Page 93 - Port Douglas Magazine 46
P. 93

WORDS by Rosie Wang
 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   OPAL REEF &
 to  discover  this  amazing    MACKAY
 underwater world.   TONGUE   AGINCOURT       OSPREY
 This  guide  will  help  you  LOW ISLES  CORAL   REEF                     ADDITIONAL INFO

 decide  how  you  want  to   CAY  REEF          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
 (coral outcrops) and along                                            •   Sunglasses
 All tours include the use of a   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, butterfly 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, butterfly 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,
                                                                       $8 per person ($8.50 from 1st April 2026)
 Dugongs and Humpbacks

 butterfly fi sh, a huge variety
 I SEE?  (in season) can also be seen   of colourful coral, eagle rays,   red bass, reef sharks, turtles,   blue stripe snappers, gobies,   Usually within your ticket price, this applies to all adults
 around the Low Isles   sea cucumbers, starfi sh, a   wrasse, white tip reef shark,   goldband fusiliers. Octopus,   and children 4 years and over entering the Great Barrier
 These are not guaranteed   Low Isles attracts many birds   fantastic giant clam garden,   giant clams, red bass,   green humphead parrot fi sh,   Reef World Heritage area.
 as marine life is always on   including Orange-footed   blue spotted stingrays  barracuda, trevally, Maori   manta rays, loggerhead turtles,   All funds received are applied directly to the Marine Park
 the move  scrub fowl, reef egret, osprey,   wrasse, Spanish mackerel,   grey reef whaler sharks,  for its day-to-day management and to improve its long-
 schooling baitfi sh,
 brahminy kite, terns,kingfi sher,   Corals - fan, table, boulder       term resilience.
 honey-eaters, triller, spangled   Corals – boulder, staghorn  lettuce, pavona
 drongo.      Humpback Whales (May-Sep) ,                              The Great Barrier Reef is a National Marine Park
              Minke Whales (July-Sep)                                  so remember to take home only memories and
                                                                       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 buffet 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-offs and   morning and afternoon snacks and equipment. This


 reef study in the world.   view of the Daintree Rainforest.  offers optimum shelter from   Reefs, offers around 30   swim-throughs, is the summit   includes lycra suits and buoyancy aids (life vests and

 SPECIAL   Lows Isles has 150 different   The only place in the world   prevailing winds allowing   different dive/snorkel sites.  It   of a great mountain that rises   noodles). All diving equipment for divers.



 gentler waters.
              is adjacent to the Coral Sea
                                         sharply from the ocean floor.
 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
                                                                       it is possible to partake in an introductory dive with an
 15 species of soft corals.  7
 reef.
 FEATURES  species of seagrass.          Admiralty and False Entrance   instructor (subject to medical conditions).
                                         you’ll fi nd walls stepping
                                                                       You can design your own day on the reef with
 It takes 20 minutes to walk
 around the island on a self-            down to 1000 metres, caves    a private charter vessel.
 guided walk.                            and grottoes to explore, and   Explore and book your next adventure on
                                         overhangs covered in huge soft
                                         corals.                       the Great Barrier Reef
                                                                                                   PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE   93
                                                                                                                15/12/2025   7:57:38 PM
 PDM46 REEF SUMMARY.indd   All Pages
 PDM46 REEF SUMMARY.indd   All Pages                                                                            15/12/2025   7:57:38 PM
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