Diving on the Reef by junge1
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Description
Diving at the outer edges of the Great Barrier Reef.
Dive site - third dive:
S 16d 01m 06.1s,
E 145d 48m 41.6s.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 1,600 miles over an area approximately 133,00 sq mi (344,400 sq km). It begins at the southern end around Bundaberg (Southern Queensland) and ends in the Torres Strait just south of Papua New Guinea. At the southern end it is up to 300km from the mainland, while at the northern end it runs near the coast, is much less broken and can be 80km wide.
Coral requires a minimum water temperature of 17.5C, salt water, and grows down to about 30m. It cannot grow below that depth because of lack of sufficient sunlight, nor will it grow around river mouths.
Drilling on the reef has indicated that the coral can be more than 500m thick. Most of the reef is around two million years old, but there are sections dating back 18 million years.
The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from Outer Space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms.
It is considered one of the seven wonders of the natural world.
There are about 400 different types of coral on the Great Barrier Reef. Equally as colorful as live coral are the many clams which appear to be embedded in the coral. Other reef inhabitants include about 1,500 species of fish, 4000 types of mollusk (clams, snails, etc), 350 echinoderms (sea urchins, starfish, sea cucumbers and so on, all with a five-arm body plan), and countless thousands of species of crustaceans (crabs, shrimps and their relatives), sponges and worms.
The reef waters are also home to dugong,(sea cows)and breeding grounds to humpback whales, which migrate every winter from Antarctica. The reef's islands form important nesting colonies for many types of sea birds, and six of the world's seven species of sea turtle lay eggs on the islands' sandy beaches in spring or summer.
The Great Barrier Reef has been a World Heritage Site since 1981. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is the body looking after the welfare of most of the reef.
Sources: Lonely Planet Australia, 1994; Wikipedia; and other sources.
This picture was taken on 15 December 2011,
Sig...
Comments (28)
Very cool capture and extremely fascinating information Thank you very much Sig!
superlative capture!!
Really cool shot!
It seems like only yesterday that Thomas and Eileen Hains Lonergan were mistakenly left out on the reef by their dive boat. They must have been drowned and/or eaten by sharks as they were never seen again. Their dive slate was later found and it read 'To anyone [who] can help us: We have been abandoned on A[gin]court Reef by MV Outer Edge 25 Jan 98 3pm. Please help us [come] to rescue us before we die. Help'. I love the fish in this photo. You can almost feel their inquisitiveness.
I love the silhouette of the diver. Looks like you had a great time! :)
Great information sig and this is amazing capture...
So Sig...now you can add underwater photography to your resume:) Looks great and the info is fascinating.
Looks fab great capture Sig, great info too..
you make me want to be there. Nice capture
Amazing capture my friend. God Bless.
lots of information Sig, that I enjoy reading
Looks almost ghostly out ... Interesting info.
wow fantastic.
Fabulous, I wish I could do this!
Gorgeous under water shot!!!
Cool underwater shot my friend.
Fantastic shot and informations. Thanks for sharing!
Wow this is really awesome stuff.
How soberba captura meu amigo, aplausos (5)
nice shot
Is that a shark? Cool.... Well taken and indeed shown Sig.. Not allot I can add to to the pure fact I have not seen this on Rendo before! well done! Rob
This is Shining.
Fantastic shot! :)
FASCINATING! SUPERLATIVE!
Wonderful capture and very interesting and informative information!!
Very cool capture and extremely fascinating information !
Thanks for visiting my gallery... I saw this in your gallery, it iterested me. I read: The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from Outer Space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms I read it wrong, I thought it was the biggest single living organism - I've been told the Aspens in Colorado have that title - I've never scuba dove, I drew too many sharks when I was a kid (I was 10 when Jaws came out in 1974)
A wonderful shot Sig and amazing information. Well done!