AUSTRALIA - First part

Emmanuel Sapina

Specialized for 20 years in scuba diving vacations, all around the world Emmanuel Sapina is also a specialist accredited by the bureau of Tourism of Australia (also called AUSSIE SPECIALIST) and New Zealand.

DIVE the WONDER of the

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef extends along Queensland's coastline for more than 2000 kilometers (1200 miles) from Coolangata to Cape York

Australia 1

QUEENSLAND

Climate

Queensland has a typical tropical to subtropical climate. The four seasons not as distinctive as those of cooler climates are ;

In summer the coastal cities and resorts have the benefit of cooling sea breezes. Inland, although the temperatures are higher, they are not usually uncomfortable, because of the low humidity level. In winter Queensland has one of the world's most delightful climates.

The days are usually fine and sunny with mild to warm temperatures. Nights are generally cool, and early morning temperatures can be crisp. Temperatures inland or at mountain resorts are cooler than on the coast.

GEOGRAPHY

Stretching from Cooktown in Queensland's far north to Bundaberg in the south, there are many access points to the Reef. So as you meander up or down the Queensland Coast you can see the full extent of the marvel they call the eighth wonder of the world. The facts really are impressive.

The Great Barrier Reef extends along Queensland's coastline for more than 2000 kilometers (1200 miles) and comprises 2900 individual reefs and 71 coral islands. But even more impressive is that only in Queensland will you find two World Heritage Listed sites - side by side. The rains forests of far north Queensland at Cape Tribulation, which embrace the greatest diversity of unique flora and fauna on earth, actually meet the Great Barrier reef, the world's greatest expanse of living coral reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority manages and protects an area of 215,000 square miles (345,000 sq km) of waters round the reef. It's the largest marine park in the world. In these protected waters, even the fish are very curious and friendly. Like underwater jungles, coral reefs flourish in the warm tropical seas and support a diverse and dense population of 10,000 species of sponge, 350 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusks, 350 species of echinoderms and more than 1500 species of fish. Divers estimate it would take a thousand dives just to see the reef's highlights.

See it all from a glass bottomed or semi-submersible vessel, or just dive into the dazzling expanse of undersea garden, where visibility extends for up to 60 meters (197 feet) and the water is teeming with 2000 varieties of tropical fish - the only thing more colorful than the coral around you. and you don't need to be a scuba diving expert. Snorkeling is the way many people especially children enjoy the wonders of the reef.

QUEENSLAND

Diving at its tropical best. Warm water all year long and legendary dive sites. The Great Barrier Reef is a long line of outer reefs and narrow openings north of Cairns. These Ribbon Reefs, especially Number 10, are inhabited by great numbers of potato cod fish. Divers feeding them will be in a group of friendly, inquisitive fish each weighing from 46-137 kilograms (100 to 300 pounds).

The Lizard Island area is one of the most magnificent diving locations in the Great Barrier Reef. Its reefs teem with tropical marine life and the coral here is regarded as being the best on the reef.

At Milne Reef you'll find a bommie split by a crevice that starts at five meters (17 feet) and goes down vertically to 20 meters (66 feet). Black, gorgonian and alcyonarian corals almost clog the crevice, which is also surrounded by schools of reef fish.
You'll also find clams at Green Island and the northern reefs. In fact, all seven species of clams are found in the Great Barrier Reef.

Tropical Northern Reefs

Australia's Tropical North is the only place on earth where you'll find two world heritage listed sites, The Great Barrier Reef with Cape Tribulation Rain forest National Park and adjacent Daintree Rain forest National Park side by side. and there's also Cape York, the world's last tropical wilderness frontier.

Stretching from Cairns to Cape York at the northern tip of mainland Australia, the northern region of the Reef offers you a fantastic range of diving holidays in the cleanest waters in the world with visibility often exceeding 100 meters (around 300 feet). There's spectacular marine life, isolated atolls, amazing drop offs, exciting shark feeding stations and intact shipwrecks.

SHORT LIVE-ABOARD CRUISES

These two or three day cruises are an excellent option if you're short on time or on a tight budget. You might visit Milln, Flynn and Saxon Reefs which are easily accessible from Cairns.

Clown fish with anemone

The Coral Sea

Diving Around CAIRNS

Many of the most exotic dive sites along the Great Barrier Reef are within 20 to 35 kilometers north and south of Cairns. Thetford reef is one of the most popular with sand cays, walls and coral gardens and small caves in 20 to 30 meters (60 to 90 feet) of water. Hand-feed a giant Maori Wrasse. Hasting and Milln Reefs, both visited regularly by one day charter, offer good vertical walls and lots of pelagic fish.

