Travel – October 2020

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Best Diving in the world: the Great Barrier Reef 

If you are an ocean lover and connoisseur as I am, you have definitely heard of the Great Barrier Reef. If you have not but you are intrigued, let me tell you it is the most impressive and world’s largest coral reef system; it composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. This amazing reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. There are many fish to see as well as beautiful, vibrant coral. This reef structure is made of billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. It is so impressive that it can be seen from outer space!

The Great Barrier Reef supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Queensland National Trust named it a state icon of Queensland. Knowing all this, I was excited to use my newly acquired dive skills and dive the Great Barrier Reef while I was there. I wanted to see it firsthand!

As natural wonders go, they do not come much more impressive. Its sheer size and scope can leave visitors scratching their heads when it comes to determining where to go and what to see. If you are anything like me, it may be overwhelming- visiting a new country, encountering the biggest reef, scuba diving in the deep waters can all be a little much. To be honest when planning my trip I was so overwhelmed thinking about it all so I had to contact my personal concierge to help me out with this trip. They were great! They helped me set up all the transportation, tours and accommodations.

When planning, my concierge in Sabio let me know that the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is between June and October. This is because the temperatures are consistently warm and it does not rain often so the water will be clearer, leading to better conditions for diving.

I chose July. The Great Barrier Reef was like nothing else I have ever seen. I had done diving before several times but diving the reef was one of the highlights of my entire time in Australia. It was nice to get away from the other boats and get to have the reef to myself. The further out you go, the nicer the reef gets. I learned that the Great Barrier Reef offers travelers five different regions to explore.

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Southern Great Barrier Reef

When looking for stunning islands and laid-back coastal towns, the Southern Great Barrier Reef is the place to head. On Lady Musgrave Island, a coral cay with some 1200 hectares of living reef, you can watch green turtle hatchlings scurrying down the beach.

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Townsville

Townsville is located in the middle of the reef and presents a standout vacation option thanks to its dive-worthy shipwrecks, as well as its tropical pace of life. There are some great islands to visit along this stretch of the reef, including Magnetic Island, home to a thriving population of koalas, so sightings are guaranteed. Along with diving, there are many opportunities for fishing expeditions and even horseback riding along wide beaches.

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Cooktown

The wild north around Cape York in Tropical North Queensland is a virgin spot, making it the perfect destination for intrepid marine adventurers in particular. Venture out onto the reef to snorkel and dive, or keep your feet dry by opting for a glass-bottom boat tour.

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Cairns and Port Douglas

Further south, Cairns and Port Douglas offer myriad reef experiences from snorkeling and dive courses to overnight cruises and glass-bottom boat and semi-submersible submarine tours with the added bonus of being able to explore the lush tropical Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest in the world and another UNESCO World Heritage site. It takes about 35 minutes to reach the reef itself from both locations.

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Things Not to Miss at the Great Barrier Reef
 • An aerial view of the sand bar at Cairns
 • Islands in the Great Barrier Reef waters
 • The reef islands on a pontoon or catamaran
 • Underwater life from a glass bottom boat
 • Great Tropical Drive
 • Hill Inlet at Arlie Beach
 • Hartley Crocodile adventures at Palm Cove
 • Esplanade Boardwalk at Cairns
 • Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest

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Unfortunately, it is important to note that the Great Barrier Reef system is under threat from rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and violent tropical weather. Scientists also have struggled to contain outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish, a polyp-eating predator that can threaten the reef’s health. Thankfully, Australian officials plan to redouble their efforts to save the Great Barrier Reef from the effects of global warming. Sadly, it has been said to try to visit and dive the reef as soon as possible before it all disappears

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