Great Barrier Reef

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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
• New Horizon Sail and Dive, PO Box 5957, Cairns, Qld 4870, ☏ +61-7-4055-6130, fax: +61-7-4055-6315, info@reefcharter.com. Two classic sailing boats to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They allow you to experience the reef in a smaller more intimate affair with a maximum of ten passengers on each trip. The tours are priced from $380 per person for a two day liveaboard and from $540 for a three day liveaboard, all equipment included.. 
• Lost In Australia, ☏ +61 8 6102 0776, info@lostinaustralia.com.au. Adventure, Small Groups, Diving, Locally owned and Operated 
• Cairns Dive Centre. offers a range of daytrips and live aboard packages to suit any budget. 

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.