Just back home from a vacation in Australia, and I am sitting in front of the computer. The reason why I am not taking a quick nap after an uncomfortably long flight is because I have to let my readers know how I had an experience of a lifetime – scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef with sharks and stingrays at close proximity.
There is a reason why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and considered as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Oh, and did I mention it is the only structure made up of living organisms which is visible from outer space? Imagine a gigantic coral reef system comprising more than 2,900 individual reefs and stretching over 2,500 kilometers! Now include numerous varieties of whales, sharks, dolphins, octopuses, stingrays, turtles and sea snakes along with clownfish, angelfish,triggerfish, nudibranch and sea horses! Who wouldn’t want to stay (as long as there is oxygen in the tank) in such a paradise under water?
If you are not a certified diver, you will find numerous locations where you’ll be given the required amount of training. As far as the actual diving goes, the best way to enjoy it is by going for a scuba diving liveaboard. The best and reliable ones are available in Port Douglas and Cairns. Unlike the day-trip boats, these liveaboard services offer the divers to live on board in cabins. The duration of the stay depends on the coral reef destinations you have chosen to visit – i.e. it can range from 2 days to 10 days.
Coming back to scuba diving and the Great Barrier Reef, the period with best diving conditions is between the months of June and November. The Osprey Reef and the Ribbon Reef are famous for their pristine and quiet dive locations. Locations like Cod Hole and North Horn are best places to see giant Potato Cods pose for a photo or be within a snapping distance away a shark feeding frenzy. The Ningaloo Reef and Rowley Shoals are also extremely popular diving locations among tourists.
I am back home with numerous photographs and a bagful of memories, but there is no way I will ever miss a chance to go back and dive again! This is one of those addictions you can never get enough with!
