How to Go Scuba Diving at the Great Barrier Reef

Also try: Great Barrier Reef Vacation

Guide Note

In order to properly see the Great Barrier Reef, you need to be underwater! The best way to fully appreciate its beauty is to view it while scuba diving. Whether you've never dived before, or are an experienced diver, this guide will get you started.

Introduction
What Kind of Diver Are You?
What Kind of Trip Are You Interested In?
When to Go
Where to Stay
Find a Tour
Some Final Considerations
Resources

Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving Tips

Experience not required; dives available for novice through expert levels
Can dive all year round; best viewing considered to be August through January
Consider staying on the water overnight for more reef time
Don't touch the coral

by Susan MacDowell

Introduction

(Photo by Alexander Rist)

The Great Barrier Reef is alive! Comprised of 900 islands and over 3000 individual reefs, this system, which is home to fish, plants, and sea creatures, is actually made up of billions of coral polyps. With over 1500 species of fish, this complex ecosystem is a must see when you're visiting Queensland, Australia.

This is not a tourist attraction you can hop on a bus to visit behind panes of glass in air-conditioned comfort, however. In order to really appreciate it, you need to get into the water—deeply.

What Kind of Diver Are You?

You can have a great trip to the reef, whether you're there for a week, or just a day. There are different trips and dive experiences, depending on your goals and history with diving. Whether you're a novice or looking to undergo additional training, you're sure to find the right dive for you.
NOTE: If you've never been diving before, be prepared to spend a few days before you hit the seas preparing for your dive. Introductory courses include land lessons before you're allowed in the water.

What's Your Experience Level?

Common certifications are:

Open Water—certified to dive down to 60 feet.
Advanced Open Water—certified to dive to 100 feet
Deep Diving—certified to dive down to 140 feet, which is considered the limit for recreational diving

NOTE: Divers who are interested in getting specialized certifications can find many opportunities for further training in the Great Barrier Reef Area, such as Enhanced Air Diving, Rescue Diving, and other specialized topics.

What Kind of Trip Are You Interested In?

Here's an overview of the types of trips you can choose from.

Learn to Dive Tours

(Creative Commons photo by Leonard Low)

These tours let you explore the reef while you learn to dive. The learning process means you'll need to set aside several days to complete your course.

Most introductory tours begin on land, and have the initial training in a controlled environment such as a swimming pool.
In a few days, you'll progress to open water, where you'll practice your skills.
If you're interested in obtaining certification, make sure you inquire whether or not the hours spent on a particular course will count.
- Some introductory courses are so controlled that their hours don't count towards your Open Water certification.

NOTE: Some resorts and boats have a shallow dive option, that only requires 1/2-2 hours of training before you dive. Depths in these dives are limited to 20 feet, however, and they're really designed to give you a "taste" of scuba.

Day Trips

If you're already certified, and just interested in diving, you can easily arrange a day trip to many interesting areas of the reef.

(Photo by Rick Hawkins)

You can find a reputable operator that will rent you equipment and take you out on a catamaran to explore the reef. Note that these catamarans can carry up to 300 passengers.
- If you're already traveling with your gear, ask if you can pay less for bringing your own equipment.
Or, consider a chartered boat. You'll travel with fewer people, and usually visit more than one area of the reef.

Sleep Aboard Excursions

Don't overlook night tours, that have you diving under the stars.

Travel time to some of the less visited spots can make it more sensible to take a trip where you sleep on the boat.
These tours can run from several days to several weeks.

When to Go

The Great Barrier Reef is off the northeastern corner of Australia. Since it's in the Southern Hemisphere, the north is closer to the equator, and the summer highs hit from November through April.

It's generally recommended to visit between August and January for the best reef visibility, though you'll see a great variety of marine life whenever you go.
Autumn (April through June) is generally dry and pleasant.
In the north you can count on a tropical climate, with water temperature ranging from 75° to 85°.
Summer in Queensland can be hot and wet, with the possibility of deadly box jellyfish being found near coastal beaches.
If you visit in winter, some of the more southernmost parts of the reef may have days where the water is too cold to dive.
If you're interested in perhaps encountering whales, you'll want to plan your trip for the Australian winter (June through August) or spring (September through December).
- Minke and humpback whales spend the winter near the reef, and humpbacks can still be found there in the spring.

NOTE: There are some dangerous species of marine life in the waters surrounding the reef. The dangers vary depending on the time of year, and the location you're diving. The dive operator will know the hazards of the particular area you're diving in, so be sure to pay attention to his instructions.

Where to Stay

You have several options for a "home base" when you visit the Great Barrier Reef, depending on which area of the reef you're looking to visit. Cairns, Townsville, or Port Douglas are all good choices. You can also stay on one of the many islands in the area such as Whitsunday Island, Lizard Island, Keppel Island or Bedarra Island. These locations are plotted below, or you can print out this map, provided by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, to get your bearings. You can review detailed maps of each area here.
View Larger Map

Don't worry too much about your destination, as there's great diving no matter where you leave from. Each port has big tours and smaller charters available, and each also has sleep-aboard tours which can take you to a variety of dive spots. Some of the more popular home bases are:

Cairns

From Cairns, you can reach diving areas in 90 minutes or less.
Tours from Cairns let you access popular dive sites like Hastings, Saxon, and Norman.
It is also located at the start of the area where you can see the ribbon reef, which is the edge of the prehistoric continental shoreline.
Many people choose Cairns for convenience; it's the location of the international airport closest to the reef.
Cairns is the biggest city that offers great reef access; its nightlife and entertainment entice potential visitors.

(Creative Commons photo by Leonard Low)

Port Douglas

Port Douglas is as close to the reef as Cairns, and dive boats leaving from Port Douglas are apt to take you to one of the many swim-throughs in the area, including the Maze.
Port Douglas is also home to the Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary.
Located north of Cairns, you can view ribbon reef from here as well.

Townsville

Townsville is farther from the reef than Cairns and Port Douglas. It will take about 2 1/2 hours by boat to reach the reef.
Diving tours of the national historic shipwreck, the S.S. Yongala, leave from Townsville.
Educational resources, courtesy of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, are also found at Townsville.

Whitsunday Islands

The 74 Whitsundays are the closest landmass to the Great Barrier Reef.
Humpback whales winter near the Whitsundays.
These islands offer access to the outer reef, as well as scuba diving close to shore.
If you enjoy sailing, visit! The area is known for great sailing.

Can't Decide?

Read Frommer's guide to Queensland, and Trip Advisor, which discuss the types of dives that are available for different locations on the reef.
Unless this is purely a diving vacation, consider what other activities you'd like to enjoy while you're in Queensland. If you need the nightlife, Cairns is a better choice than an isolated island.
For more information on the area, see Mahalo's guide to a Great Barrier Reef Vacation.

Find a Tour

After you've clarified what type of experience you're looking for, you'll be prepared to select a tour operator. Before booking your trip, make sure that your experience and expectations match what the particular tour can offer. Here are some avenues you can use to help select the best tour for you.