Cairns · Great Barrier Reef
Reef news Great Barrier Reef Blog Cairns tour news, tips and updates
Guides, seasonal updates and what our crews are actually seeing on the water — written in Cairns by the people who run the boats.
Sunlover’s Moore Reef Dive School Featured in Divernet
Divernet has featured our Moore Reef dive team and our SSI dive school, where every training dive happens on the Great Barrier Reef.
When Is Coral Spawning on the Great Barrier Reef? 2026 Predicted Dates
When coral spawning happens on the Great Barrier Reef, our predicted 2026 dates near Cairns, why the moon and tides matter, and how day-trip guests can see the spawn slicks.
Coral Bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef: What It Is and What 2026 Looks Like
What coral bleaching is, whether bleached coral is dead, what the latest AIMS and Reef Authority updates say heading into summer 2026–27, and what it means for your reef trip.
Butterflyfish on the Great Barrier Reef: the fish that tells you how the reef is going
Why butterflyfish are an indicator species on the Great Barrier Reef: their coral-picking mouths, why scientists count them, 4 species to learn, and whether they are used in coral husbandry.
Simpson’s Diversity Index: the complete guide for Queensland Senior Biology
Simpson’s Diversity Index explained for Queensland Senior Biology Unit 3: the formula, a full worked example, richness vs evenness, and real reef fieldwork.
What eats coral? The reef’s corallivores, and the 2 we watch closely
Crown-of-thorns starfish, Drupella snails, parrotfish and more. What eats coral on the Great Barrier Reef, which ones matter, and what we do about it.
How to Check a Dive School Is Actually Accredited
There is no government register of dive schools. How accreditation actually works, how to verify a centre, and the red flags that matter more than any certificate.
9 Questions to Ask Any Dive Centre Before You Book a Course
Price is the easiest thing to compare between dive centres and the least useful. 9 questions that expose what actually differs – plus the one not worth asking.
Learning to Dive on the Reef vs in a Pool: What Actually Changes
Same certification either way. What changes is whether you spend your first 9 dives cold and half-blind, or warm and able to see.
Scuba Diving Courses in Brisbane vs Cairns: Which Is Worth the Trip?
Brisbane has genuinely good training conditions, so the usual argument does not apply. What does apply is a 2-hour flight and a World Heritage reef at the other end.
Fitzroy Island vs Frankland Islands: Which Should You Visit?
Quick answer: Fitzroy Island or the Frankland Islands? These are very different kinds of island trip. Fitzroy Island is a single, developed continental island 45 minutes from...
Scuba Diving Courses in Melbourne: Certify at Home or on the Reef?
Melbourne’s dive sites are world-class and its water is 13 degrees. An honest look at where to do your first dives, and the referral option most people miss.