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A CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA , TRAVEL GUIDE.

It is not much of a city – but the ocean has the more to offer. With water so blue that photos seem artificial afterwards, Cairns in northeast Queensland, Australia, attracts divers from all over the world to experience the most magnificent maritime environment nature has to offer.

Swordfishing and a gold rush built Cairns, looking much as an American small-sized city, but that era is long gone. 50 kilometers from the city’s seafront promenade, the Great Barrier Reef runs northwest to southeast off the Australian coast, and it is from this natural wonder that the town collects its income these days. The city itself, with low buildings and wide, often empty streets, a gigantic shopping mall and a few restaurants, make for no more than one or two days’ idle pleasures if the weather turns bad. There is also a train station and a large parking garage.

And then, to the northeast: The coast. But those looking for a family-friendly beach should not bother – this is another kind of tourism. Instead of fine sand, visitors who venture down to the city’s shoreline by foot are met by warning signs about poisonous stingers and alligators. Swimmers are referred to a central pool area, indeed well-built and clean, including a man-made lagoon and a guard overlooking the scene. The place is filled with people on weekends, but if you keep your nose just above the waterlevel in the pool and squint towards the sea, you might almost get the same sense as if you are on a swim in the ocean. Barely.

No family fun: Sign warning for alligators in Cairns, Queensland. Photo: Traveling Reporter

So it is not for fine buildings, rich culture and arts offerings, or good restaurants that you would come to Cairns. But for nature. Both out on the reef, but also inland, where tour buses can bring you to farms that will take you on a horse through the rain forest, or, if your budget allows, jeep and airplane safaris into the desolate interior of Queensland.

The Traveling Reporter, though, headed for the ocean and decided on the sailing catamaran Passions of Paradise, operated by some diving enthusiasts. One of them, Adam, is from New Zealand. “I came here because I like this lifestyle,” Adam says as we embark on the boat.

→ Passions of Paradise’s website

 It is 8 AM and already hot. 80 passengers are onboard and the Passion sets off northeast from the harbor of Cairns. After a few hours, with the temperature rising from hot to very hot, the vessel anchors up at the first diving and snorkeling location, Michaelmans Cay, a low sand island with a length of a few hundred meters. Sunscreen is applied, factor 30. It is 29 degrees Celsius/84 Fahrenheit in the water. Never has the sea looked so tempting.

But this is where you will need to stop and think. At the time of the Reporter’s visit, in January, the so-called stinger season is in full swing. These stingers with their long poisonous tentacles can easily land you in a hospital emergency room, or even the morgue. These waters hold some of the world’s most venomous creatures, including the deadly Box Jellyfish, so a protective “stinger suit” is advised. We rent those on board the boat, and, the suits being blue, soon all 80 passengers look like smurfs. All but a few Italian tourists who can not stand having their self- respect hurt by getting into the funny-looking safety dress.

Because of the dangers, you will have to sign a waiver before getting into the water, putting the responsibility on you.

Adam, left, one of Passion of Paradise’s owners. Photo: Traveling Reporter

 

When you think it can not possibly get any hotter out on the calm sea, it does anyway. As lunch is served onboard the Passions of Paradises, the vessel moves on ten minutes to the next location. Here, the sea is deeper. Just aft of where the boat has anchored up, a cliff on the bottom turns downwards in a breathtaking drop 80 meters or so into the blue deep.

The boat’s sails are set as the Passion of Paradise starts the journey back. The wind often blows from the north here, but today it is so weak that the ship’s both diesels have to work during the whole trip. We are back in Cairns about 5 PM, sweaty and happy. On the jetty, the crew lines up and shakes hands with all passengers: “Cheers, mates”, See ya later, boss!”. Of course, this is mass-tourism and tomorrow they will stand there and say goodbye to another bunch of tourists. But the act of the crew seems genuine and makes the diving tour the more personal. Extra points.

These diving events are not the cheapest of tours, though. The ground price for a day on this catamaran is AU$139, including transport, lunch, coffee and diving/snorkeling gear. The actual dives cost money, too, and rent of stinger suit, underwater camera and drinks in the bar will set you back another 20-30 dollars.

http://travelingreporter.com (http://s.tt/1nmIH)