Articles by "water tourism"
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The Great Barrier Reef is a popular destination for snorkelling tours and cruises, with over a million tourists turning up every year to explore this pristine eco-system. There are lots to see above the water as well as on a Great Barrier Reef day tour, exploring white sandy beaches, tropical islands and coral cays that are only visible during low tide.

There is no drop in interest with the number of visitors steadily increasing every year, and the tourists to the Great Barrier Reef contribute in excess of $6 billion to Australia's economy. If you still haven't added the Great Barrier Reef to your bucket list of places to see, these unique facts about this spectacular destination might change your mind!

Size!

The Great Barrier Reef is bigger than the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland, combined! It's about relatively the same size as Italy, Germany, Japan or Malaysia. If you are weak in your geography, think of it like this, the Great Barrier Reef is about the size of 70 million football fields. Comprised of 2900 individual reefs, with each reef size varying from 1 hectare to close to 100,000 hectares, the Great Barrier Reef is huge. It's so huge, that astronauts can see it from space! The reefs are surrounded by over 1050 islands and cays, all rich in native wildlife and greenery, which you can explore in detail on a Great Barrier Reef day tour.

Age!!

In case you didn't know, the Great Barrier Reef is a giant living organism that is made up of millions of corals. Experts estimate the age of the reef to be close to 20 million years! The coral that you currently see at the Great Barrier Reef is about 8000 years old, built on the skeletons of dead coral that's over 500,000 years old! Coral's reproduce through mass release of eggs and sperm when a number of conditions align, like water temperature and moon phases. This phenomenon is known as "sex on the reef"!

Diversity!!!

Coral reefs make up about 1% of the ocean waters, but more than 25% of the marine life can be spotted here. No wonder the Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour aboard a cruise will let you have a sneak peek into this rich marine world that is home to:

·         1,500 fish species, which is about 10% of the global population

·         215 species of birds which nest on the nearby coral cays and islands

·         6 species of sea turtles, they come to the reef to breed

·         30 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises

·         17 species of sea snake also call the Great Barrier Reef home

·         The Great Barrier Reef is Dying

Despite being resilient and existing for over millions of years, the Great Barrier Reef is now under threat from rising temperature levels, which are stressing the corals leading to them bleaching and slowly dying. Corals exist through a symbiotic relationship with a certain strain of algae, with the coral tissues providing space for the algae to live which in turn gives back nourishment, keeping the coral healthy. When the temperatures spike, the corals expel the vital algae, turning them into a white shade (bleaching) and slowly starving to death.

A reef tax of $6 per day is paid by any visitor to the reef over the age of four, and this money goes to protect this delicate ecosystem. All of the Great Barrier snorkelling cruise tours and day tours include this reef tax, so you don't have to pay extra.

Now that you have your information handy, go all out on a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour on a cruise and explore the underwater ecosystem in detail. Or else, choose a Great Barrier Reef day tour and explore the rich flora and fauna of the islands. Both being a once in a lifetime experience like none other!


Author: Rachel Dawson


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Water sports are more than fun and are enjoyed by people all over the world. For the first time, water sports became a part of the Olympics Tournament in 1869. Watersports are not just fun but are quite beneficial for the health as well. These water sports include swimming, paddle boarding, snorkelling, kayaking, diving, surfboarding, water polo, windsurfing, and paddleboard yoga.

According to many researchers, water sports help to improve the mood too. They can instantly make you feel better and can help you get rid of physical, as well as emotional stress. They can build your strength and enthusiasm in your life, making you a more active part of society. Here we have six amazing water activities that are a must to try.

Wakeboarding

Out of the so many water sports, one of the most budding water adventures is wakeboarding. It is quite similar to water skiing where the rider rides on a single board, towed behind a boat so one can glide through the water. It is easier to perform when compared to other water sports, which require more focus on balance. It is one of the newest water sports, which is slowly being noticed by adventurers who visit different parts of the world to indulge in water adventure activities. People are starting to prefer wakeboarding to water skiing as it needs less speed and focus on balance; however, more wind is required in wakeboarding as compared to other water activities.

Knee Boarding

One of the first steps before you head to hard-hitting water sport, Kneeboarding is a perfect option for beginners, and those who want to delve deeper into water adventures. Done with the help of a knee-board, it requires less focus on balance than water-skiing and is all lots of fun nonetheless.

Kayaking

More of a calm, exploration sport, kayaking is the perfect water sport activity for those who want to spend the afternoon paddling along the mangroves, backwaters and mini bays. If the weather allows, it can be among the most fun water sports during monsoon season. Take the time to plan a proper kayaking trip when the weather is suitable.

Sailing on a Yacht

Another great experience is taking a ride on a yacht where you can witness the beauty of the ocean and relax & chill out in the peaceful surroundings of the sea, and you will certainly collect some magical moments in your life. There are several options for cruising on the sea while enjoying activities like sunbathing, fishing, snoozing, dining & eating, and of course, romancing. However, if you are interested in going on a short riverboat cruise, visit Mandovi River to get one of the best river cruise options.

Paddle Boarding

Don't confuse this water sport with that of a simple surfboard. Paddleboarding may look like the easiest thing to do at first sight, but in reality, it is one of the most difficult water adventure activities and requires a lot of strength to carry out especially because you need to stand up with only one paddle in hand while canoeing. This activity is the latest addition to the list of most thrilling water sports in the world, which is quickly growing in popularity. The sport was started by Thomas Edward Blake in the early 1930s. To enjoy Paddleboarding, one needs to be in a standing position or be on their knees to paddle and move forward in water and maintain balance throughout the ride.

White River Rafting in Goa

Looking for river rafting? Well, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) recently introduced white river rafting in Goa on the Mhadei River, at a small village called Ustem in Valpoi, Sattari. GTDC started this wonderful sport in collaboration with a company named Southern River Adventures and Water Sports Pvt. Ltd. People who love adventure sports will find this place no less than heaven, as it is surrounded by beautiful trees and plant vegetation. Foreign travellers love this place and visit it in large numbers every year.


Author: Bob Tom

As always, please, do share your opinions below. Do you know of any other interesting water activities that are downright fun? We will love to hear from you.