Saturday , 24th July, and what a picture perfect North Queensland day to go to the Barrier Reef… and we made a great choice to try “Reef Quest”, from Cairns which provided an absolutely fantastic day tour.
After getting in from Adelaide yesterday I was due some Cairns weather. It was a bit chillier than I had expected and I was glad I had packed trackies and a hoodie!
I’ve been vacationing in Cairns for over 10 years and have been out on enough Reef Trips and let’s face it, they all do pretty much the same day: 2 reefs, snorkelling gear, lunch and coffee & tea – so it’s the dive sites and little extras that count.
From the time you board to the time you get off, the service and staff are very professional. The staff to guest numbers are really high, as there was always someone right there to assist with any questions or dramas. The staff seem really happy and their service and attention were great.
Reef Quest supply a wetsuit for snorkellers which is normally an extra (usually $7.00 hire) on other trips. For the snorkelers a wetsuit provides you with sun protection and also buoyancy which makes snorkelling simpler and much more enjoyable.
Reef Quest have a choice of 13 different moorings and choose the best 2 reefs based on the weather conditions. A guided snorkelling tour is also on offer at both sites and this is a real bonus for beginners or anyone wanting to learn a little bit more about the reef. The snorkel guide dives to the bottom and picks up things like jellyfish and starfish and brings them up so you can all have a good look. They also know where things are eg. giant clams, so it does add a lot to the great barrier reef experience.
Lunch was yum with plenty of variety including potato salad, rice salad, leaf salad, local fruits, cold meats, bread rolls and soup. There is tea and coffee and soft drinks from the bar available throughout the day.
To sum things up it was a great day.