Tusa T6 - Cairns

Coral Spawning
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Once a year only, for a few nights in early summer, the Great Barrier Reef turns on a spectacular and sexy festival...

Sex on the Reef
On these nights many corals spawn in a mass synchronized event – unlike any known elsewhere in the animal kingdom. In this amazing event, corals release eggs and sperm into the water creating what looks like an upside down snow storm. These reproductive bundles can be seen in their millions
with eggs and sperm released together in spherical bundles large enough to be seen with the naked eye. This sexual fireworks display comes in many colours including pink, red, orange, purple and blue.

What night will it happen?
Linked to the phases of the moon. The most common timing is 3-5 days after the full moon in late spring/early summer. There are many factors involved including relatively little tidal movement, water temperature and lighting. Although there are no guarantees of the exact night of the spawning,
experts have predicted the 2009 spawning could possibly be split over November & December due to the full moon falling very early in both months. The predicted dates for November are for the nights of 06/07/08 NOV and pending dates for DEC are between 06 - 09th.

I want to watch!
To enhance your Coral Spawning experience Tusa Dive provides a fun and informative Marine Biology Presentation as a part of the trip. Local marine biologist and underwater photographer Stuart Ireland will join in to talk about the Coral Spawning and answer any questions to help give you a greater chance to see the spawning in action. TUSA Dives Coral Spawning night diving trips are for certified divers as well as snorkelers. Included
in the price is a hot dinner, torches, cylume sticks and all dive gear, including dive computer with the full gear rate, and for snorkelers a complimentary guided snorkel tour.

Tusa Dive will be running night DIVE & SNORKEL trips over the following dates:

Friday Nov 6th
Saturday Nov 7th
Sunday Nov 8th

This spectacular underwater event is certainly not to be missed as it only happens once every year during late spring/early summer, usually 3-5 nights after the full moon. Experts from James Cook University in Townsville have predicted the above dates, with the possibility of a second spawn in early December.

Join in on the activity with T5 as snorkelers and divers (certified only) to watch the awesome underwater event take place. Be quick as spaces are limited to just 50 passengers each night, at a special rate of $110.00 for snorkellers and $175.00 for cert divers full gear or $135.00 tanks & weights.

All prices include:

• Hot buffet dinner
• 2 certified dives
• Dive computers for divers
• Torches and cylume (glow) sticks,
• Guided snorkel tour for snorkellers
• Lycra & wetsuits
• Marine Biology presentation by Stuart Ireland

Extras:
$10.00 EMC
$10.00 return transfers (optional) Cairns only

Please Note:

• All passengers must pre-pay in full. If paying deposit only, the balance must be paid to the Tusa Dive shop by 04:00 pm the day before travel (24 hours prior) to guarantee their seats.
• City pickups commence from 5:00pm.
• Tusa Dive does not guarantee you will see the Coral Spawn. The coral may spawn on one or over several nights, however it is impossible to predict.

BOOK HERE!