Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pressed for Time?
If you don't have time for a full day on the Reef, don't forget that you can
dive the coral cay of Green Island, just 27km (16 miles) off Cairns, in half a
day (see “Exploring the Islands” in the Cairns section, later in this chapter).
Tips
FROM CAIRNS Tusa Dive
(
&
07/4040 6464;
www.tusadive.com) runs
two 20m (66-ft.) dive boats daily to two dive sites from a choice of 21 locations
on the Outer Reef. The day costs A$175 (US$114) for divers and A$115
(US$75) for snorkelers, with wet suits, guided snorkel tours, lunch, and trans-
fers from your Cairns or northern beaches hotel. For an extra A$66 (US$43)
you can get a video done of the day's dive. If you want to be shown the best spots
under the water, you can take a guided dive with the dive team for an extra A$20
(US$13). Day trips for introductory divers cost A$180 (US$117) for one dive
or A$215 (US$140) for two. The groups are kept to a maximum of 25 people,
so you get personal attention. The company is the Nitrox and Rebreather facil-
ity for north Queensland, and certified divers can take two introductory dives
on Nitrox/Safe Air in 1 day for A$200 (US$130).
FROM PORT DOUGLAS
The waters off Port Douglas are home to dra-
matic coral spires and swim-throughs at the Cathedrals; giant clams at Bar-
racuda Pass; a village of parrot fish, anemone fish, unicorn fish, and two moray
eels at the soaring pinnacle of Nursery Bommie; fan corals at Split-Bommie; and
many other wonderful sites.
Poseidon
(
&
07/4099 4772;
www.poseidon-cruises.com.au) is a fast 24m
(79-ft.) vessel that visits three Outer Reef sites. The day-trip price of A$135
(US$88) for adults, A$100 (US$65) for kids 3 to 12, includes snorkel gear, a
marine biology talk, snorkel safaris, lunch, and pickups from Port Douglas
hotels. Certified divers pay A$40 (US$26) extra for two dives or A$55 (US$36)
for three, plus A$20 (US$13) gear rental. Guides will accompany you, free of
charge, to show you great locations. Introductory divers pay A$50 (US$33)
extra for one dive, and A$40 (US$26) each for the second and third. The vessel
carries no more than 48 passengers, one-third its capacity, and gets you to the
Reef in just over an hour, giving you 5 hours on the coral. The boat departs
Marina Mirage daily at 8:30am.
FROM TOWNSVILLE
Off Townsville, you can dive not only the Reef but
also a wreck, the
Yongala
, which lies off the coast in 30m (98 ft.) of water
with good visibility. A cyclone sent the
Yongala
with 49 passengers and 72 crew
members to the bottom of the sea in 1911. Today it's surrounded by a mass of
coral and rich marine life, including barracuda, grouper, rays, and turtles.
Div-
ing Dreams
(
&
07/4721 2500;
fax 07/4721 2549; www.divingdreams.com)
runs a day trip for around A$220 (US$143) and 2- or 3-day trips, which include
dives at the
Yongala,
with prices at around A$395 to A$495 (US$257-US$322).
FROM THE WHITSUNDAYS
In and around the Whitsunday Islands, you
can visit the Outer Reef and explore the many excellent Reef dive sites close to
shore. Two of the more established companies are
Reef Dive
(
&
07/4946 6508;
www.reefdive.com.au) and
Kelly Dive
(
&
1800/063 454
in Australia, or 07/
4946 6122). Expect to pay about A$550 (US$358) per person for a 3-day/3-
night trip.
