Australia's Great Barrier Reef has suffered the largest decline in coral cover in two of its three regions over the last year ...

Dive Instructor James Dunningham (right) leads a group of certified divers on Saxon Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park off Cairns, Far North Queensland. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE.

A purpose-built $1.5 million vessel has launched in Cairns giving visitors the opportunity to see a hidden Great Barrier Reef site that has not been visited for almost five years.

Divers Den operations co-ordinator Melissa Alps said sighting a whale shark so close to Cairns was quite rare and in a double treat for the crew, the whale shark followed the vessel twice. “The ...

By Tom Rose Journalist·NZ Herald· 27 May, 2025 09:00 AM6 mins to read ‌ Save ...