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Scuba Diving News
17 February 2012
Wakeboarding on the Great Barrier Reef is not something you see every day, but earlier this week Tusa 6 provided the power for some professional wakeboarding action on the reef off Cairns.
3 February 2012
Sunlover Cruises officially launched its refurbished Tropic Sunseeker boat last night, to an enthusiastic crowd of Cairns Great Barrier Reef tourism operators. In conjunction with the $700,000 refurbishment, the 400-seat Tropic Sunseeker received a new paint job, carpets, seat coverings, windows and engine.
2 February 2012
Bet you never thought poo would be exciting news. Now it is. Scientists from the University of Sydney have said they believe sea cucumber poo could help save coral reefs from the impacts of climate change. The announcement was made, following months of research at One Tree Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
21 January 2012
Ever wondered where is the best place to learn to scuba dive? Cairns Great Barrier Reef, in tropical North Queensland Australia is your answer! Cairns offers close, convenient access to the Great Barrier Reef and professional dive operators and instructors, who have taught over 250,000 people to scuba dive.
18 January 2012
Whale Shark encounters are increasing on the Great Barrier Reef, with the latest reported sighting made aboard Spirit of Freedom on 11 January 2012 at the northern Ribbon Reefs.
27 December 2011
Pro Dive Cairns has opened its new, learn to dive training facilities on Spence Street. As Cairns’ longest running dive instruction centre, Pro Dive Cairns now combines a wealth of professional experience with the newest pool and classroom facilities in town. For customers, this means a better place to learn, before heading out to the Great Barrier Reef.
19 November 2011
The Great Barrier Reef’s annual coral spawning has taken place for 2011. As predicted, the corals of the Great Barrier Reef released their eggs and sperm into the warm waters of the Coral Sea over a few nights, between 15 – 17 November; the main event taking place on Thursday 17 November 2011.
8 November 2011
Do you want to spend Christmas Day 2011 on the Great Barrier Reef? Cairns reef operators are offering several different packages, catering to families, couples, groups and independent travelers this Christmas. We’ve cherry picked the best Cairns Christmas 2011 Great Barrier Reef experiences for you, please read on for more information and pricing.
17 October 2011
We are now in the final countdown for the Great Barrier Reef’s Coral Spawning 2011. Like any natural phenomena, an exact date is hard to pinpoint with total accuracy, but at this stage, the best guess is that will take place sometime around 14 – 15 – 16 November 2011.
Cairns offers a number of coral spawning 2011 dive trips, enabling you to witness and submerge yourself in this annual event, ranging from liveaboard trips to night trips. Be prepared to be flexible and patient though, Mother Nature does not run by our timetable.
1 September 2011
The corals of Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef could be the key to a new, natural UV sunscreen for humans, as revealed in recent research by London’s King’s College.
Scientists have discovered that living corals produce a natural chemical, which protects them from the harmful effects of UV sunlight. This chemical could be developed for human use.
16 August 2011
Cairns’ newest reef day tour boat commenced operations last week, when Tusa Dive’s T6 took its first passengers to the Great Barrier Reef on Wednesday 10 August 2011.
The $3 million, 24m long T6 catamaran provides up to 60 guests a day with a luxurious day tour, swimming, snorkelling and diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
15 August 2011
Pro Dive Cairns is spending $2 million to upgrade its learn to dive facilities and capabilities. With an international reputation for quality and professionalism, Pro Dive Cairns are a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre that has taught over 100,000 people to scuba dive, since opening 1983.
18 July 2011
Reef Magic Cruises will start operating their half day whale watching tours from Cairns tomorrow, Tuesday 19 July 2011. The 3.5 hour tours depart Marlin Marina at 9am and include a comprehensive Humpback Whale commentary, photo opportunities and morning tea.
These specialist whale watching tours first started in 2009 and are the only of their kind in Cairns, delivering guests an excellent whale sighting rate of 99%.
1 July 2011
Spirit of Freedom, one of Cairns’ luxury liveaboard boats providing dive and snorkel trips to the northern Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole and Coral Sea, recently underwent a $300,000 refit.
Built in 1992, the 37m monohull Spirit of Freedom is always immaculately maintained and the five (5) week refit included interior and exterior work, all completed in Cairns.
1 June 2011
Cairns Dive Centre is excited to commence operations with their new day tour boat, MV Reefkist, next Tuesday 7 June 2011.
The 18m (60 ft) MV Reefkist catamaran, replaces MV Sunkist in the Cairns Dive Centre fleet and was designed by Incat Crowther and built by Richardson and Devine in Tasmania, in 2005.
31 May 2011
Passions of Paradise will debut its ‘new’ Great Barrier Reef dive and snorkel site tomorrow, Wednesday 1 June 2011, the aptly named, Long Bommie. Approximately 200m long and two (2) nautical miles from Michaelmas Cay, Long Bommie offers visitors pristine corals and a spectacular array of marine life.
Long Bommie is Passions of Paradise’s second exclusive Cairns Great Barrier Reef dive site, the first being at Paradise Reef. Some lucky certified divers enjoyed an exclusive preview of Long Bommie a few weeks ago and reported excellent swim throughs and conditions.
