Inner Reef is most easily accessed on day trips and these reefs are close in proximity to the shore. Outer Reefs take longer to reach, as outlined below and are classed as the more pristine and colourful reefs.
Scuba Diving The Coral Sea And The Cod Hole
The Far Northern Reefs and Coral Sea reefs are reserved mainly for overnight scuba diving adventures or longer trips where remote and unusual coral reef formations are located. These Coral Sea and Cod Hole overnight scuba diving livaboard boats are really designed to cater for the more experienced adventurous scuba diver as you dive in locations that you may experience some tidal drag and as you are not familiar with the surroundings you may lose your way if you are not so good on using your underwater diving equipment just yet.
However once you do become a certified scuba diver the Coral Sea and the world famous Cod Hole are places that you definitely need to tick off on your dive adventure list as the Cod Hole in the coral sea is classed as one of the most magical scuba diving locations in the world. Here you will meet with some amazing fish called Potatoe Cod. These Potato Cod are monsterous in size but super friendly and always on the lookout for a pat and a nibble of any food offerings.
The reef systems in the northern Coral Sea are world class and are visited regularly by researchers from the world over. The northern Coral Sea reef sytems are also the birthing nurseries for migrating Humpback Whales and the Dwarfe Minke Whales.
Cairns Inner Reefs
These coral reefs are accessible by day boats and offer safe scuba diving in shallow waters. Due to the regular flow of water due to strong tides between the mainland and reef, whip and fan formations are common. Small colourful fish are also plentiful in these shallow waters.
Between coral bommies, stingrays are abundant and even the odd Dugong has been spotted feeding on the sea grasses. Birds are plentiful because of the islands and sand cays around that they can use a s resting place or nesting place. These sites are recommended for easy going first time casual introductory divers.
Cairns Outer Reefs
Coral reefs on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef offer bigger variation in species, plus underwater canyons and gorges cutting mazes through the coral. The water in this area can also be clearer than shallow water on the inner reefs.
These outer Barrier Reef sites are recommended for all scuba divers. Experienced scuba divers will appreciate the wide range of corals and marine life, while inexperienced divers will be treated to a truly remarkable dive trip that will set a foundation for future exotic dives and encourage them to attain their certified diving certificate.
Cairns Far Northern Reefs
The Far Northern Reefs include the Ribbon Reef system. This is a series of coral reefs stretching out like a multi-coloured ribbon to the north where the famous Cod Hole is located. Here, a family of friendly Potato Cod live with huge schools of fish and Hump Headed Maori Wrasse. Scuba divers swim among these enormous fish and 2m wide giant clams surrounded by hard and soft corals.
Manta Rays, the huge elegant rays, glide past making a shadow on the reef.
During night scuba dives, sleeping green turtles and a variety of sleeping reef fish can be seen.
An overnight or liveaboard trip to these reefs can be from overnight to around 4 to 5 days in length or even longer if you are really a keen scuba diver.
Coral Sea Scuba Diving Livaboard
Now this is serious scuba diving stuff! 1000 metre vertical walls on the continental shelf with 40 metre (120+ft) visibility are common. This is where the Great Barrier Reef meets the depths of the Pacific Ocean, so Grey Whalers, White Tips, Silver Tip Whalers, and circling scalloped hammerheads patrol for food. Schools of Barracuda and large Dogtooth Tuna are always nearby.
This is where you can also go scuba diving with hundreds of hungry sharks and watch them from the oceans floor as they fight for their share of the food in the buckets above.
Scuba Diving with sharks is not for the faint hearted but it is probably one of the biggest buzzes you will ever have in your scuba diving adventures. Scuba Diving in the Coral Sea is deep and can quite often have roaring currents. Trips are usually 3 to 5 days in length and include the world famous Ribbon reefs as well.
Safety on Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Snorkelling and scuba diving on the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef is a very safe activity for all the family. The tropical waters are warm, calm and shallow and lack surf like other locations in Australia due to the barrier that the coral reefs provide. Only certified tour operators and trained guides who are proficient in first aid and safety regulations specified by the Queensland Government can take you on a reef trip. However, there are a few guidelines you should follow to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable snorkelling trip, whether it is just for a day or for an overnight trip.
Always wear sunscreen with a high SPF rating. Believe it or not, the sun is the most dangerous part of a reef trip on the Coral Sea. You're bound to see other fried visitors glowing red after a day on the reef, and you don't want that to happen to you and spoil the reest of your holiday. This is very important because intense tropical sunrays will target you from the sky and also from their reflection off the clear blue water. Reapply sunscreen every two hours if you are in the water.
- Avoid sitting out in the sun during the middle of the day.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Do not swim or snorkel straight after you have eaten or if you have consumed alcohol.
- Follow all instructions from the boats crew aboard the reef boat.
- Swim in the designated areas only. Usually this is marked by buoys and rope, but use common sense and stay close to other people.
- If you are in trouble then raise one arm, and wait for assistance.
Also if you do get sea water in your mouth and you cannot blow it out the top of your snorkel gear then make sure you lift your head out of the water and empty your snorkel and start again. The reef boat crew are always on hand to assist first time snorkellers so do not be afraid to ask for help when needed.
Warning: Don't touch the coral reefs as they are protected and you may face a huge fine or even a jail term if found deliberately destroying or stealing pieces of coral from Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
If an emergency does occur, you are in good hands. Queensland's air-sea rescue services are among the most extensive and advanced in the world. Diver recovery systems, decompression chambers and dive medicine expertise can be accessed in any emergency from most points of the reef.
Read about Irikanji and Jelly fish and Marine Stinger Safety.
What to wear when visiting the Cairns and Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef
Not much.
For a day trip, your clothing can include shorts, T-shirt, swimsuit and hat. Essentials are sunscreen and sunglasses. If you are visiting an island or sand coral cay, bring some sandals or reef shoes.
For overnight livaboard reef trips, you'll also need to bring a warm shirt for the evening. Other than that, don't worry! You're in tropical paradise! Of course, you can't forget your camera so you can capture your magical moments at Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Try a reloadable underwater camera while your snorkeling or scuba diving and get some close ups of the fish!
Once you have seen Australia's Great Barrier Reef you can tick that off your bucket list and then start planning for you next amazing journey to another one of the world's famous icons.