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NATURES ART GALLERY: There are few natural treasures that can rival the Great Barrier Reef for pure spectical and Cairns puts you right on its doorstep. if you have time, learn to scuba dive and experience the best the reef has to offer. if you don’t have the time, then snorkelling can offer a great introduction to one of the world’s true wonders.
World’s best diving
With its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a divers’ paradise. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned at scuba, the stunning underwater environments of the region are a must-see for any visitor.
Choose from a wide selection of
dive operators and diving tours that operate daily from the city’s Reef Fleet Terminal. Most include diving around the spectacular coral gardens and marine life of the Outer Barrier Reef, while some also feature a stop at picturesque Green Island. Tours cater to experienced (licensed) scuba divers, as well as beginning (non-licensed) divers. The Cairns Visitor Centre lists a range of diving tours to suit all budgets.
You can even hire an underwater camera and photograph your dive to have a unique souvenir of your Great Barrier Reef experience. If you’d like to become
a licensed scuba diver, Cairns is also the perfect place to learn. keep your eyes peeled for Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) courses. A PADI course teaches you all the basic scuba
diving skills required to dive safely in open water, including how to use masks, snorkels, fins, regulators, buoyancy- control devices and a tank.
Sensational snorkelling
Not keen on diving? Snorkel instead and marvel at close encounters with dazzling corals, fish and the other diverse marine life for which the Great Barrier Reef is internationally renowned.
Most snorkel tours out of Cairns include equipment hire, plus catamaran or speedboat transport to a well-equipped pontoon. From here, you can snorkel
and swim for as long as you like, popping back up on deck when you feel like a break, some sunbathing, a snack or even
a shower. Many pontoons also feature enclosed children’s snorkelling areas, making them perfect for the whole family.
If you’d prefer to stay dry, look for
tours to pontoons equipped with semi- submerged underwater observatories. See all the gorgeous colours and marine life of the reef without even getting wet!
28 AUGUST 2015
BIRDS EYE VIEW: only fifteen minutes from Cairns but a world away the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway- allows visitors to see the coast and the rainforest from a unique perspective and is a must see for all visitors.