Proof our Great Barrier Reef is not covered in mud
Let’s go dive: Marine life at their brilliant best on the Great Barrier Reef has not been affected by the floods in the south of the state as these recent pictures on a Mike Ball Dive Expedition show. Picture: SHEA CALLAGHAN
THEY are the type of conditions that make diving anywhere else in the world "bloody boring" in comparison: "Visibility is extraordinary. Occasionally you can see the length of a football field"
Divers are raving about the visibility and weather conditions on the Great Barrier Reef, with at least one industry stalwart describing it as the best he’s seen in 30 years.
As these photographs from Mike Ball Expeditions show, it is a far cry from the flood ravaged image being reported overseas, with some newspapers claiming the Great Barrier Reef has been destroyed.
Mike Ball Diving Expeditions operator Mike Ball said the global coverage of the Queensland floods was having a negative effect on the Far North’s diving industry, despite the floods being at least 1000km away from Cairns.
Mr Ball said some tourists were under the impression there was a plume of muddy water extending from Brisbane up to Cooktown.
"The news is going out worldwide and it’s sort of compelling, the public gets the idea that Queensland’s under water,’’ Mr Ball said.
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But on the Reef, the visibility, in particular, was extraordinary for this time of year. "Occasionally you can see the length of a football field or more,’’ Mr Ball said.
Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators chief executive Col McKenzie returned yesterday from a trip to Egypt where he dived coral reefs in the Red Sea.
Mr McKenzie rated the experience as "bloody boring" in comparison with existing GBR diving conditions.
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