One of the most majestic places to visit in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef. According to the World Health Convention, “the amazing diversity [of the Great Barrier Reef] supports tens of thousands of marine and terrestrial species, many of which are of global conservation significance.” They also calculate that, beyond the thousands of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and other typical aquatic creatures, the Great Barrier Reef is home to 242 species of birds, 400 species of coral, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and also sees six out of seven of the world’s species of marine turtle.
A great company to experience this incredible wonder with is Great Adventures. They operate a Great Barrier Reef cruise out of Cairns, Australia with boats that depart daily. They offer experiences for all different levels of adventure, which is sure to suit everyone in your party’s tastes.
Fully immerse yourself in the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with scuba diving. Great Adventures offers two types of scuba diving experiences: introductory diving and certified diving. Both provide experienced guides through the reef. The minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years, and there are also certain medical and height restrictions.
Take a snorkeling tour. And don’t forget to bring your underwater camera. This is a great opportunity to still get very close to the reef without all the invasive preparation of scuba diving. Great Adventures also provides the basic equipment: masks, snorkel, fins and a buoyancy vest.
Go for a ride in a semi-submersible. No matter how close you get to the reef, or how interactive your encounter with it, the view of the coral and marine life is a daunting experience. The semi-submersible offers 25-minute tours that depart every thirty minutes.
Go for a scavenger hunt in the underwater observatory. This is a great place to take small children. Detailed pictures on the observatory walls make it easy to identify the various fish and marine life. This also provides an excellent list of subjects to search for with inquisitive children. And a knowledgeable guide is always on hand to answer questions, or to provide information about the marine life.
Relax. Beyond the various options and activities for experiencing the reef, the cruise ship provides a sundeck to simply lay back and soak up the sun. So no matter what experience you choose to take back from the Great Barrier Reef, Great Adventures tours has managed to accommodate them all.
For more information on pricing and precautionary restrictions, visit the Great Adventures website.
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