Whether your interests lie with diving and snorkelling day trips, live aboard cruises and extended diving expeditions to the ribbon reefs and cod hole, learning to dive, or advanced diver training for certified divers, north queenslands great barrier reef, and diving. Passions sail to two unique outer reef locations with a choice of private moorings. Hastings reef cairns great barrier reef home facebook. It is, therefore, an excellent location for duck diving. These locations are well known for their diverse array of colourful fish, corals and other marine life. While you can snorkel or view the reef through a glassbottom boat tour, the only way to get the full experience is on a scuba diving tour.
Reef locations we choose two locations each day which are dependent on the weather and tides to ensure you get to enjoy the best conditions possible as you snorkel, scuba dive and swim. Things to do in cairns compare all cairns day tour options. We have a selection of 5 spectacular reef locations. If you consider only outer reefs the only other reef system that comes close to it in the number of visitors is harding reef in the whitsunday islands. Hastings reef offers very protected snorkelling and diving in the stronger winds. Great barrier reef tours cairns vip captains club valet. Friendly black and white tip reef sharks, and up in the shallows, schools of black and white striped sergeant major fish and rainbow coloured parrot fish. Explore two different reefs on hastings reef, breaking patches or jorgensen patch and enjoy the best of the great barrier reef. They are all located northeast of cairns with the furthest being norman reef. The crew will pick the best two on the day, to suit the conditions and maximise your experience. The reefs we visit will depend on the weather, but well either visit hastings reef, breaking patches reef, saxon reef, norman reef, or jorgensen patch. There was coral and fish everywhere, certainly one of my fave reefs yet.
Great barrier reef scuba diving with cairns cruise. Breaking patches reef can also refer to the paradise reef to its north and long bommie to its south. Norman reef, saxon reef, hastings reef, michaelmas reef and breaking patches are all reef locations located along the outer edge of australias continental. Spectacular outer barrier reef sites reef encounter.
Hastings reef cairns great barrier reef, cairns, ql. Compass cruises outer barrier reef trip is a great day for young travellers on a budget, and is very popular with backpackers that visit cairns this trip is a local icon and has been taking people to the great barrier reef for many years. One of the greatest attractions in cairns and all of australia, is the world heritage listed great barrier reef. The horribly loud music, made worse by the piercing pitch of the presumably old speakers, made the whole boat experience even more torturous. Glass bottom boat want to see the reef and not get wet. Compass cruises 100 abbott st, cairns city queensland.
Complimentary wine, cheese and a selection of tropical fruits are served on the journey back to cairns. Ribbon reef osprey reef hardy reef wheeler reef yongala wreck the wedge split bommie and, many more. Norman reef, saxon reef, hastings reef, breaking patches and michaelmas reef. There is no better way to cool off than by swimming within the reefs crystalblue waters, amongst some of the worlds brightest coral in unique snorkelling sites such as hastings reef, breaking patches, saxon reef and more. This area is a turtle haven for partying turtles and this reef even has a resident turtle called gus. The distances from cairns to the ribbon reef dive sites make it difficult for most of the day boats to make the trip. Reef experience is licensed to visit four reef locations, including breaking patches and hastings, norman and saxon reefs. Whether youre new to diving or a professional, youll find adventure in the tropical waters of the largest reef in the world.
Tours operate each day at two great barrier reef diving sites, selected based on weather conditions and other factors. In strong winds the boat usually travels north visiting a selection of reefs which may include hastings, michaelmas and breaking patches. Dive tours scuba dive tours in australia dive tours australia. After about 90 minutes of boating, we arrived at our first reef breaking patches. Virgin reef h ome to an abundance of tropical fish, spectacular coral. The shallow nature of the breaking patches means it is the perfect habitat for soft corals. A unique all inclusive great barrier reef tour with first class vip service in the captains club lounge on the top deck. A very different experience to hastings reef, this one is a shallower reef system and therefore more popular with soft corals. Re has permits to visit hastings reef, breaking patches, saxon reef and norman reef the captain will choose 2 locations for the day to visit based on the weather conditions. During the cruising time out to location guests will learn some wonderful reef information from the vessels onboard marine biologist. Hastings reef provides some amazing diving and snorkelling for all levels of experience.
While the ribbon reefs are known as some of the best dive sites, there are many more that are closer that also offer a world class diving experience. Reef experience top deck club outer barrier reef ctic. The possible reef sites you may visit are hasting reef, breaking patches, norman reef or saxon reef. This beautiful coral garden sits in less than 14m of water. Its about 50km northeast of cairns which classifies it as an outer reef. Our reef locations on great barrier reef passions of paradise. Enjoy a delicious tropical buffet lunch as we cruise from hastings reef to breaking patches.
Top 5 things to do on the great barrier reef orpheus. Hastings reef is a patch reef shaped like a horseshoe. This includes snorkelling, which is one of the top things to do on the great barrier reef during the hotter months. Each day, the captain assesses the weather and other conditions and selects up to two optimal diving and snorkeling reefs based on the comfort and safety of the passengers and the vessel. We then cruise to the outer barrier reef, where we spend 5 full hours, visiting 2 spectacular reef locations hastings reef and breaking patches. The three of us ready for the catwalk in our stinger suits. Seastar cruises operates daily to michaelmas cay and hastings reef. Great barrier reef diving localities hastings reef. Cairns and the great barrier reef represents some of the finest and most exotic scuba diving and snorkelling in the world.
