The Northern part of the reef is in a tropical climate when summers are hot and wet with lots of rain and humidity. Stretching over an area of 2500km down the coast of Queensland, the majority of the reef is in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Some of our favorite tours from Cairns: intimate motor cruises and sailing excursions aboard Ocean Freedom or Ocean Freeto spots such as Upolu Cay and Green Island (pictured above) Ocean Spirit Cruises’ 32m (105-ft.) luxury sailing catamaran, which ferries up to 150 guests to the white sands of Michaelmas Cay and Tusa Dive, whose custom-built 24m (72-ft.) vessel takes passengers to two dive sites from a choice of 15 locations on the Outer Reef. The weather over the Great Barrier Reef varies due to the length of the reef itself. Diving is usually an optional activity for an extra fee. Most day-trip fares include snorkel gear-including fins, mask, and wetsuits in winter-free use of the pontoon’s underwater viewing chambers and glass-bottom-boat rides, as well as a plentiful buffet lunch and refreshments. Hugging the east coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef extends from Cape York in the north all the way to Bundaberg in the south more than 1,800 miles. A less crowded alternative is to go on one of the many smaller boats that carry no more than 20 passengers and typically visit two or three Reef sites rather than just one. These motorized, air-conditioned, bar-equipped catamarans can carry up to 300 passengers each and tie up at their own private pontoons anchored to a platform reef. ![]() Visit Dive Queensland for the skinny on scuba.įor an introduction to the Great Barrier Reef, most visitors take one of the large-scale tour boats from Cairns. Great Barrier Reef Submarines lets visitors explore the beauty of the reef in a three-person mini-submarine, just 45 minutes on a fast catamaran from Cairns. A typical five-hour day trip squeezes in two dives. Divers have a lot to choose from: dive boats that make one-day runs to the Outer Reef, boats that offer overnight stays, and live-aboard vessels that make excursions lasting up to a week. You’ll need to complete a medical questionnaire and undergo a briefing on the boat. Every major cruise boat and many dedicated dive boats offer introductory dives (“resort dives”) that allow you to go under the waves without certification to a depth of 6m (20 ft.) with an instructor. Of course, the Reef is also great for scuba diving-even if you’ve never done it before. Most are suitable for beginners and are led by seasoned pros trained by marine biologists. If your reef cruise offers a guided snorkel tour, take it. That puts snorkelers in prime position to see green and purple clams, pink sponges, red starfish, purple sea urchins, and fish from electric blue to neon yellow. ![]() The rich colors of the coral can be seen best with lots of light, meaning some of the most impressive views are near the surface.
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