Snorkel or Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef. Explore the Outback and Tropical Rain Forests! Dive The Reef makes it easy to research, plan, and book your Australia vacation. Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, snorkel or explore the Australian outback and tropical rain forests. Find the perfect Australia tour or dive trip in our extensive database. The North Queensland/Cairns region is Australia`s adventure travel paradise with excellent scuba diving, outback safaris, white water rafting, sea kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, camping and more, all in a comfortable tropical climate. Design your ideal Australia Vacation. We make it easy and fun and to create your own adventure travel vacation. Do what you want, in the style you want, all within your budget. Booking your trips and lodging online through Dive The Reef won`t cost you a dollar more, (No Agent fees!) and will save you lots of time. About Dive The Reef DiveTheReef.com is operated by DTR Services LLC. Both the company and the website have been conceived and created by Joel Groberg and Steve Francis. Steve is an Australian computer programmer, surfer, diver, mountain biker and snowboarder. Joel has spent the past 15 years operating tours and adventuring on his own all over Australian tropics. Their backgrounds and skills combine both a locals` and a visitors` perspective. They hope to let you know what wonderful opportunities await you in this region of Australia, and to provide an easy way for you to plan and book a unique and memorable holiday. Dive The Reef executive Joel Groberg in his stressful work environment. The Dive The Reef team has been operating since 1999. We look forward to serving you, both through the extensive information on our website, and by answering your questions by phone or e-mail. Introductory Scuba Diving: Many dive operators offer Introductory Scuba Diving, a great opportunity available to most snorkelers. An Introductory Scuba Dive is a highly supervised, guided scuba dive, limited to groups of four or less. The dive is preceded by instruction and coaching, and the depth of the dive is limited. Since most reef life is found in the shallower waters, the depth limit still allows divers to see a great deal including the most colorful parts of the reef. It is an ideal introduction to scuba diving. Reef Visitors: If you want to visit the reef, but someone in your party does not wish to get into the water, these trips are ideal for you. The trips not only visit the reef, but also include visits to islands or large floating platforms that offer attractions such as underwater observatories, glass-bottomed boats, beaches, and the like. Many of these operations also offer flotation devices, and guided snorkeling trips to encourage everyone to enter the water. (We encourage everyone to get in the water!) Most of these operators also offer scuba diving and snorkeling, making these trips ideal for groups with varied interests and needs, such as families Looking for the perfect place to stay? We can set you up in any of dozens of hotels, beach resorts, apartments, B+Bs or hostels in the area. If you don`t see the perfect match here, Email us, let us know what you are looking for, and we can offer you even more suggestions. Having trouble deciding on the town where you`ll stay? Try looking at our location guide which describes the unique features and attractions of each of the towns in the region. Looking for budget or backpackers style lodging? Check out Cairnshostels.com for a complete index of all the backpackers hostels in the area.

By far the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef consists of over 3,000 reefs and 900 islands clustered along Australia’s eastern coast. It covers an area greater than the state of Britain and Victoria. About half the size of Texas, for you Yanks! The astounding diversity of life on the Great Barrier Reef includes: Over 400 species of corals Over 4000 species of mollusks Over 1500 species of fish Tens of thousands of other species of animals, including sea stars, urchins, crustaceans, tunicates, sea snakes, turtles and marine mammals live on the reef. The Great Barrier Reef is a dynamic, ever changing ecosystem. We return to dive sites because the abundance and type of species vary due to time of day, tides, and seasons. Every dive is full of surprises! The Great Barrier Reef remains largely unexplored. Every month, scientists and divers find new species. Are you ready to discover the Great Barrier Reef on your own? Visit our comprehensive listing of trips. There are trips for scuba divers, snorkelers, families; just about anyone. With 4 large dive schools in the area, the Cairns region is a great place to learn to scuba dive. Now protected as a marine park, the Great Barrier Reef falls under the supervision of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, an agency of the Australian Government. Regardless, the reef continues to face the same threats as any marine ecosystem. We urge you to protect and respect the world’s oceans. About the Outback: Heading west from Cairns, across the Great Dividing Range, the country transitions quickly to the dry, open land of the outback. Settled sparsely, the outback countryside is scattered here and there with small towns. Most of these settlements date from the mining boom of the late 1800’s and retain a rural pioneer feeling. These towns still serve as social centers and supply stations for travelers and the surrounding cattle stations. Surprisingly, wildlife abounds in this arid region. A keen eye at dusk or dawn may be rewarded by kangaroo, wallaby, and emu sightings. You’ll also see amazing views and interesting geological features like the Undarra lava tubes, limestone caverns, extinct volcanoes, gemstone fields, and hot springs. We’ve taken a lot of extended adventures in the outback. We love the wide-open spaces, the starry skies, and the pioneer spirit of the people who live here. A visit to Australia is not complete without at least a short trip out bush. Options range from day trips, to overnight guided safaris, and include four-wheel drive rental to explore on your own. Ready to plan your outback adventure? Check our listing of outback trips.