Reef encounter has the option of visiting many different dive and snorkel sites across five of the best outer great barrier reefs. Things to do in cairns compare all cairns day tour. This tour has a wide selection of reefs to choose from at hastings, breaking patches, saxon, norman and jorgenses patch. Due to its shallow nature, it is the perfect habitat for soft corals, with these fleshy corals swaying with the motion of the ocean as a number of creatures roam about them. Hastings reef picture of reef experience, cairns tripadvisor. Apart from the boat, the reef hastings reef was absolutely incredible. About the reef hastings reef is a patch reef shaped like a horseshoe. Breaking patches hastings reef norman reef saxon reef jorgenson reef. Your day will include two outer barrier reef sites from norman, saxon, hastings and breaking patches locations.
Breaking patches located off michaelmas cay, this great location is renowned for its forest of corals, large sea fans and black coral trees, yielding some 400 species of tropical coral in its shallow lagoons. With shallow coral reefs up to 1 meter deep perfect for snorkelling and wall dives up to 18 meters depth, perfect for diving with plenty of interesting large coral bommies splitoff and steppingoff the main reef as the names split bommie and. Reefs visited include norman, saxon, hastings, jorgensen patch and breaking patches. A gincourt reef has long been one of the most popular diving locations in the entire great barrier reef. For those looking for a journey to the reef with a touch of luxury and. Dive depths vary at each location, but on average are between 6 and 20 metres. Great barrier reef scuba diving with cairns cruise cairns. Come face to face with schools of tropical reef fish, be amazed at the spectacular coral formations. Reef encounter has outstanding outer barrier reef locations at breaking patches, hastings reef, michaelmas reef, saxon reef and norman reef we generally move twice a day so that our guests get good variety and we also do boat drops. Reef experience visits up to two beautiful coral reef locations every day and offers maximum time for snorkeling, relaxing and more. Breaking patches is a shallow patch of reef just west of michaelmas cay and is about 42km northeast of cairns.
As we leave the great barrier reef we offer boom netting just for the fun of it. Norman reef, saxon reef, hastings reef, michaelmas reef and breaking patches are all reef locations located along the outer edge of australias continental shelf, and are some of the worlds most exotic and beautiful diving and snorkelling reef locations. Cairns great barrier reef day tour reef experience. Breaking patches this site is named breaking patches as it is indeed just that a patch of breakaway coral located just off of michaelmas cay. We choose from reefs found on breaking patches, hastings reef and jorgensen patch, all of which have their own unique reefs and seascapes for you to explore. A one of unique great barrier reef tour from cairns. Breaking patches is a shallow patch of reef just west of michaelmas cay and is about 42km northeast of cairns the world underwater. The company has permits to visit hastings reef, breaking patches, saxon reef and norman reef the captain will choose 2 locations for the day to visit based on the weather conditions. I had a choice between diving an introductory dive 10 metres in hastings reef or green island, which would be mrioe exciting in terms of colorsful coral and marine life. The boat ride in each direction takes about 2 hours, so the boarding time is a bit earlier than other vessels i boarded the ship at 7.
Just before we arrived, we changed into our stinger suits. Go on an amazing adventure where you will enjoy an actionpacked day on the great barrier reef. The breaking patches reef that we have been discussing is of that type. Our ultimate goal is to make your day an experience you will never. Hastings reef is the most visited reef in the northern section of the great barrier reef park. The friendly crew always aim to make every passengers visit to the great barrier reef a memorable and happy day. We visit spectacular outer great barrier reef locations, with access to well over 15 dive and snorkel sites over a range of the best outer great barrier reefs. The ultimate reef experience at the great barrier reef. Great barrier reef budget cruise compass cruises cairns. Our cairns diving tours offer reef experience outer barrier reef tour 30 perfect for your next holiday. This tour has a wide selection of reefs to choose from at hastings, breaking patches, saxon, norman and jorgenses. Cairns diving tours, reef experience outer barrier reef tour. The world underwater this beautiful coral garden sits in less than 14m of water.
All reefs are worldclass snorkelling and dive sites and. You can expect to see clown fish, good schooling pelagics in particular on split bommie. Reef experience is very fortunate not to be restricted to visiting the same reef location everyday. These arent wetsuits, but instead cover your entire body other than part of your face to protect you from stinging jellyfish. Sitting in less than 14 metres of waters, breaking patches is a shallow patch of reef just west of michaelmas cay. We will always seek out the most comfortable reef locations based on the current weather conditions, so reef locations visited may vary from trip to trip. The agincourt offers numerous potential dive sites with a blend of channels and gardens for marine explorers to navigate. The top deck club see the great barrier reef in style and experience the vip difference. Reef chosen may be a choice of norman, saxon, hastings or breaking patches reefs.
Cairns snorkelling tours, reef experience outer barrier. Reef locations cairns budget reef tours on compass cruises. The day is very relaxed, easy going and great fun with friendly personal service and helpful crew. Visit our website for details or booking enquiries. Breaking patches is a shallow patch of reef just west of michaelmas cay. The average depth is m on the bottom, therefore making this one of the shallower sites on the outer reef. Hasting reef is one of the more popular destinations for the day trips. The cruise takes you out to the breaking patches, and visits hastings reef, and michaelmas reef. Situated remotely off the coast of port douglas, the agincourt reef is a collection of small ribbon reefs. In addition, the top of the reef called the reef flat. Are the reefs better than the islands or vice versa. Free scuba diving, free glass bottom boat, free city shuttle bus, great lunch and great value. You can be assured that you will visit some of the best sites on the outer reef from.
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