Friday , 23rd July, and what a perfect Cairns day to go to the Great Barrier Reef… and we made a great choice to go on “Reef Quest”, from Cairns which provided an absolutely fantastic day trip.
After arriving from Sydney last night I was due some north Queensland weather. It was a little cooler than I’d planned 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 my fair share of Reef Trips and let’s admit it, they all do pretty much the same trip: 2 reefs, snorkelling gear, lunch and coffee & tea – so it’s the reef destinations and little extras that make the difference.
From the time you get on the boat 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 problems. The crew seem really happy and their service and attention were great.
Reef Quest supply a wetsuit for everybody 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 14 different moorings and select the best 2 reefs based on the weather and visibility for the day. 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 Great Barrier 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 close look. They also know where the best bits of the reef are, so it does add a lot to the days experience.
Lunch was yum with plenty of variety including potato salad, rice salad, Asian salad, local fruits, cold meats, bread rolls and prawns. There is tea and coffee and soft drinks from the bar available throughout the day.
To sum things up it was a great day.