The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system. It’s so large in fact that 10% of the world’s fish species can be found on the reef. Being scuba certified and obsessed with the ocean, diving the Great Barrier Reef was near the top of my bucket list. If you are in Australia I highly recommend taking a trip to Cairns and taking a tour to go to the Great Barrier Reef. We dove with Tusa Dive and they are a fantastic company! The staff is knowledgeable, efficient, friendly, fun, and most importantly cares about safety. Tusa Dive is also great because to go on one of their charters you do not have to be scuba certified, you can choose the snorkel option so you can still see the beautiful reef.
What to bring:
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- GoPro/camera (don’t worry if you don’t own one, Tusa has an underwater photographer that takes amazing photos that you can purchase at the end of your day)
- Water bottle
- Flip flops
- Sea sickness medicine (if necessary)
- Your dive card to prove certification
About the boat:
- Has two levels to relax and enjoy the ride on
- Large and spacious
- Has bathrooms and showers
- Food and drink options available on the boat (alcohol only allowed after the dives of course)
- All equipment is available for you on the boat so don’t worry about bringing yours
On this tour you get the option of doing up to three scuba dives at two different dive sites or snorkeling at the two sites. Your day starts bright and early as you head to the harbor in Cairns to get on the boat. Once on the boat, you check in with the staff and fill out a waiver. Once everyone is checked in you begin your boat ride to the reef. The boat ride is beautiful and as you leave the harbor, you see the mountains fading away as you make your way to the reef. The crew provides breakfast, coffee, and water! You then get divided up in to groups depending on if you are diving with a guide, diving without a guide, or snorkeling. They go over safety and rules for when you are in the water and on the boat. Next, the crew gives you all of your gear that you will be using for the rest of the day, so keep track of it!
Once you arrive at the first dive site you get your gear on and in to the water you go! I can’t even explain the feeling you get knowing you are experiencing the world’s largest reef system. The water was crystal clear and all shades of blue. The coral was colorful and full of life. We saw tons of fish, a giant clam, sea cucumbers, a cuttlefish, and even a reef shark! After our dive we were allowed to snorkel if we wanted and we jumped at that chance. I was going to stay in the water for as long as they would let me! Even just snorkeling, we saw tons of species of fish and coral. And don’t worry if you aren’t a great swimmer, they have life vests and water noodles that you can use as a flotation device.
After the first site is done you get back on the boat and they provide lunch (included in the tour) while you travel to the second site. They do a buffet style lunch and the food is delicious! They have a wide variety of options for all types of diets. After you are nice and full, you get your gear back on and go on another dive! (or snorkel depending on what you chose). Once again we saw a ton and were not disappointed by the marine life we got to see. After your last dive you return all your gear and sit back and relax with a refreshing drink for the boat ride home.
I’m not going to lie we got lucky with a day that was warm with clear skies and calm waters. But rain or shine, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss! I think everyone needs to experience the reef as you grow an appreciation for its beauty and all the life it holds. You learn how our reefs are so important for the ecosystem. And I think when people experience something firsthand, they are more willing to take steps to care for and protect the things they appreciate. Unfortunately, climate change and tourism are damaging this reef. But the good news is that Australia does a great job at managing the tourism on the reef and takes extra precautions to protect the reef.
Ocean friendly tips:
- Don’t litter – throw your trash in a bin, not the water
- Look, but don’t touch – touching the coral can be harmful so please don’t grab, touch, kick, or stand on the coral
- Use eco-friendly sunscreen – there is now sunscreen that is safer for both yourself and the ocean, use it!
- Recycle – tons of plastic ends up in the ocean and harms marine life
If you are traveling through Australia check out my other blogs on my 1 Day Great Ocean Road Tour and my shark cage diving day with Calypso Start Charters.
