The Great Barrier Reef - A real beauty...

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world, roughly parallel to the coast of Queensland, Australia, for almost 2,000km. This is the only living organic collective visible from Earth's orbit! The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the natural world - it is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem. It was declared a World Heritage area in 1981 and added to the National Heritage List in 2007. The reef is scattered with beautiful islands and idyllic coral cays and covers more than 300,000 square kilometers. The major attraction is Coral. Corals found in the Great Barrier Reef contain algae and the relationship between the algae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes. When this relationship breaks down, the coral suffers and becomes bleached.

The Coral facts: Corals make up the various reefs and cays. These are the basis for the great variety of sea and animal life in the Reef. Coral reefs are found in shallow water, ranging to depths of 60 m. coral

Some species prefer either cooler temperate water while others are found along tropical reefs, such as the Great Barrier Reef, with waters ranging in temperatures from 18 - 33 °C. Individual polyps range from 3 - 56 mm in diameter or height; while colony size varies from 75 mm -1500 mm (1.5 m) in width, height or length. Coral reefs consist of hundreds and thousands of soft-bodied, invertebrate animals, having no backbone. These animals are called coral polyps. The Crown-of-Thorns Sea star was once an animal of great controversy causing terrible damage to the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. Research has indicated that the Crown-of-Thorns Sea star is only found in this habitat and a native species to Australian waters. The role that the sea star plays by eating coral polyps forms a population control, making more room for new coral reefs to form. Further scientific studies are still in progress to determine whether these plaques can be controlled.

Scuba diving & snorkeling: This is the most sought after outing onto the reef. With so much to see like ship wrecks, coral gardens, the thousands of species of marine animals and under water canyons. Cairns have many qualified scuba diving courses available and are amongst the safest in the world.

Different categories of Reef:

Fringing reefs, which occur around the edges of the continental islands that were once a part of the mainland.
Ribbon or outer, barrier reefs which grow on the edge of the continental shelf.
Platform or patch reefs, which support a cay, or island formed by sedimentary debris swept onto the reef.

Dangers on the Reef: The reef has many species of marine life that can be potentially fatal to humans. Remember if you get stung by a jellyfish add vinegar to the sting, don’t remove the tentacles and seek help. Most of them look nice but the are dangerous so it is better no to touch any marine life, just enjoy looking!

Irukandji Jellyfish: Unlike Chironex fleckeri (Box Jelly Fish), Irukandji are found mostly in the deeper waters of the reef. Divers and snorkellers are particularly at risk.
Box Jelly Fish: This is one of the most dangerous creatures on the reef. The box jelly fish gets its name from the shape of its body. A box-shaped bell with clusters of tentacles extending from each corner. It has the potential to inflict fatal stings to humans. Found mainly around river mouths and muddy shadow water, they rarely inhabit the reef islands.

Box Jelly Fish Cone Shells

Blue Ringed Octopus: With a beak that can penetrate a wet-suit, they are one little cute creature to definitely look at but don't touch. The blue-ringed octopus is the size of a golf ball but its poison is powerful enough to kill an adult human in minutes. This is when it is most dangerous, especially to children, as it looks very pretty and harmless.Residing in rock pools and coral, the blue ring octopus' rings will "glow" an electric blue when provoked or is on the defense.
Cone Shells: Cone shells look very pretty, but several types are known to be very dangerous to humans. The venom of some contains the most potent neurotoxins known to man.
Lion Fish: Lion-fish have venomous fin spines that can produce painful puncture wounds. The fish have elongated dorsal fin spines and enlarged pectoral fins, and each species has a pattern of zebra like stripes.
Stone Fish: With 13 dorsal spines that release a poisonous toxin when pressed, the Stone fish can inflict excruciating pain and possible death to the unwary.
Sea Snakes: Approx 15 species of sea snakes can be found on the reef. There have been no reported deaths from sea snakes; however they should still be treated with respect.
Stingrays: Fatalities reported from stingray deaths are few and far between. Barbs on the stingrays' tail whip up when trodden on and can inflict serious lacerations and deep wounds. Tetanus is also a possibility if the wound becomes infected.

Tourism: Tourism is now the largest commercial activity in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Generating over $1b per annum, the marine tourism industry is a major contributor to the local and Australian economies. There are approximately 730 tourism operators and 1,500 vessels and aircraft permitted to operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Activities:

Fishing: Cairns are the closest major port to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, arguably the greatest fish attractor on earth. Reef fishing is commonly called "Bottom Bouncing" where anglers use heavy 60-100lb handline techniques to target such prized eating fish as coral trout, red emperor, sweetlip and nannygai.

Cruise: Reef Experience is a luxury day trip to the outer Great Barrier Reef. Cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, where you can spend 6 full hours snorkeling and scuba diving, swimming & visiting 2 spectacular reef locations.

Skydiving: There is one thing that is a must do thing in a life and challenge yourself to the thrill of a lifetime with an extreme Skydive. You get instructor to receive the required training necessary to make your skydive more comfortable, get harnessed up and then out to the plane. It's that simple!