Great Barrier Reef, The Universal Icon
As one of the 'Seven natural wonders of the world', the Great Barrier Reef remains at the very top of the 'must do' list for world travellers. It is the most recognisable icon that identifies the continent of Australia. Every schoolchild in the western world learns about it and it remains an irresistible attraction right through to adulthood whether as a qualified diver, experienced snorkeler or simply as a holiday maker fascinated to experience such a unique example of mother natures genius.
Port Douglas is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, nowhere else, regardless of what others may claim, can boast such close proximity and ease of access to this breathtaking natural spectacle. The closest destination for the reef from Port Douglas is Low Isles which is only 8 nautical miles off the coast. This is visited daily by a fleet of sailing craft such as the incomparable 'Shaolin' Chinese Junk and Wavedancer III and the world class catamaran Sailaway IV.
For the more adventurous, the high speed trip on Reef Sprinter will have you snorkelling within 20 minutes of reaching Low Isles or maybe you don’t actually want to get in the water but have a ‘need for speed’ then a jet ski from Port Douglas Jet Ski Hire will have you racing across the Coral Sea around Low Isles with the reefclearly visible from below the surface !
Of course, for those who want luxurious privacy, then chartering a Super Yacht is an option from the Meridien Marina Mirage. Luxury craft such as Galaxy 1, Phantom and Enterprise may be available but pre-booking will avoid any disappointment. Skysafari and GBR Helicopters have daily flights out over the reef so once you’ve experienced the tranquil and magical world of the reef from below the waves why not take the awesome scenic route. It has been described by many as a spiritual experience and your unique aerial holiday snaps will make family and friends so envious !
The 5 star reef cruise operators, such as Poseidon III, Calypso, Silversonic, Haba or Aristocat, best cater for groups up to about 90 passengers. They usually design their trips to take you further out onto the Great Barrier Reef beyond Low Isles to two or three locations around the outer Agincourt Ribbon Reef system (depending on who you book with). All the tours deliver secure scuba diving and snorkelling under expert supervision within superb safety procedures. There are over 40 potential sites to visit on the reef so the variety is unlimited and just depends on tides, weather and favourite locations as to where the skipper takes you to enjoy your swimming, scuba diving or snorkelling.
There is also Quicksilver Cruises, the pioneers of reef trips, founded way back in 1979. They operate a service ideal for first time visitors and even non-swimmers who still want to experience the reef. Quicksilver take you out to Agincourt Reef, at the very outer edge of the Barrier Reef, where they have an anchored pontoon platform. Their 45 metre flagship speeds parties of up to 400 strong to their anchored pontoon to enjoy a day dipping in and out of the water under expert supervision within netted safety areas for scuba diving, snorkelling or just to enjoy the swim. The pontoon has restaurant and bar facilities plus an underwater viewing area and a regular semi-submersible trip to take you around the reef without getting your feet wet !
On any of the reef cruises during June to September you may be lucky enough to see the Whales migrating passed the reef. You may even catch a glimpse of Migaloo our albino humpback, who passes through every year !
All tour operators are guardians of the reef. They educate visitors on the environmental essentials to ensure the reef is protected for future generations whilst being enjoyed by everyone today. These operators are justifiably proud of their reputation as eco warriors, determined to eliminate any possible damage or deterioration of the reef. Sailaway, for example, have recently received the highest environmental accreditation, Climate Change Leader, from Ecotourism Australia for becoming 100% green carbon neutral sailing to the Great Barrier Reef. Reinforcing their commitment to the environment and sustainability, the Quicksilver flagship had a complete refit in July 2008 at a cost of $3million. The choice of their new engines ensure they will reduce their carbon emissions by about 20%,.
It should be noted that the almost evangelical message of the operators does not in any way impact on the visitors. If visitors stick to the simple rules and enjoy the reef safely and sensibly, a day on or under the magical waters is one of life's experiences that touches you and never lets the memories dim.Of course not everyone wants to get under the sea with the fish, some visitors want to catch the fish !
