Great Barrier Reef - Snorkel Dive Sail the Great Barrier
Reef - Cairns Australia - Ocean Spirit Cruises out of Cairns
Australia to the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef was
world heritage listed in 1981 and is the largest
structure on Earth made by living organisms. It extends
more than 2,000km from just south of the Tropic of
Capricorn off Queensland's central coast, north to the
coastal waters of Papua New Guinea. It has the world's
largest collection of coral reefs, some 3,400,400 types
of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of
mollusc. Most of the reef is around two million years
old with the oldest sections dated at 18 million years
old.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches along the entire
Queensland coastline covering several regions and the
state's warm sub-tropical climate means you can dive and
snorkel all year round. You could dive on the world's
largest marine park every day for the rest of your life
and still not see it all.
The most popular scuba diving locations around the
Whitsunday Islands are located at the northern end of
Hook Island which is sheltered from the southerly
weather. There are many day trips and extended cruises
departing from Shute Harbour at Airlie Beach and the
island resorts.
Bait Reef and its famous Stepping Stones in the
north-east of the region is the closest reef to the
mainland. This reef is famous for its diversity of great
dive experiences and locations. Another popular dive
site is Black Reef, a fantasyland for scuba diving
exploration.
Michaelmas Cay is a low lying vegetated Sand Cay
encircled by a superb fringing reef; the Cay is a
National Park and a protected sanctuary for migratory
birds.
Upolu Cay is an uninhabited Coral Cay with breathtaking
coral gardens, exotic marine life and soft white coral
sands. Oyster & Arlington Reefs, which are located only
a short distance from Upolu Cay, also provide divers and
snorkellers with clear, shallow waters and an abundance
of marine Life.
