Great Barrier Reef on a BUDGET 

The Great Barrier Reef is an expensive place to visit, and many operators will not take you to the beautiful parts of the reef, some even visit dead areas. This is my guide to visiting the best parts of the Great Barrier Reef on a budget!
The video is broken down by skill level, time and money and I hope this helps you plan your trip to the GBR, or travel though Cairns, Australia!
Falla Reef Cruises was the first trip I recommended, catered to beginner snorkellers and first time divers. Its a great day on an old wooden sailing boat, and visits some okay parts of the reef! It's also extremely affordable! The cheapest i've seen from any of the boats out of Cairns.
Cairns Dive Centre is a more commercial trip than Falla, but it specialises in first time diving, and basically guarantees scuba diving with nemo. The reef is decent, and for first time divers and snorkellers it will impress you! Its a great day! The boat also visits a secluded sand island on the way home!
If you have been snorkelling or diving before, or you're after some of the best reefs and marine life that Australia has to offer, you will want to visit Miln Reef. Coral Sea Dreaming is my favourite operator out of cairns and offers one of the most interactive and incredible expeditions to this beautiful part of the world. The Reef quality here will blow your mind, no matter your experience level!
Passions of Paradise also offer a day trip here, while the sites are the same/ similar, you will miss out on the morning, afternoon and night dive - and you as it is a more commercial operator you will not get the 'expedition feel' that Coral Sea Dreaming provides. BUT: The diving and snorkelling is incredible!
If you do have your Advanced Open Water Certification or higher and you have a week to spare, definitely volunteer on Mike Ball Dive Expeditions! This is where David Attenborough would go. Its also where most of the GBR documentaries are filmed. This is a week long trip and it's entirely FREE if you volunteer. I can't recommend this option enough.
Anyways hope you enjoyed!
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and contact me at www.tomparkphotography.com
Gear used:
Sony A7III
Sony 16-35 f4
Sony 50mm f 1.8
Panasonic Gx7
Panasonic 7-14mm wide angle lens
(GoPro Hero 3+ for the Mike Ball shots at the end)
OrcaTorch video lights
Rode Video Mic Pro