The Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia is a popular tourist destination for scuba travelers. The reef is legendary for its beauty. It is the largest reef system in the world and spans more than 1400 miles. If you love to scuba, you probably hope to visit the Great Barrier Reef someday. Here are a few facts about the great reef:

Location of the reef

The Great Barrier Reef is located off the east coast of Australia near Queensland. It is 185 miles from the mainland at the south and 12 miles from the mainland at the north. The widest point of the reef spans over 50 miles, the longest more than 1400 miles.

How to get to there

Flights depart daily for Australia from the west coast of the US. Once in Australia, you will most likely have to take a short domestic flight to the local city gateways to the reef which are Cairns and Townsville at the northern end and Gladstone and Bundabery at the southern end.

The Ultimate Scuba Diving Adventure

The reasons the Great Barrier Reef is such a popular diving spot is because of the crystal clear waters and abundance of sea life. The depth is fairly shallow which makes it great for novice to moderate level divers.

The best way to see the reef is on a live aboard boat which takes divers on extended expeditions to the reef. Smaller vessels take divers into the heart of the reef on daytrips which last for 4-5 hours.

Finding a 'Dive Island' Resort

There are many islands surrounding the reef which offer accommodations especially for reef divers and offer immediate access to the reef. For example, Cod Hole is one of the most popular diving spots and it is located off Lizard Island.

Best Time to Visit the Reef

All times of the year are suitable for diving in the Great Barrier Reef. The area is tropical so the weather remains pleasant throughout the year averaging temperatures in the 70's to 80's. The most popular months for diving at the Great Barrier Reef are during Australian summer which is the months of December to March.