Travel guideDive into paradise, the Great Barrier Reef experienceAustralia

Last updated on 11/05/2025 at 11:52 PM
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef system in the world ! It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 and is part of the exclusive club of the « 7 Wonders of the World » !
Exceptional diving experiences
With its 2,500 reefs, 900 islands ranging from simple sandbanks to large, rugged continental islands that rise over 3,600 feet above sea level and its incredible biodiversity, the Great Barrier Reef has become Australia's must-see destination for divers and travel enthusiasts alike !
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a true living fossil, the nautilus, although spotting one is not easy !
The Great Barrier Reef is home to a true living fossil, the nautilus, although spotting one is not easy ! © | Dreamstime.com
Fins on your feet, mask on your face and snorkel in your mouth for some, or regulator for others, you can witness the full richness and sometimes threatened biodiversity hiding beneath the water's surface !
Unlike the nautilus, you have every chance of coming face-to-face with a Napoleon wrasse!
Unlike the nautilus, you have every chance of coming face-to-face with a Napoleon wrasse!
It's hard to list all the species since the inventory is overwhelming. The Great Barrier Reef is home to:
  • over 1,500 species of tropical fish, including the iconic Napoleon wrasse
  • more than 400 species of coral
  • 4,000 species of mollusks
  • over 200 species of sea birds
  • around 20 species of reptiles, including 6 of the 7 existing sea turtle species worldwide
  • a true living fossil, the nautilus
  • exceptional marine mammals such as dugongs, whales and dolphins
  • a great diversity of sponges, sea anemones, marine worms, crustaceans and many more.
Beauty above and below the water
The Whitsunday islands archipelago offers a stunning landscape of lush green islands with abundant vegetation and spectacular beaches, contrasting with the vast mangrove forests of the Hinchinbrook Channel and the steep, verdant mountains of Hinchinbrook island, whose ravines covered in tropical forests often hide behind the clouds.
Wildlife is everywhere, on land with the cays hosting breeding colonies of seabirds and turtles: Raine island, in fact, is the largest green turtle nesting area on the planet !
But of course, the highlight takes place beneath the water's surface, where divers can admire assemblies of hard and soft corals and thousands of reef fish species, creating a breathtakingly colorful spectacle.
The « Cod Hole » site near Lizard island is one of the many tourist attractions where you can marvel at the annual coral spawning and encounter whales during their migration or sea turtles during their nesting season.
Where to dive?
There are several ways to explore the underwater kingdom of the Great Barrier Reef, nicknamed the « Reef » by our English-speaking friends ! The Reef has many entry points, from north to south, including:
Port Douglas
About an hour's drive north of Cairns, Port Douglas is a charming small coastal town with its vast sandy beach. It serves as the departure point for dive boats heading to numerous sites in the northern part of the Reef.
Cairns
Cairns is arguably the ideal base, offering excellent facilities for those planning a packed diving schedule ! It's also the perfect place for beginners to try scuba diving.
Townsville
South of Cairns, Townsville is Australia's largest tropical city, rich in museums and home to an amazing aquarium. It is located near the central part of the Reef. Liveaboard dive trips are available from here.
Whitsundays
The Whitsunday islands, with their turquoise waters, coral gardens and palm-fringed beaches, offer excellent day-trip excursions from the town of Airlie Beach.
Southern Reef islands
The remote islands at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef provide outstanding diving and snorkeling sites.
Top places to visit in Australia
Swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef !
Swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef !
Dive among the shipwrecks !
Dive among the shipwrecks !
The Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House
Where to see whales ?
Where to see whales ?
Places to visit around the world
The Art Deco district
The Art Deco district
Filicudi island
Filicudi island
Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America
Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America
Fuerteventura island
Fuerteventura island
A visit to the Getty Center
A visit to the Getty Center
The Getty Center with its ponds
The Getty Center with its ponds
Swimming with manatees in Crystal River
Swimming with manatees in Crystal River
Port-Cros National Park
Port-Cros National Park

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