Fitzroy Island is one of the best locations for viewing the Great Barrier Reef in Australia with reef snorkelling just a short paddle from the shore. With snorkelling and scuba diving options available, there’s something for everyone.

Queensland’s

Due to its size, it is possible to experience the reef via entry points as far north as Cairns and Cape York or Bundaberg in the south. Whilst Australia is quite large (about the same size as continental USA), the Great Barrier Reef is a very accessible destination that can be reached by air, sea, rail, bus or road.

November thru May You are able to ditch the wet suits and dive comfortably in Lycra suits, and you have a chance to see the Reef come alive with various wildlife. December brings the hot and humid weather with crystal clear water.

When to Visit the Reef — April through November is the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef, although southeast trade winds can sometimes make it a tad choppy at sea. December through March can be uncomfortably hot and humid, particularly as far north as the Whitsundays, Cairns, and Port Douglas.

Re: HELP-January & jefflyfish: Safe to snorkel at barrier reef? I know it sometimes seems a little odd, but if you are in Port Douglas in January, you don’t see that many people at the beach. It is the middle of the wet season, so it’s low tourist season to begin with.

In November you can ditch the wet suits and return to the lycra suits, with water temperatures returning to around 27-8 degrees Celsius. The winds are down and the pool is open, another great month for diving on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef.

The most commonly found species of stingers at the Great Barrier Reef are the Box Jellyfish and the Irukandji. The easiest way to identify jellyfish is by the shape of their body (bell) and length of their tentacles.

I’ve done Cairns in November and yes it was hot but not unbearable, don’t let the weather stop you as it is a fabulous trip. I have also done the whitsundays at that time of you which is very beautiful but if you’re going diving it’s far better up north . The snorkelling is great though.

Make sure your wetsuit is the right size – you don’t want it to be skin-tight or too baggy. If you’re snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef during the warmer months, trade in your wetsuit for a stinger suit. Wearing a protective suit between November and March is recommended as there may be tiny jellyfish in the water.

Healthy coral reefs offer safe homes and nurseries for fish species, as well as an abundant food supply. The marine life that you can see beneath the surface on a Great Barrier Reef trip will be some of the most unique and diverse species you’re likely to see in the open ocean.