Scuba Diving: Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef

Scuba diving in Australia or “the land down under” as it is commonly called, is home to many wonders. Magical creatures that can not be found anywhere else in the world are part of the Australian allure, but these creatures are a small wonder compared to the many natural wonders that can be found in the waters surrounding this magnificent continent. Just one of these underwater wonders is the Great Barrier Reef. And it is the Great Barrier Reef among other underwater attractions that makes scuba diving such a popular Australian activity.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest barrier reef in the world measuring in at an amazing 1,250 miles. It begins in the waters near Papua New Guinea and stretches southward to Lady Elliot Island which is directly off of Bundaberg, Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef is the most extensive reef system in the world and is also credited with being the largest structure made by living organisms on earth.

The Great Barrier Reef is made up of more than 2,000 individual reef systems and includes 71 coral islands. While you are scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, you will be able to see that the coral has actually formed from the skeletons of tiny, flowerlike animals called polyps. The delicate looking structures are held together by a substance produced by algae. This substance is the glue that holds the hundreds of colorful polyp skeletons together to form the Great Barrier Reef.

In addition to providing a beautiful coral structure that can be explored and enjoyed through scuba diving, the coral structure of the Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 2,000 species of fish. You can see the many species of fish supported by the Great Barrier Reef when you go on a scuba diving expedition in Australia. Here are just a few of the most popular scuba diving sites to be found along the Great Barrier Reef:

Cod Hole â€" Cod Hole is a sheltered reef situated northeasterly of Lizard Island. Here you will find enormous cod, moray eels, Napoleon wrasse, and numerous other marine animals that normally call coral reefs home.

Yongala Wreck â€" This is one of the most popular wrecks that can be found along the Great Barrier Reef. The wreck is just about 200 miles south of Cod Hole and is home to abundantly growing coral and large schools of fish. Here you will see schooling snappers, jacks, eagle rays, flowery cod, barramundi cod, and cobia. A scuba diving adventure to Yongala Wreck might also reveal sharks, turtles, sea snakes, and stingrays.

Pixie Pinnacle â€" Pixie Pinnacle is a tall pinnacle, about 90 feet tall, that supports numerous species of life including clownfish, fairy basslets, rabbitfish, lionfish, and stonefish.

Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef is an unparalleled experience that attracts divers of all skill levels from locations scattered all around the globe. In fact, many divers dream of taking a scuba diving expedition to the Great Barrier Reef.


Lilah Tusko is a writer who loves scuba diving. To obtain your 2 FREE Gifts: Special Report "Insider's Guide to Scuba Diving Gear" and Special Report "Top 10 Ways to Make Money while Scuba Diving", go to http://www.thatdivesite.com and sign up for the FREE Gifts.