DID you know that living coral exposed to air oozes a gel-like substance to protect it from sunburn?

With an SPF factor of 50 , this is the Reef's ingenious way to survive the sun's harsh rays at low tide.

Also a handy hint for plucky Reef-goers who have forgotten their sunscreen ... spread some of this stuff around and you might smell a little fishy, but you sure won’t get burnt!

Pictures: Great Barrier Reef

I learnt this fascinating fact and many more during a group snorkelling tour recently off Quicksilver Cruise’s floating pontoon at Agincourt Reef.

Led by a qualified marine biologist, the tour took us beyond the general snorkelling area and out into crystal clear blue to explore a dazzling underwater world of colour, shape and texture.

Agincourt is a ribbon reef at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef and it is a credit to Quicksilver that the environment remains in such pristine condition despite playing host to thousands of day-trippers every year.

The duel-level floating platform enables visitors to fully immerse themselves in the reef experience without damaging the delicate eco-system they have come to see.

The Reef literally teems with life, offering visitors a passport into a living kaleidoscope where colourful hard and soft corals are home turf for sea creatures of all shapes, where giant clams stand sentinel and resident Reef sharks glide silently about their business.

A guided snorkel tour adds to the experience as we are taken to the very best spots on the Reef and given fascinating snippets of information on the creatures we meet along the way.

Scuba diving for certified divers and beginners also is available from the Quicksilver platform, as well as the unique ocean walker diving experience, where you can walk on an underwater platform breathing air delivered from the surface to your helmet – terrific for non-swimmers.

But you don’t even have to get wet to enjoy this day trip to the Reef. Scenic helicopter flights offer a bird’s eye view, an underwater observatory provides easy access for fish and coral viewing, regular cruises on semi-submersible vessels are included in the day’s activities and the fish even come to you during feeding sessions conducted by Quicksilver crew.

Of course, the destination is not the only highlight of a day trip to the outer Reef with Quicksilver Cruises.

The journey itself aboard a state-of-the-art wave-piercing catamaran is the perfect bridge between "everyday world" on the mainland and the magic of the Reef.

With morning and afternoon teas and a tropical smorgasbord lunch included, all you have to do is kick back, relax and enjoy.

More:

• Great Barrier Reef information
• Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tours
• Pictures: Great Barrier Reef
• Quicksilver website

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