Page 80 - Port Douglas Magazine 29
P. 80

The   Great  Barrier  Reef
               supports over 1500 species
               of  fi sh,  400  species  of  coral
               and 4000 species of molluscs.
               There is more diversity of
               species of plants and animals
               per cubic metre than in any
               other environment in the world.
               Port Douglas is ideally located
               as  the  perfect  gateway                               MACKAY                OPAL REEF &
               to discover this amazing
               underwater world.          LOW ISLES                     CORAL                    TONGUE                                     AGINCOURT                     OSPREY
               This guide  will help  you                                                                                                         REEF                       REEF                       ADDITIONAL INFO
               decide how  you want  to                                    CAY                      REEF
               explore the Great Barrier Reef


                                         Low Isles is located approx. 12   Approx. 25 km East of Cape   50 km from Port Douglas            50 km from Port Douglas     300 km from Port Douglas,    WHAT TO BRING?
                                         km from Port Douglas.     Tribulation.               These reefs are ideal                        Boats will moor up in about 10m   Osprey Reef is truly wild and   •   Hat
                                         The white sands dip gently   50 km from Port Douglas.  for snorkelers with                        of water and snorkellers swim   remote                   •   Towel
                                         from the shore making this   Snorkelling is in shallow water   shallower water (3/4               (approx 30m) to the shallower                            •   Swimwear
                   LOCATION              island ideal for paddling in a   1-3m                metres) snorkelers can                       areas to view the reef.                                  •   Environmentally friendly sunscreen
                                         comfortable depth of water..                         swim around bommies                          Diving here max depth 18m                                •   Sunglasses
                                         All tours include the use of a                       (coral outcrops) and along                   Snorkelling is along walls and                           •   Camera
                                         glass bottom boat.                                   shallow walls.                               tops of bommies.                                         •   Certifi ed Divers – Certifi cation Card & Logbook

                                                                                                                                                                                                    SEA SICKNESS
                                         SPEED BOAT - 15 MIN       SPEED BOAT - 25 MIN        HIGH SPEED CATAMARAN -                       HIGH SPEED CATAMARAN -      CHARTER YACHT                •   Natural remedies may include ginger
                                         SAILING CATAMARAN- 90 MINS  SAILING CATAMARAN - 2HRS  90 MINS                                     90 MINS                                                      (raw or tablets)
                    VESSELS              CHARTER YACHT             CHARTER YACHT              CHARTER YACHT                                CHARTER YACHT                                            •   Fresh air
                                                                                                                                                                                                    •
                                                                                                                                                                                                        Sitting facing the direction you are travelling
                                                                                                                                                                                                    •   Looking to the horizon
                                                                                                                                                                                                    •   Otherwise get organised prior travel with a
                                                                                                                                                                                                        medication suitable for you and remember to
                                                                                                                                                                                                        consult directions 24 hours before departure
                                          Giant clams, batfi sh, turtles,   Mackay Cay is a picturesque   Clown fi sh (Nemo),                Shoals of Barracuda, nurse   Close encounters with schools   WATER TEMPERATURE
                                          barracuda, black tip sharks,   snow white sandy coral cay   damselfi sh, parrot fi sh,             sharks, butterfl y fi sh, angel fi sh,   of trevally, giant potato cod,
                                          clown fi sh, angel fi sh, sea   fringed with crystal blue waters   surgeon fi sh, butterfl y fi sh,   parrot fi sh, clown fi sh, mauri   green turtles, moray eels,   April till July ranges from 24 to 26 degrees celsius
                                          cucumbers, trevally, sweetlips,   and populated by terns.   angel fi sh. Blue spotted             wrasse, fan corals, lion fi sh,   octopuses, and a variety of
                 WHAT WILL                moon wrasse, fusiliers.  Sea turtles, clown fi sh,   stingrays, lizardfi sh, blue                  sweetlips, squid, lettuce coral,   sharks are all but guaranteed.  EMC - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CHARGE
                                                                                                                                           table coral, boulder corals,
                                                                                              chromis, paddle tail snappers,
                                                                                                                                                                                                    $6.50 per person
                                                                   butterfl y fi sh, a huge variety
                                          Dugongs and Humpbacks
                      I SEE?              (in season) can also be seen   of colourful coral, eagle rays,   red bass, reef sharks, turtles,   blue stripe snappers, gobies,                          This applies to all adults and children 4 years and over
                                          around the Low Isles     sea cucumbers, starfi sh, a   wrasse, white tip reef shark,              goldband fusiliers. Octopus,                             entering the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area.
               These are not guaranteed   Low Isles attracts many birds   fantastic giant clam garden,   giant clams, red bass,            green humphead parrot fi sh,                              All funds received are applied directly to the Marine Park
               as marine life is always on   including Orange-footed   blue spotted stingrays  barracuda, trevally, Maori                  manta rays, loggerhead turtles,                          for its day-to-day management and to improve its long-
                                                                                                                                           grey reef whaler sharks,
                                                                                              wrasse, Spanish mackerel,
                      the move            scrub fowl, reef egret, osprey,                     schooling baitfi sh,                                                                                   term resilience.
                                          brahminy kite, terns,kingfi sher,                                                                 Corals - fan, table, boulder
                                          honey-eaters, triller, spangled                     Corals – boulder, staghorn                   lettuce, pavona                                          The Great Barrier Reef is a National Marine Park
                                          drongo.                                                                                          Humpback Whales (May-Sep) ,                              so remember to take home only memories and
                                                                                                                                           Minke Whales (July-Sep)                                  photographs
                                         1928 the Low Isles was the   Being only 25 km from shore   With Opal Reef being                  Agincourt Reef, the southern   Its exceptional architecture, with   All outer reef day cruises include a buff et lunch,
                                         base of the fi rst scientifi c coral   you can still snorkel with a   formed in a crescent this    most part of the Ribbon     vertical walls, drop-off s and   morning and afternoon snacks and equipment. This
                                         reef study in the world.   view of the Daintree Rainforest.  off ers optimum shelter from         Reefs, off ers around 30     swim-throughs, is the summit   includes lycra suits and buoyancy aids (life vests and
                    SPECIAL              Lows Isles has 150 diff erent   The only place in the world   prevailing winds allowing           diff erent dive/snorkel sites.  It   of a great mountain that rises   noodles). All diving equipment for divers.
                                                                                                                                                                      sharply from the ocean fl oor.
                                                                                              gentler waters.
                                                                                                                                          is adjacent to the Coral Sea
                   INTEREST              species of hard corals and   where a rainforest meets a                                          trench.                     At dive sites like North Horn,   If you wish to dive and don’t have a certifi cation then
                                         15 species of soft corals.  7
                                                                                                                                                                                                    it is possible to partake in an introductory dive with an
                                                                    reef.
                                         species of seagrass.                                                                                                         Admiralty and False Entrance   instructor (subject to medical conditions).
                   FEATURES              It takes 20 minutes to walk                                                                                                  you’ll fi nd walls stepping    You can design your own day on the reef with a private
                                         around the island on a self-                                                                                                 down to 1000 metres, caves    charter vessel.
                                         guided walk.                                                                                                                 and grottoes to explore, and   Compare and book your reef experience direct with
                                                                                                                                                                      overhangs covered in huge soft
                                                                                                                                                                      corals.                       the operator via tourismportdouglas.com.au
         82   tourismportdouglas.com.au
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