The Great Barrier Reef of Australia continues to attract passionate drivers both beginners and professionals who seek new challenges and adventures. The Barrier Reef stretches from New Guinea to Queensland and is 1,250 miles long. Diving along the reef and in the area in general is an unforgettable experience since the entire area is packed with amazing natural wonders and fascinating sea creatures of the world.
Over 2000 small reefs come together to be referred as The Great Barrier Reef. The entire great barrier reef is littered with thousands of small islands made of coral. All these islands creating a wonderful spectacle of color and light throughout the ocean.
There are many sea animals that make their home on the Great Barrier Reef. Diving in these warm waters will give you a front seat to watch fish swim among the coral. You'll want to make sure that you take along an under water camera so that you don't miss this amazing opportunity.
Australia offers many diving opportunities and a wide variety of places to choose from. When on a dive holiday, it is better to be forearmed with information so as to get the diving experience that you want.
Pixie Pinnacle is amongst the most popular diving places in Australia. Pixie Pinnacle is located near Lizard Island and comprises of a large coral that is over ninety feet in height. Some of the sea creatures that you wil see on this dive include clownfish, rabbitfish, lionfish, nudibranches, and honfish. While on this dive you can also see the Coral Sea just beyond the Barrier Reef.
Another well known diving spot in Australia is Cod Hole, which can also be found near Lizard Island. Sea animals common to this area are the moray eel, the Napoleon wrasse, and large groups of cod.
For a diving site that is livelier with sea creatures you might want to head to Yongala Wreck. You can find this diving spot south from Cod Hole by 200 miles. The coral in this area of the Great Barrier Reef is thick, making it a great hiding place for eagle rays, jacks, flowery cod, and the barramundi cod. If you're lucky you may be able to see a turtle or two.
Remember to follow safety practices and the marine rules governing diving in the Great Barrier Reef. It is so important to remember that the reef is a living animal because it's composed of coral. Treat it with respect at all times. Be especially aware of displacing sand when using your fins. Sand will harm the sea animals as well as the coral.
As a must not do, do not ever feed any of the sea animals that you encounter during your dives. Fish are known to become repeat pests when you feed them and can therefore, make them react aggressively to all divers. Dive to savor these wonders with your eyes and make sure you do not seek souvenirs. The beautiful coral, shells, and rocks that you see maintain the environmental balance for the animals that live in that area. Just give yourself the luxury of trapping all these wonders in an under water camera.
Australia might be the smallest continent in the world, but it has an extensive reach when it comes to importing and exporting. You will find no problems in locating an international shipping company to go the distance for you, and it won't cost you anything to submit obligation free enquiries with most of them.
Before entrusting your chosen international shipping company with the responsibility of transporting your goods to Australia, here are some general facts and figures that you should be aware of.
Australia supports international trade and welcomes people to import goods into the country. The goods must however, meet a certain level of standards with regards to customs regulations, successfully passing through quarantine and labelling requests.
Packaging:
* Your international shipping company can do this for you. This will be an extra expense, but think of it as piece of mind that the job has been done properly * Label your packages or shipment clearly with all forwarding details, specifications of the contents and clear details of your destination and shipping agent.
Customs procedures and quarantine:
* Certain personal belongings and household items being brought into the country might be subject to a quarantine examination. Items of particular interest here are personal possessions that have come into contact with earth or vegetation.
* Although it might not hold you back at all, you should allow for up to a 14 day wait until the customs officials are satisfied that your goods are fit for entry. One option to consider would be to send your personal effects ahead of time so that you are not without them when you personally enter into the country * Certain items are prohibited such as products made from animals on the endangered species list. It is important to confirm these prohibitions with either your international shipping company or the Australian customs officials
* Duty, taxes, GST payable, as well as documentation required, vary according to what you are bringing into the country. Some items are duty free.
Ports of entry:
There are a number of ports in Australia. Some might not be on the routes taken by your particular international shipping company, and some may not welcome the goods you are transporting. Each region has its own set of ports, some of the primary ones being:
* Port Adelaide in South Australia * Darwin in the Northern Territory * Sydney Harbour in New South Wales. Newcastle, Eden Port and Port Kembla also assist in importing the millions of tons worth of shipments that come through this region's ports every year * Cairns Port and Port of Brisbane in Queensland * Port Dampier and Port Hedland in Western Australia * Port of Melbourne in Victoria which, incidentally, is Australia's largest cargo and container port
Different ports deal with different commodities and merchandise, and all will be able to furnish you or your international shipping company with the details of these specifications.
When in doubt, contact your shipping agent as they are in constant contact with the relevant people and should be able to answer any questions you might have.
Both Kristina Jeffreys & Nir Dotan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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