Mission Beach is a terrific jump off point to the Great Barrier Reef. Not only is it quick to get there, only around 1 hour, its about 26 klm to the outer reef and the coral is to die for.
The above is a link to the National Geographic site which is interactive and a great resource, especially with educating children on the reef. Please take advantage of this link and visit this great site.
Mission Beach has several cruise companies that run daily trips to the reef, weather permitting.
Quick Cat Scuba Adventures
The Mission Beach scuba diving service of Quick Cat Scuba Adventures offers a full range of professional diving & snorkelling services aboard the luxury of Quick Cat Cruises' MV Quick Cat & MV Quick Cat III. your trip to the reef is in total air-conditioned confort
Air Conditioned Cabin
Full Buffet Lunch
Complimentry Tea & Coffee
Ladies & Gents Toilet
Sun Deck
Large Dive Deck
Dive Tender for drop off dives
Includes quality Mares Dive Gear and optical masks
Dive Check if you forgot your Certification Card (24hrs notice required)
Being fully PADI qualified, Quick Cat Scuba Adventures can take you on an introductory dive to introduce you to the absolute wonders of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef.
For qualified divers you will be accompanied by a fully qualified guide to take you though this pristine marine enviornment.
Quick Cat Cruises
This is another cruise company that does tours to the outer reef. Quick cat is a larger boat than Calypso, and in saying this it obviously takes far larger numbers. It is probably a better bet for families staying at Cassawong Cottages as when the children get tired you can take them inside, into the air conditioning, lay them on the floor or a seat and get them (hopefully) to have a nap.
But either boat is great for couples and older kids.
So, what do you get for a day with Quick Cat. They also launch from the jetty at Clump Point and take you to a different part of the reef, where there is a lovely section of coral and a small coral cay. They have a glass bottom boat that those who don’t like to get their feet wet can go for a trip in and a walk or play on the coral cay. Best way to describe Beaver cay is like a little sandy island surrounded by coral in the middle of the Coral Sea.
Quick Cat has a smorgasbord lunch when you can have a plated salad or make up a roll and they also have a facility to purchase drinks.
