As the largest living structure on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world, offering a variety and abundance of marine life seldom found elsewhere. Much of the reef falls within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and so many of the dive sites enjoy protected status.
Is it safe to dive in the Great Barrier Reef?
The simple answer is no – the Great Barrier Reef is not dangerous. Full of life with beautiful marine animals and plants, it’s a safe place to visit and is one of the most unforgettable marine destinations in the world! However, your safety depends largely on how you act while you’re here.
How much does it cost to dive on the Great Barrier Reef?
Price
|
Price |
| Great Barrier Reef Tour |
$115 |
| Great Barrier Reef Premium Snorkelling Tour |
$189 |
| Great Barrier Reef Cruise Deluxe |
$205 |
| Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Adventure |
$219 |
How deep is the Great Barrier Reef scuba?
Reef depth ranges anywhere from five to 30 metres, as the reefs are known to drop away suddenly in certain places. How deep you can go will depend on your diver certification (if you have one).
Is the Great Barrier Reef good for scuba diving? – Related Questions
What happens if you touch the Great Barrier Reef?
#1) Look But Don’t Touch
Furthermore, corals have a delicate, living membrane covering their calcified skeleton. If you touch this membrane — with any part of your body or an object — you may inadvertently pierce it, leaving the coral susceptible to infection.
Can you snorkel Great Barrier Reef if you cant swim?
The short answer to this? Absolutely! Despite being submerged in the deep ocean water, you don’t have to be a swimmer to see the underwater wonderland that is the Great Barrier Reef.
What is the deepest part of the Great Barrier Reef?
A new exploration by a remote-operated submersible has found the reef’s deepest coral yet. The coral Leptoseris is living 410 feet (125 meters) below the ocean’s surface, a discovery that expedition leader Pim Bongaerts of the University of Queensland called “mind-blowing.”
How deep can reef sharks dive?
Habitat and Food
Caribbean reef sharks live and eat on the reef usually near a drop off anywhere from shallow water to a maximum depth of 100 ft (30 m ), but they can dive up to 1,240 ft (378 m).
Can you dive to the bottom of the Blue Hole?
Spoiler alert: you can’t dive to the bottom of The Blue Hole. It’s about 122 metres/400 feet deep, way beyond recreational limits. The dive begins on the shallow reef that rings the Blue Hole (about 10m/30 ft below the surface).
Do you need a wetsuit for Great Barrier Reef?
Wetsuits are an essential piece of equipment when scuba diving or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. Not only do they keep you warmer when you’re in the water, but they protect your skin from cuts and scratches when swimming near coral reefs or wreckage sites.
Can a shark bite through a wetsuit?
The wetsuits are made of a “high tech polymer, the same material used to make tow ropes for pulling ships,” says Shark Stop inventor Hayden Burford. And while a shark’s bite might penetrate the fabric, it will only cause small puncture wounds as opposed to the brutal injuries those attacked by sharks normally sustain.
Are there crocodiles in the Great Barrier Reef?
Saltwater crocodiles are typically found in the murky waterways, rivers, lakes, and swamps in the Northern region of Australia. However, on occasion, they can be found in the ocean region, with the beaches and islands in the Great Barrier Reef known to have an occasional croc sighting.
Are there sharks at the Great Barrier Reef?
The most common species of sharks seen on the Great Barrier Reef are white tip or black tip reef sharks. These sharks feed on fish and pose no danger to humans, in fact they are timid and are easily scared.
Can reef sharks hurt you?
There are no recorded human fatalities from reef shark attack. While 24 people have been attacked by reef sharks since records began, they have all survived. Curious and aggressive around food, reef sharks may bite, but they are not known to kill.
Do great white sharks swim in the Great Barrier Reef?
Species of Sharks on the Great Barrier Reef
First let us say this, there are no Great White Sharks on the Great Barrier Reef. The water is far too warm for them. With that sorted, these are the types of sharks you might see on the Great Barrier Reef.
What to do if you see a reef shark?
In case you detect this dangerous fish approaching you, do the following to prevent an attack:
- Go For A Nearest Safety.
- Swim Rhythmically.
- Seabed Movement.
- Defend Yourself.
- Attack The Eyes.
- Avoid Swimming Near Fishing Boats.
- Don’t Swim Near Dolphins And Seals.
- Reflective Or Shiny Items.
How do scuba divers avoid sharks?
Keep your activities quiet and calm: Avoid splashing, and fast movements, either could get you mistaken for prey or a threat. Dive in a group: More eyes means more people to watch out for each other. Do make sure your group is composed of competent divers and led by a local expert.
What to do if a shark attacks you while diving?
If a shark attacks, the best strategy is to hit it on the tip of its nose. This usually results in the shark retreating. If the retreat is far enough away, then human retreat is in order – again, swim quickly but smoothly, watching the shark all the time, with your dive partner close at hand.
Should you look a shark in the eyes?
Winram recommends keeping eye contact with the shark at all times. “Once we make eye contact, the shark knows we have seen them and therefore taken their advantage away. This generally gives us the advantage and keeps them from slipping into an instinctual mode.”
Why does punching a shark in the nose work?
Do you clobber it in the nose to fight it off? Not if you plan on getting away. Despite the old saying that aiming for the snout is the best strategy, a shark’s most sensitive areas are really its eyes and its gills. Aiming for the nose, which is not known to be a weak spot, is generally considered a bad idea.