Different thoughts come to mind when one thinks of diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. These can include not only the sight of pristine coral reef systems along with a multitude of sea life but also the time and expense that goes with such a trip. For the "average" tourist vacationing in Australia the highlights include places like Sydney, Ayers Rock, the Queensland Rainforest and Cairns to name a few.

Cairns (pronounced Cannes) was one of the destinations we recently visited on a family trip in Australia. This water town is major jumping off point for seeing the world's largest living object, the Great Barrier Reef. Many non-divers and some casual divers with limited time or who are on a bus tour use Cairns as the jump off point for a day trip. These day trips take all morning on a quick boat holding as many as 300 people to get to the outer reef. (There is a helicopter option) They spend the day snorkeling or doing a couple of dives before heading back on the long ride to Cairns.

By doing this you get the most basic flavor of the Great Barrier Reef as you visit only one spot. Many people also take a day boat to one of the islands on the inner reef not far from Cairns. While this can be nice, the inner reefs are not in the same league as the outer reefs in terms of condition and clarity. The Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Queensland, Australia, is one of the wonders of the natural world, and scuba diving is one of the most enchanting ways of experiencing it. Leave terra firma behind and merge into a world of dolphins, whales, turtles, exotic fish - and above all the weird and wonderful coral that extends across an area of 300,000km² and contains all the colours of the rainbow. Scuba diving is part of life on the Reef.

It's fun, easy and safe, and a breathtaking way to discover the secrets of the ocean. And when you've finished, what better way to spend an evening than to share your stories with your fellow divers as you relax on one of Queensland's white-sanded beaches. Days in the sun don't get much more special than this.