Fishing is a wonderful alternative, maybe even an addition to your holiday itinerary out on the reef. There are many superbly equipped boats available for day hire from the Meridien Marina in Port Douglas to take small groups of enthusiasts out onto the Coral Sea to the designated fishing areas for a fun filled day trying to catch reef fish for their tea. Very strict rules apply to the size of the fish that can be kept and of the total catch for each fishing group. These rules are designed to ensure the reef is protected from overfishing but they won't stop you from having a great day.
Just recently mother nature gave the reef a brief helping hand from an unexpected source. The freak Sydney dust storm that resembled a red version of an old fashioned "London Smog’, was blown up the east coast. The coloration of the dust was created by the heavy iron and phosphate nutrient content of the dust. In fact it was these nutrients that gave the reef a ‘free feed’ ! The dust was blown out to sea and got dumped into the ocean like a huge handful (approx 3 million tonnes) of fish food just as you would feed your tropical fish in a home aquarium. The good news from this apparent natural disaster that saw air pollution levels in Sydney 1500 times their normal levels, the highest on record, is that the coral and fish stocks will all benefit from the nutrients in the dust as they pass through the marine food chain.
Many scientists believe this will prove their long held theory that fertilising the fishing grounds is the best way to further protect the endangered fish stocks and resident corals. The mantra of all Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef tour operators is that they would like ALL guests to leave their tours as ambassadors for reef protection and preservation. The Great Barrier Reef will then continue to amaze and beguile its visitors for future generations.
Check out all available reef tours on www.tourismportdouglas.com.au or visit the Tourism Information Centres around town.
by Roy Weavers
General Facts Great Barrier Reef Port Douglas. Information & Commonly Asked Questions
Top Ten Factfile
ARE WE GOING TO SEE ANY SHARKS on The Great Barrier Reef ?
If you see a shark while visiting the reef, consider yourself very lucky as sharks are not frequently encountered by visitors. Of those which are seen the most commonly encountered are the white tip reef and black tip reef sharks. Easily identified by the white markings on the tips of the dorsal fins, they are often found resting upon the sea floor.
Like most sharks white tip's are extremely timid and won't stay long around divers. Most sharks found on the reef are fish eaters and therefore pose no threat to visitors. Do not harass or block off a shark's exit as they may attack out of fear.
WHAT ABOUT STINGERS ?
The box jellyfish is found in the coastal waters of North Queensland during summer months (October to March). Visitors wishing to swim during this period should only do so in protective swimming enclosures or wear protective clothing. The box jellyfish is a coastal species and is not found out on the reef, but they can sometimes be found around islands close to the mainland. Other stingers that are sometimes encountered on the reef include the irukandji and blue bottle.
Stings from both box jellyfish and irukandji can cause serious injuries. Vinegar can used on both box jellyfish and irukandji stings followed by immediate medical attention, but not on blue bottle stings. For blue bottles use cold water and ice.
WHAT FISH IS THAT ?
With over 1500 species of fish on the great barrier reef the answer to this question is not an easy one. The use of identification books and underwater cards can be useful in identifying commonly encountered species. Body and mouth shape are often the best key features in identifying the type of fish. The reef fish section of the marine biology manual will outline the features of the mostcommonly encoungered families of fish. Aim to learn the name of just one fish every time you visit the reef, and you will quickly know the most commonly encountered species.
WHY ISN'T CORAL VERY COLOURFUL ?
Most visitors to the great barrier reef comment that the coral isn't very colourful as they are used to seeing brightly coloured images in books and on television. Natural white light is made up of all the colours of the rainbow; underwater, these colours are filtered at different depths with red and yellow disappearing first. This gives the reef a predominantly blue/green appearance.
Photographs and video are taken using lights to show the true colours of the Great Barrier Reef. So the colours are there, it's just that you need white light to see them. This is why night diving on the reef is so spectacular.
WHAT ARE CORALS ?
