Welcome to our Winter issue of Quickies

Like the supermodels they are, the fleet showcases the power and stability of our wavepiercers and catamarans to the grace of our sailing vessels. Blanketed in morning sun against the mountainous backdrops, these 11 vessels represent the largest and most sophisticated fleet of custom-built Great Barrier Reef vessels.

Absent from the photo shoot, Pro Dive Cairns’ three liveaboard vessels were on location at the Outer Reefs off Cairns doing what they do best, showcasing the wonders of the Reef.

While never guaranteed, from our experience, July to September is the peak season to encounter the inquisitive minkes as they frequent the Agincourt ribbon reefs where our dive and snorkel vessels Silversonic and Poseidon visit. And with two of the three Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority permits in the region that allows our guests to swim with the minkes, it offers a truly magical and privileged experience.

Following strict codes of practice, if a minke approaches, a maximum of two surface ropes are placed into the water with swimmers positioned 3-4 metres apart. The whales actually control the encounter in that they decide how close they interact and swim with us!

The Dwarf Minke Whale Tourism Monitoring Program was a world first fully permitted swimming-with-whales program and is conducted in partnership between the GBRMPA, researchers and the tourism industry of which the Quicksilver Group contributes.

A strong local and Australian contingent joined an international field of swimmers from as far as Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and US. Now in its 6th year, Quicksilver is proud to host this amazing reef swim and continued association with Cairns Ironman and the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival. Congratulations to all competitor and to Ebony Crowe from Cairns and Matthew Pegg from Townsville on taking out the women’s and men’s 3km event.

Photos by Hiro Nagano

It was 1977 when Linda joined Hayles Cruises, the present day Great Adventures, with only four office staff and a total of around 20 people including the boat crew conducting daily cruises to Green Island.

Linda retires as Great Adventures’ Financial Controller and over the years has seen the company, now part of the Quicksilver Group, grow to a workforce of more than 600 locals.

“In the early days, we did everything, from selling the tickets to cleaning the office, delivery of brochures and writing the ads. Over the years, some of the biggest changes have been the introduction of high speed vessels to the reef, more government rules and regulations and of course the introduction of computers, but as my background was in mechanical accounting machines it was not too difficult.”

There have been many memorable moments over the years but a definite highlight would be Great Adventures world water ski records. Professionally, a major achievement was involvement in writing a private ruling that eventually resulted in changing the tax definition of surface travel and relevant fringe benefit tax.

After forty years, Linda said, “I have been given many opportunities to progress within the company and I have enjoyed all my time here. I have seen many people meet their husband and wife here and it has always been a company that values its staff.”

With the vessel stopped the whales were curious as they swam around liveaboard dive boat Scubapro 2 for a few minutes before heading on their way to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

Humpbacks are generally seen on the Great Barrier Reef between the months of June to September with regular sightings at the Outer Reefs, bringing an added bonus for passengers at this time.

Humpback whales regularly migrate from Antarctic waters along the east coast of Australia every winter to the warmer waters of the Great Barrier Reef to breed and calve. They are easily identified by having extremely large pectoral fins (their scientific name is Megaptera, which literally means giant wing), and scalloped flukes. They grow up to approximately 16 metres in length, weighing in at 30-50 tonnes. Male humpbacks produce “songs”, which are believed to attract females at mating times.

Thanks to Jordan McDonald for the video footage.