The Great Barrier Reef, which stretches along Australia’s northeast coast, is the longest coral reef on the planet and the world’s preeminent snorkel and dive site. Jacques Cousteau, the supreme authority when it comes to underwater exploration, named Australia’s Heron Island as one of his favorite dive sites. The warm waters around the reef support the greatest concentration of marine life on the planet, making it an item on many snorkelers’ bucket lists.
The reef is actually made up of around 3,000 individual reef systems that extend over 1,800 miles in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland, from Bundaberg in the south to the tip of Cape York in the north. It is longer than the Great Wall of China and is the only living thing on the planet that can be viewed from space. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1981.
Marine biologists have identified 400 varieties of coral that are native to the Great Barrier Reef and 1,500 species of fish that frequent those waters. Additionally, numerous sponges, mollusks, giant clams, other invertebrates and hundreds of marine plants attract snorkelers and divers. Big-ticket headliners on the reef include the 30 species of giant sea turtles, majestic rays, the unique sea cow and playful dolphins. The area is also a breeding ground for humpback whales. Some of the most recognizable tropical fish call the reef home, including many of the stars of Disney's "Finding Nemo."
One thing that sets the Great Barrier Reef apart from other snorkeling destinations is the way it accommodates snorkelers and divers of all ages and abilities. The sandy beaches, protected shallows and gentle reef sites around many of the 900 islands and cays along the reef are perfect for children and novice swimmers and divers. Conversely, the deeper waters of the outer reefs are ideal for expert divers, providing nearly limitless potential for exploration.
Australians have developed an impressive tourism industry based around the waters off the coast of Queensland. Reef Fleet Terminal, located at the southern end of Cairns' esplanade, serves as the primary launching point for explorations into the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef. Companies offer all kinds of transportation and accommodations, from luxury cruise liners to sail boats and five-star hotels to remote island getaways. Most sites on the reef can be reached in less than an hour by boat and day trips can be arranged from nearly every city along the coast of Queensland, as well as many of the island resort towns.
