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.
Why Sunlover is now an SSI Training Centre
From 1 October 2026 our dive courses run as SSI programmes: mobile-first learning, a more flexible course structure and stronger instructor support. Your existing certification stays valid.
How to Get Scuba Certified in Australia: The 2026 Beginner’s Guide
What it actually takes to get scuba certified in Australia in 2026 — agencies, cost, medicals, timing, and what the certification lets you do.
PADI vs SSI: what’s the difference, and does it matter?
Both are internationally recognised, both work to the same minimum standards through the RSTC, and either certification is accepted worldwide. What actually differs – and why the dive centre matters more than the logo.
Can you fail a scuba course? What happens if you don’t finish
Scuba certification is competency-based, not pass or fail. What happens if a skill takes longer, if you run out of days, if a doctor will not clear you – and what each situation costs.
El Niño Is Back: What a Strong El Niño Means for the Great Barrier Reef
A strong El Niño is established and intensifying. Here is what the Bureau, AIMS scientists and the Reef Authority are actually saying about the summer ahead — and what it means for your reef trip.
Fitzroy Island Day Trip: Your Complete Guide from Cairns
Everything you need to plan a Fitzroy Island day trip from Cairns: two daily departures, Nudey Beach, snorkelling, rainforest walks, the turtle centre and more.
First-Time Diving on the Great Barrier Reef
Discover what it’s like to try scuba diving for the first time at Moore Reef on the Great Barrier Reef, where Sunlover’s dive team guides beginners through an unforgettable introductory dive.
Fitzroy Island Planned Burn: What Visitors Need to Know
Visitor Update Fitzroy Island Planned Burn: Track Closures, Visitor Safety and Why Fire Helps Protect Country Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has advised that planned...
Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: What’s Happening, What We’re Doing, and How You Can Help
Winter on the Great Barrier Reef: The Humpback Highway
Winter on the Great Barrier Reef: The Humpback Highway Is Open Winter on the Great Barrier Reef is not grey, cold or sleepy. From Cairns, winter often means blue water, sunshine,...
Great Barrier Reef & Fitzroy Island: Why Visit Tropical North Queensland with Sunlover
Great Barrier Reef from Cairns: Why Visit Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island with Sunlover A Great Barrier Reef from Cairns day is one of the most rewarding ways to experience...
Best Beaches
Nudey Beach on Fitzroy Island is one of Australia’s most distinctive coastal destinations. With coral-fringed shores, crystal-clear water and rainforest rising behind the beach, it offers a very different kind of beach experience to the classic white sand stretches found elsewhere around the country.