The best way to see the Great Barrier Reef is up close and personal - so get in there and try snorkelling or a scuba dive!!

Day trips to the reef include snorkelling, which is a good way to familarise yourself with the water, coral and fish. But if you are feeling really adventurous, then I can highly recommend trying scuba diving! Imagine seeing ‘NEMO’, Reef Sharks and turtles up close, in their natural environment! It’s like another world.

I have just completed my 4 day Open Water PADI course in Cairns, with ‘Deep Sea Divers Den’. The first two days are all about learning the theory behind scuba - then jumping into the pool to put it into practice. Then I did the ‘liveaboard’ option, which mean’t I was spoilt - spending two days and one night out on the beautiful reef! All meals and accommodation was included, and I got to do 5 dives in total - AMAZING!!

Scuba diving isn’t for the faint hearted, in fact in Australia you must complete a full medical examination before you are allowed to enter the water. This may seem extreme, but trust me, when your sitting on the seabed 18 metres below the surface, you definitely appreciate knowing a doctor has cleared you of any potential medical problems!

I had the most amazing time diving, and can’t wait to get back out there for more. So if your heading up the east coast of Australia, book yourself in for a scuba dive - whether its an ‘introductory’ dive for the day, or a complete course - your guaranteed to have the time of your life!