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Trinity Beach – Cairns Northern Beaches
The Great Barrier Reef runs parallel to the
Queensland coast for
2,600 kms from the northern tip of Cape York to just
north of Bundaberg in the south.
Access to the reef can be just metres from the coast
while in other places it is way out to sea. Trinity
Beach is in a prime position with daily reef
departures from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal.
Comprised of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900
islands, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest
tropical coral reef system in the world. At 348,000
kms², it is the world’s largest World Heritage Area
and the biggest tropical marine reserve with the
Outer Reef lying along the edge of the Australian
Continental Shelf.
Reefs are masses of limestone made from skeletons of
millions upon millions of tiny marine animals and
plants. Colonies of tiny, living coral polyps grow
on a reef’s surface. These animals are the main reef
builders. When coral polyps die, their limestone
skeletons and the remains of other animals and
plants are added to the framework of the reef. There
are some 360 species of hard corals and 4000 species
of mollusc.
1,500 of the world’s 13,000 fish species live
amongst the coral, 7 species of sea turtles and 125
species of sharks and rays swim the reef. There are
over 600 species of echinoderms (starfish, sea
urchins, sea cucumbers), 500 species of seaweed, 200
species of birds and 14,000 dugongs.
It has been said that you could dive in the world's
largest marine park every day for the rest of your
life and still not see it all! Come and experience
an adventure of a lifetime and help us preserve such
a natural Wonder of the World.
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