Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reef Health & Safety Warnings
Coral is very sharp and coral cuts get infected quickly and badly. If you cut
yourself, ask your cruise boat for antiseptic cream and apply it to grazes
as soon as you come out of the water.
The sun and reflected sunlight off the water can burn you fast. Remem-
ber to put sunscreen on your back and the back of your legs, especially
around your knees and the back of your neck, even behind your ears—all
places that rarely get exposed to the sun but will be exposed as you swim
face down. Apply more when you leave the water.
Remember, the Great Barrier Reef is a marine park. Removing coral (liv-
ing or dead), shells, or any other natural item is an offense. If everyone
who has ever visited the Reef took a piece, it would not be worth coming
to see what's left.
Tips
To see the Reef you can snorkel, dive, fish, or fly over it. For most people, the
Great Barrier Reef means the “Outer Reef,” the network of platform and ribbon
reefs that lie an average of 65km (40 miles) off the coast (about 1 hr., 90 min.
by boat from the mainland). You should get out and see that, but there is plenty
of fringing reef to explore around islands closer to the mainland.
Learning about the Reef before you get there will enhance your visit.
Reef
Teach
(
&
07/4031 7794
) is an evening multimedia presentation by Paddy
Colwell, an enthusiastic marine biologist and scuba diver. He tells you every-
thing you need to know about the Reef, from how it was formed to how coral
grows, from what dangerous creatures to avoid, to how to take successful under-
water photos. The presentation takes place throughout the year at 14 Spence St.,
Cairns, Monday through Saturday from 6:15 to 8:30pm, and costs A$13
(US$8.45) per person.
Townsville is the headquarters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Author-
ity, and a visit to its showcase, Reef HQ (p. 309) is a superb introduction. The
star attraction at the aquarium is a re-created living-reef ecosystem in a massive
viewing tank. Find out more about the Reef from the
Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park Authority
(
&
07/4750 0700;
fax 07/4772 6093; www.gbrmpa.
gov.au or www.reefhq.org.au).
DISCOVERING THE REEF
Snorkeling the Reef can be a wondrous experience. Green and purple clams,
pink sponges, red starfish, purple sea urchins, and fish from electric blue to neon
yellow to lime are a truly magical sight. The rich colors of the coral only survive
with lots of light, so the nearer the surface, the brighter and richer the marine
life. That means snorkelers are in a prime position to see it at its best.
If your Reef cruise offers a guided snorkel tour or “snorkel safari,” take it.
They are worth the extra cost of A$30 (US$20) or so. Most safaris are suitable
for both beginners and advanced snorkelers, and are led by marine biologists
who tell you about the fascinating sea creatures you are seeing. Snorkeling is an
easy skill to master, and the crew on cruise boats are always happy to tutor you
if you are unsure.
A day trip to the Reef also offers a great opportunity to go scuba diving—even
if you have never dived before. Every major cruise boat listed in “Day Trips to
the Reef ” (below) and many dedicated dive boats listed in “Diving the Reef ”