Coral are made up of a thin layer of living animals called polyps, which secrete a chalky, limestone skeleton as they grow. Coral colonies grow as the polyps divide and multiply in a process known as budding. In addition to catching planktonic prey with their tentacles corals also derive nourishment from simple single celled algae called zooxanthellae (pronounced zoo-zan-thelly). living within their tissues.
Like all plants, zooxanthellae photosynthesize, producing nutrients from the suns energy which are used by the polyp for its own nutrition. Corals with zooxanthellae are able to lay down limestone skeletons up to three times fster than those corals without.
WHAT TYPE OF CORAL IS THAT ?
Trying to identify particular species of coral is very difficult. What makes it so difficult is that one type of coral may appear as a branching form in calm water and look like a plate coral in another area.
In many cases it is the environmental conditions, such as wave action, light levels and the amount of sediment in the water, that influence coral colony shape. The easiest way to identify corals is by their appearance * boulder * branching * plate * table * vase * bushy * solitary
WHAT ABOUT CORAL SPAWNING ?
Every year over one third of the reef's 350 species of coral reproduce sexually during a mass spawning event. The majority of inner reefs spawn around November with the outer reefs spawning later in December. Spawning always takes place at night, and follows any time up to six days after the full moon. Eggs and sperm are released into the water where they eventually combine to form a free swimming planktonic larval stage.
WHY IS THE REEF SO FAR OFFSHORE ?
Most of the Great Barrier Reef is located off the mainland of Queensland. Corals need clear water which are low in nutrients. They cannot not tolerate freshwater or nutrients carried in the water run-off from the mainland. That is why the most diverse and abundant corals grow offshore where the environmental conditions are more suitable.
WHAT IS THE WATER CLARITY GOING TO BE LIKE ?
The clarity of water on the reef is determined by a combination of the amount of sediment and the amount of phytoplankton in the water. Sediment becomes suspended due to increased water motion caused by tide changes, high winds and storms. Phytoplankton are the microscopic plants that drift around in the water. They are more numerous in areas where the nutrient levels of the water are higher particularly around coastal reefs which receive nutrient rich runoff from the land.
ARE WE GOING TO SEE ANY WHALES ?
Whales are normally encountered during the winter months when they migrate up to the reef from Antarctic waters to mate and give birth. One of the most spectacular visitors during this period is the Humpback. They are seen in the shallow coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef ranging from Harvey Bay to Port Douglas. Whale watching is conducted by a number of tourist operators through these areas.
The Minke is another species of whale seen during winter, particularly around the Ribbon Reef area. The smallest whales, the dolphins can be seen all year round in most parts of the reef.
WHAT ABOUT CROWN-OF-THORNS STARFISH?
The cause of Crown of Thorn Starfish outbreaks is still the focus of a lot of research and debate. Increased nutrients from the mainland and effects due to El Nino are all being investigated as is the possibility that it is a naturally occurring event. Crown of Thorns starfish may actually serve to maintain coral diversity on the reef by feeding on the fast growing species, that if left unchecked, could dominate the reef.
WHERE CAN WE GO FISHING ON THE REEF ?
Fishing is not allowed in green national park zones or pink preservation and orange scientific zones. In other zones fishing is allowed subject to Queensland fisheries restrictions. Legal sizes, closed seasons and catch quotas also apply to a variety of fish and shellfish. The following animals are totally protected: whales, porpoises, dolphins, dugong and turtles, clam, trumpet and helmet shells, female crabs all grouper and cod over 1.2 metres.
WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER?
In general the average passenger is not so much concerned with the weather as they are with how it will influence their day at the reef. Therefore an answer should be given in reference to their concerns eg.sea sickness, water carity, and the colour of the reef.
WHATS THAT SLICK?
When good growth conditions exist, blooms of a simple floating algae called Trichodesmium are often confused with oil and coral spawn slicks. Blooms can be easily identified by their rusty brown colour as they occur in wind rows along the surface of the water. Slicks of coral spawn generally do not last more than two days after coral spawning. Any oil spill should be immeditely reportd to the local maritime authority.
for more information please see:
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/tourism/tourism_on_gbr
