Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(also below) offer introductory dives that allow you to dive without certification
to a depth of 6m (20 ft.) in the company of an instructor. You will need to com-
plete a medical questionnaire and undergo a 30-minute briefing on the boat.
Intro dives are also called “resort dives” because many resorts offer something
similar, giving you 1 or 2 hours' instruction before taking you to a nearby reef
to dive.
CHOOSING A GATEWAY TO THE REEF
Cairns and Port Douglas are both good places from which to access the Reef—
but the quality of the coral is just as good off any town along the coast between
Gladstone and Cairns. The Reef is pretty much equidistant from any point on
the coast—about 90 minutes away by high-speed catamaran. An exception is
Townsville, where the Reef is about 2 1 2 hours away. Think carefully about
where to base yourself.
The main gateways, north to south, are Port Douglas, Cairns, Mission
Beach, Townsville, the Whitsunday Islands, Gladstone (for Heron Island),
and Bundaberg. The Whitsundays has the added attractions of dazzling islands
to sail among; beautiful island resorts offering a wealth of watersports and other
activities; and a large array of diving, fishing, and day cruises. Most important,
you can snorkel every day off your island or join a sailing or cruise day trip to a
number of magnificent inner reefs much nearer than the main Outer Reef.
Many people stay in Cairns simply because of easy international airport access.
If you are a nonswimmer, choose a Reef cruise that visits a coral cay, because
a cay slopes gradually into shallow water and the surrounding coral. The Low
Isles at Port Douglas; Green Island, Michaelmas Cay, or Upolu Cay off
Cairns; Beaver Cay off Mission Beach; and Heron Island are all good locations.
DAY TRIPS TO THE REEF
The most common way to get to the Reef is on one of the big motorized
catamarans that carry up to 300 passengers each and depart from Cairns, Port
Overnighting on the Reef
Down Under Dive ( & 1800/079 099 in Australia, or 07/4052 8300; fax 07/
4031 1373; www.downunderdive.com.au) in Cairns offers a chance to
“sleep on the Reef” aboard a 43m (141-ft.) 1890s-style brigantine, the SV
Atlantic Clipper. It's a sleek, romantic sailing ship with towering masts, a
roomy Jacuzzi on the foredeck, a cocktail bar, a comfortable dining room,
and single, double, triple, or quad-share air-conditioned cabins. A motor-
ized launch takes you from Cairns to the ship's reef mooring; from there
you sail up to the four popular reef complexes of Norman, Hastings, and
Saxon reefs, and Michaelmas Cay. The emphasis is on fun and relaxation,
with lots of snorkeling and diving. Choose between a 2-day/1-night stay
in a two-, three-, or four-berth cabin for A$210 (US$137) for snorkelers or
A$290 (US$189) for divers, and a 3-day/2-night journey for A$340
(US$221) for snorkelers or A$400 (US$260) for divers. Add a surcharge of
A$20 (US$13) per person per night for a twin cabin and A$30 (US$20) for
a double cabin with shower. The all-inclusive prices include all dive and
snorkel gear (including prescription masks), meals, and pickups from your
Cairns city accommodations. Transfers from Port Douglas are available for
an extra A$27 (US$18).
Moments
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