Norman Reef:

Is the site of a large fully roofed pontoon that serves as a base for dive tenders visiting nearby smaller reefs. Michaelmas Cay, a sand cay with fringing reef, is a breeding ground for 300,000 sea birds and a popular spot for snorkeling and one day dive trips. Moore Reef, south of Cairns, also has a covered pontoon for smaller groups of certified divers. Green Island and Fitzroy Island are good choices if you're not planning an intensive diving holiday. Both are unspoilt and offer resort accommodation.

Port Douglas

This resort town and charming seaside village is about one hour's drive north of Cairns - and a favorite spot because of its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rain forest. There's accommodation to suit everyone. Port Douglas is a great jumping off point for one day reef excursions and week long island trips.

Agincourt Reef

Located at the bottom of Ribbon Reefs on the edge of the Continental Shelf, offer great diving all year round in a number of locations and even has its own wreck, the remains of a Taiwanese fishing trawler. There are two diving platforms here serviced by the internationally acclaimed Quicksilver Cruises. St Crispin and Opal Reefs are other great one day destinations. Nursery Bommie with its thousands of Clown fish, schooling Barracuda and pet Moray Eel is also very popular. On day trips, locations are chosen to suit both beginner and experienced divers with families well catered for while you enjoy the dive.

Lizard Island

Fifty minutes flying time from Cairns lies one of Australia's most luxurious resort islands. It's very exclusive, completely unspoilt and ideally located close to the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The island is surrounded by excellent reefs, has its own dive operator and is very close to the top end of the Ribbon Reefs.

Ribbon reefs

One of the best diving locations on the Great Barrier Reef, The Ribbon Reefs lie 20 minutes boat ride from Lizard Island. Comprising a string of ten coral ramparts, this broken chain of reefs covers a huge expanse and runs southward almost to Cape Tribulation. Supporting an immense undersea world of living coral and sea animals and the most spectacular underwater scenery. there are so many dive sites to choose from you can stop almost anywhere and be guaranteed a fantastic dive. All the Ribbon Reefs are great but here are a few well known highlights.

Potato Cod

Cod Hole

Tame Sea Monsters: World renowned and very popular. Located at the northern tip of Ribbon Reef No. 10, you can hand feed giant Potato Cod - some over two and a half meters (eight feet) in length. Very exciting. One of the few places on earth where marine life and humans exist in perfect harmony.

Pixie Pinnacle

Night Diving : A coral bommie on the southern end of Reef No. 10. Spectacular species of pelagic fish. Sheer wall diving with many corals including Gorgonian sea fans, sea whips. Black coral and a host of tropical fish. Bring your camera. Great for night diving, too.

Dynamite Pass

Drift Diving : A narrow area of water just north of Ribbon Reef No. 10. Popular with many charter boats. Depth range of Dynamite Pass Wall is from four meters to 40 meters (13 to 130 feet) below the surface. Visibility is about 30 meters (99 feet) and one can see a host of marine life as one sweeps along the reef edge.

Detached Reefs

Wall Diving : The northern and southern detached reefs are located in the Coral Sea half way between Cooktown and Cape York. Both detached reefs extend from a meter or so under the surface to the seabed some 500 meters (1,650 feet) below. This is sheer wall diving at its best in absolutely clear water with visibility extending more than 40 meters (140 feet). There are giant sponges, sea whips, Angelfish, Clown fish, Manta Rays, sharks and many varieties of coral. The reefs are remote but well worth the effort. Great photography.
Torres Straits.

RMS Quetta

The wreck sunk in the Torres Straits in 1890 with the tragic loss of 120 lives, and some amazing survival stories. Quetta is one of Queensland's best wreck dives. Declared an historical shipwreck in 1981 but not a protected zone, she lies on her side, in good condition off the tip of Cape York, between the mainland and Thursday island. A home to millions of fish, with many personal artifacts strewn over the sandy floor, this is a must for shipwreck buffs.

LIVE ABOARD

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions

Spoil Sport		Super Sport

Australia's dive tourism pioneer, Mike Ball has developed one of the most comprehensive dive services incorporating diver training facilities and a fleet of live aboard dive vessels.

Mike Ball offers departure for differents programs and destinations, on a regular basis.

Don Cowies Down Under Aquatics

Down Under runs daily trips to the reef departing for the Great Barrier Reef each day at 9.30 am and return at 5.30 pm, except on Wednesday and Saturday when she returns at 10.00 pm after an additional night dive.

We are representing a large number of dive operation, on all the Queensland as reputed as the following names:

Technical information