27 May 2011
Pro Dive Cairns saw the first Humpback Whales for the season on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef, earlier this week. In an early start to Cairns’ whale watching season, the first Humpback Whale breaching was seen on Cairns’ southern reefs, at Flynn, Milne and Thetford. Humpback Whales usually arrive in July / August, so perhaps this early sighting is indicative of an excellent Cairns whale watching season for 2011.
3 May 2011
Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef offers visitors the unique opportunity to swim, snorkel and dive with Dwarf Minke Whales. This close whale contact is banned in many countries around the world, but in the northern waters of the Great Barrier Reef, you can enjoy this once in a lifetime experience with a liveaboard Mike Ball Dive Expedition. There are some rules and requirements, including the fact that the encounter must be voluntarily initiated by the whales. Whale Watching Liveaboard Tours run from June – July in 2011.
18 April 2011
Want to spend Easter on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef? This is a great time of year to visit! Our mornings are crisp and clear with blue skies and a minimum temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius. During the day we reach a pleasant maximum of around 29 degrees Celsius and conditions on the Great Barrier Reef are excellent (as you will see from these pictures taken over the weekend, on Saturday 16 April)! Day trips start from just $77 – so come on up and join us in paradise.
17 March 2011
A rare stingray, listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, has been photographed on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Porcupine Ray (Urogymnus asperrimus) was spotted by guests aboard Wavelength Reef Charters at Opal Reef, latitude 16°13 longitude 145°53.5 earlier this year.
15 March 2011
Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef day dive and snorkel tour fleet will have a new vessel in June this year, when Tusa Dive launch the latest in their series, TUSA 6.
Currently being constructed by leading Brisbane company Aluminum Marine, the 24m TUSA 6 has been designed to maximise passenger comfort and environmental performance.
8 March 2011
Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef is hosting representatives from the Seven Natural Wonders Organisation this week, keen to make its mark as the number one natural attraction on earth.
A seven member international delegation from the organisation is in Cairns on a 10-day tour. Highlights will include visiting the Great Barrier Reef’s Moore Reef, Fitzroy Island and the ancient Daintree Rainforests.
21 February 2011
Scuba divers visiting Cairns’ northern reefs are reporting 10m visibility and excellent diving. Cairns Dive Adventures visited Saxon and Hastings Reefs yesterday aboard Tusa Dive, and saw turtles, giant clams, anemone fish, trumpetfish, leafy scorpionfish and more.
“The diving was brilliant,” said Richard Johnston from Cairns Dive Adventures. “There was some sediment in the water, but you could clearly see the colourful corals and fish and we have never spent so much time diving with a Hawksbill turtle before.”
15 February 2011
Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef has survived Cyclone Yasi with only limited damage. Most sediment has settled and is now reporting 12-15m visibility at its dive sites, with happy customers.
“There is coral disturbance, but reports back from our customers are that they can see some damage, but it is still good diving,” said Peter Stokes, Operations Manager of Cairns Dive Centre. “Most corals regenerate quickly and 75-80% of dive sites are fine, everyone is having a good time.”
4 February 2011
Cairns has re-opened for business today after Cyclone Yasi crossed the coast south of the city, late on Wednesday 2nd February.
Cyclone Yasi caused massive damage to the southern townships of Tully, Mission Beach and Cardwell with Cairns and its Great Barrier Reef relatively unscathed by the massive weather system. Cairns dive and reef tour operators will commence services from tomorrow, Saturday 5th February.
19 January 2011
The Great Barrier Reef’s far northern Ribbon Reefs, Cod Hole and Coral Sea have not been impacted by recent flooding in south-east Queensland, reporting excellent water conditions and clarity this week.
Pictures taken on recent a Mike Ball Dive Expeditions liveaboard trip (13-17 January 2011) showcase the purity of water and quality of diving on offer at these stunning destinations, right now.
17 January 2011
The Cairns Great Barrier Reef remains open for business, completely unaffected by the flooding reported across south-east and regional Queensland.
Cairns Dive Adventures visited Moore Reef yesterday and enjoyed calm, warm waters with excellent visibility and vibrant fish and coral colours. Cairns reef tour operators continue to provide their usual day and liveaboard tours, departing daily from 7.30am.
14 December 2010
Want to spend Christmas Day on the Great Barrier Reef? There are several reef and island Christmas Day tours departing from Cairns, giving you the choice between Outer Great Barrier Reef, Michaelmas Cay, Moore Reef, reef pontoon and Fitzroy Island for your 2010 festive fun. Prices start at just $98 for a day trip to Fitzroy Island and go through to $189 for a fully-inclusive sailing trip to the Great Barrier Reef’s Michaelmas Cay. These Cairns Christmas Day Great Barrier Reef tours are sure to sell out, so book today.
13 December 2010
Reef Magic Cruises continue to expand their Great Barrier Reef day trip services, improving customer experience and making their Cairns reef day tours even more memorable. New innovations include massage on the Great Barrier Reef, at their exclusive Marine World pontoon, helmet diving and a brand new, custom built glass bottom boat tour.
29 November 2010
I am most pleased to report that as we suggested, the Great Barrier Reef 2010 coral spawning took place between 25 – 27 November. For those lucky enough to have been there, the waters were calm and the nights were magical, as thousands of different Great Barrier Reef corals released their eggs into the water.