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 North Queensland Coast learn more
... scuba diving vacation packages are available
Stretching from just north of Port Douglas and Cooktown to the northern tip of Cape York (Australia's most northerly point) and up to 500 km off the coast into the scuba diving mecca of the Coral Sea and the offshore oceanic reefs this far northern reef area provides a fantastic range of scuba diving vacation packages in the clearest waters in the world.
Based on Cairns, but beginning just north of Cooktown and running south to Tully you can take a scuba diving vacation that lets you explore scuba diving sites in a Reef area of 35,500 sq km, so there's plenty for everyone... many of the exotic and exciting scuba diving sites along the Great Barrier Reef are within a 20 to 35 km radius of Cairns.
Diving in the cleanest waters in the world your visibility often exceeds 100 metres (330 feet). There's spectacular marine life, isolated atolls, amazing drop offs, exciting shark feeding stations and intact shipwrecks...
Map of the North Queensland Coast scuba diving vacation region. Coral Sea and islands learn more
... scuba diving vacation packages are available
The Coral Sea Islands Territory comprises the many small islands spread over a huge sea area of approximately 780,000 square kilometres, extending east and south from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, and includes Heralds Beacon Island, Osprey Reef, the Willis Group, and fifteen other reef/island groups. The coral and sand islands are quite small with some grass and low vegetation cover. There is no fresh water.
Only Willis Island is inhabited with four Meteorological Bureau staff. Unmanned weather stations beacons and a lighthouse are located on several other islands and reefs... in 1997 the boundaries of the Coral Sea Islands Territory were extended to include Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs. Elizabeth and Middleton are 150 km north of Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.
The islands were discovered in 1803, they were briefly exploited for guano in the 1870s and 1880s but were soon abandoned due to a lack of permanent water. During the 19th century many ships were wrecked in the area due to constantly shifting sand cays, and the reefs and islands have often been named after the ships which foundered there.
Two species of sea turtle nest in the area, and at least twenty four bird species have been recorded. A Migratory Birds Ordinance is in force, and gives effect to the Australia-Japan and Australia-China agreements on endangered and migratory birds.
Map of the Coral Sea scuba diving vacation region. Whitsunday Islands learn more
... scuba diving vacation packages are available
The Whitsunday Islands with their fringing and offshore reefs make up the Central section of the Great Barrier Reef and offer a number of exciting scuba diving vacation packages... extending from just north of Mackay to Dunk Island just off Tully, this section covers 75,850 sq km and encloses some of the most popular scuba diving locations on the Great Barrier Reef... with the biological and geological complexity of the reef making it the richest marine habitat on earth and the logical choice for a scuba diving vacation.
Popular inner reef scuba diving sites include Hardy and Bait reefs. 'The Stepping Stones' at Bait Reef being considered one of the top ten scuba diving sites in Australia. Day cruises aboard fast comfortable catamarans and specialist dive/snorkel boats include Hardy or Bait reefs in their scuba diving itineraries.
Many of the Whitsunday Islands with their 'fringing' reefs can be enjoyed by snorkelling just off the beaches... when checking out Liveaboard Boats on this website to make a holiday booking some of the destinations to look for are Manta Ray Bay, Luncheon Bay, Butterfly Bay, Blue Pearl Bay, Langford Reef and Cateran Bay.
The outer reef scuba diving sites such as Fairey, Showers, Gould and Kennedy Reefs, are the domain of certified scuba divers... great chasms, huge caves, massive coral formations and giant fish thrill scuba divers from all over the world.
To go scuba diving or snorkelling anywhere in the Whitsundays is a richly rewarding experience... and you can scuba dive 365 days of the year...
Map of the Whitsundays scuba diving vacation region. Central Queensland Coast learn more
... scuba diving vacation packages are available
This vast, and largely unexplored patchwork of coral gardens, lagoons and island cays covers an area of 143,000 sq km stretching from just north of Bundaberg to just above Mackay... providing some of the most spectacular scuba diving sites you could ever hope to scuba dive on a scuba diving vacation. You'll experience a different coral world or towers, terraces, swim-throughs and spirals... with a myriad of marine life, including sea snakes, sharks, manta rays and huge schools of migrating fish.
An extra vacation bonus through the months of August to October is the sight you'll get of frolicking Humpback whales migrating through these warm waters off the coast... and from November to February, giant sea turtles come ashore regularly to lay their eggs... for something different, take time out to explore Mon Repos - the largest and most accessible turtle rookery on mainland Australia... located just out of Bargara...
Map of the Central Queensland Coast scuba diving vacation region. South Queensland Coast learn more
... scuba diving vacation packages are available
From Tweed Heads to just above Bundaberg (the northern tip of Fraser Island) the south east region offers you a number of options for a scuba diving vacation... in Moreton Bay dive Flinders, Curtin artificial reef, Shark gutters, Shag Rock and Manta Ray Bommie.
The wrecks of Stradbroke Island provide a different scuba diving experience... these include the 'Cambus Wallace' (1894), the 'Prosperity' (1902), the 'Lorna Doone' (1888), the 'Sovereign' (1847), the 'Countess of Derby (1853) and a mysterious 16th century Spanish galleon.
Off Queensland's Gold Coast there is great ocean scuba diving on reefs about 6 km offshore... the wreck of the 'Scottich Prince' (1887) which went down with a load of whisky just north of Sea World provides sourvenier hunting opportunities. Numerous and interesting offshore reef scuba diving dive sites also exist off Palm Beach, North Kirra and Fingal Head...
Map of the South Queensland Coast scuba diving vacation region. |
