The Great Barrier Reef extends along Queensland's coastline for more than 2000 kilometers (1200 miles) and comprises 2900 individual reefs and 71 coral islands. But even more impressive is that only in Queensland will you find two World Heritage Listed sites - side by side. The rains forests of far north Queensland at Cape Tribulation, which embrace the greatest diversity of unique flora and fauna on earth, actually meet the Great Barrier reef, the world's greatest expanse of living coral reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority manages and protects an area of 215,000 square miles (345,000 sq km) of waters round the reef. It's the largest marine park in the world. In these protected waters, even the fish are very curious and friendly. Like underwater jungles, coral reefs flourish in the warm tropical seas and support a diverse and dense population of 10,000 species of sponge, 350 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusks, 350 species of echinoderms and more than 1500 species of fish. Divers estimate it would take a thousand dives just to see the reef's highlights.

See it all from a glass bottomed or semi-submersible vessel, or just dive into the dazzling expanse of undersea garden, where visibility extends for up to 60 meters (197 feet) and the water is teeming with 2000 varieties of tropical fish - the only thing more colorful than the coral around you. and you don't need to be a scuba diving expert. Snorkeling is the way many people especially children enjoy the wonders of the reef.

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