Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 6 . QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
Tips Reef Safety Warnings
Coral is very sharp and coral cuts get infected quickly. If you cut yourself,
ask cruise boat staff for antiseptic cream and apply it right away.
The sun and reflected light off the water will burn you fast. Put sunscreen
on your back and the back of your legs, especially around your
knees and the back of your neck, even behind your ears, places that will be
exposed as you swim face down. Apply more when you leave the water.
The Great Barrier Reef is a Marine Park. Removing coral (living or dead),
shells, or any other natural item is an offense, not to mention offensive!
If you are a nonswimmer, choose a Reef cruise that visits a coral cay, because
a cay slopes gradually into shallow water and the surrounding coral. The Low
Isles at Port Douglas; Green Island, Michaelmas Cay, or Upolu Cay off Cairns;
Beaver Cay off Mission Beach; and Heron Island are all good locations.
DAY TRIPS TO THE REEF
The most common way to get to the Reef is on one of the big motorized catamarans
that carry up to 300 passengers and depart from Cairns, Port Douglas,
Townsville, Mission Beach, and the Whitsunday mainland and islands. The
boats are air-conditioned and have a bar, videos, and educational material on
board, as well as a biologist who gives a talk on the Reef’s ecology. The boats tie
up at their own private pontoons anchored to a platform reef. The pontoons
have glass-bottom boats for folks who don’t want to get wet, dry underwater
viewing platforms, usually a bar, sun decks, shaded seats, and often showers.
An alternative to traveling on a big tour boat is to go on one of the multitude
of smaller boats. These typically visit two or three Reef sites rather than just one.
There are usually no more than 20 passengers, so the crew offers you personal
attention, and you and the other passengers can have a fun, friendly time.
Another bonus of going in a small boat is that you will have the coral pretty
much all to yourself. The drawbacks are that you have only the cramped deck to
sit on when you get out of the water, and your traveling time to the Reef may
be longer. If you’re a nervous snorkeler, you may feel safer going in a big boat,
and surrounded by 300 other passengers in the water.
Most day-trip fares include snorkel gear—fins, mask, and snorkel, and wet
suits in winter, although you rarely need them—free use of the underwater viewing
chambers and glass-bottom boat rides, a buffet or barbecue lunch, and
morning and afternoon refreshments. Most of the big boat operators and many
of the smaller boats offer introductory dives for novices, and regular dives for
certified divers. Diving is optional and costs extra. The big boats post snorkeling
scouts to keep a lookout for anyone in trouble and to count heads. If you
wear glasses, check whether your boat offers prescription masks as this could
make a big difference to the quality of your experience! You can also travel as a
snorkel-only passenger on most dive boats, too.
The major launching points for day trips to the Reef follow, listed north to
south.
FROM PORT DOUGLAS
The most glamorous large vessels visiting the Outer Reef are the Quicksilver
Wavepiercers (& 07/4099 5500) based in Port Douglas. These ultra-sleek