Take the plunge into the deep and find the real Nemo at Australia's best underwater wonderlands

The Coral Sea

The Coral Sea is one of Australia's most precious natural heritage jewels. Often referred to as the Serengeti of the Sea - due to its great expanse and stunning array of marine life - it covers an area more than twice the size of the nearby Great Barrier Reef.

The Undersea Explorer can take you on a six-day adventure to the Coral Sea's Osprey Reef where grey reef sharks, whitetips and hammerheads dance around you. The spectacular living fossils called nautilus - each with up to ninety tentacles poking out of a coiled shell - can be spied as well as schooling barracuda and tuna.
Amongst the coral gardens, you'll dive with one to seven manta rays, the gentle giants of the deep while turtles and trevally cruise by.

The team aboard Undersea Explorer are experts who have been measuring and tagging sharks at the reef since 1995 to research growth rates, breeding and behavioural patterns. They take this experience to the next level, by the on-deck research after the dive as well as 'creature feature' talks. The crew's passion for the sharks is tangible, as New Idea correspondent and Olympic medalist, Elka Graham recently found out.

You'll get to swim with the fishes three to four times per day superb dives per day with drift dives and deep dives. You'll also enjoy mid-week barbecues under the stars, as well as their famed 'fancy dress quiz night'.

New Idea and WWF-Australia have joined forces to help save the Coral Sea by persuading the Australian Government to declare the entire Coral Sea region a Marine Protected Area. This would create the world's largest Marine Park and protect the Coral Sea for future generations, before irreversible damage is done through illegal fishing, climate change and the possibility that the government may mine oil and gas.

To Go: Undersea Explorer leaves from Port Douglas, visit www.undersea.com.au or call 07 4099 5911. To find out how you can Save the Coral Sea visit wwf.org.au/coralsea

Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Reef on the Coaral Coast in Western Australia, famous for the annual migration of humpback whales is fast becoming the choice destination for snorkellers and scuba divers alike. The beauty is that Ningaloo reefs are fringing - in some cases as close as 100 metres offshore - which makes it perfect for young children who may otherwise miss out on viewing the underwater marvels. And there is so much to explore, with 260 kilometres of unspoilt reef on offer.

Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours offer snorkelling and swimming with whalesharks. You'll cruise amongst humpback whales, dolphins, mantarays and other sealife. Expect to spy more than 500 species of tropical fish as well as manta rays, sea snakes, whales, turtles, sharks and 220 species of soft and hard corals. Humpback whale season is between July and October and between late April and August, mantarays are excellent to swim with. Kings Tours are the experts in the area, with 25 years experience.

The new Novotel Ningaloo Resort on Sunrise Beach in Exmouth provides the perfect base for holidaying couples or families, surrounded by some of Australia's best natural attractions.

To Go: The Novotel Ningaloo Resort is offering a special deal - stay four nights and get the fifth night free from October 10th 2007, conditions apply. For bookings contact the hotel direct on 08 99490000 or email reservations@sunrisebeachresort.com.au. To get to Ningaloo Reef, fly to Perth - then take a 2-hour Skywest flight to Exmouth (Ningaloo) airport. To book with Kings Ningaloo Reef Tours, visit www.kingsningalooreeftours.com.au or call 08 9949 1764

Great Barrier Reef

Step aboard the Seaflight vessel operated by Cruise Whitsundays for a day-long adventure exploring the Great Barrier Reef. The outer reef day cruise stops off at a dedicated pontoon on the scenic Knuckle Reef, a couple of hours off Airlie Beach. You can choose to snorkel on a guided 'reef safari', scuba dive - if its your first time certified divers will guide you - or if you prefer explore the underwater forest in a glass bottomed boat or subsea adventure. There are marine biologists on board who will point out the underwater splendours that await including Wally the Hump Headed Maori Wrasse who is fond of sidling up to divers for a cuddle. Throngs of multicoloured fish skulk by while giant clams open and close amongst spectacularly bright corals. An underwater photographer will take your picture, so you can take home a memory of your awesome adventure.

Protected as it is, Knuckle Reef has its own ecosystem with magnificent corals and a diversity of marine life not found in more open areas. Scientific surveys report over 200 different types of fish and over 150 types of hard and soft coral in the immediate area of the pontoon.

The pontoon is a veritable fun park with a giant waterslide, sundeck and swimming enclosure for the littlies. Make sure you book in for an aromatic neck, back and shoulder massage, perfect for your muscles after a dive. Provided is a gourmet buffet lunch where you can feast on the best from down yonder including prawns and mussels. The modern vessel is fitted with counter balance stabilisers which alleviates a lot of the swaying. However, should the high seas be too choppy on the way out you can opt to fly back to dry land in a helicopter.

To Go: At Airlie Beach stay at Peninsula Airlie Beach Apartments, luxury harbour front splendour just a short walk from departure point, visit peninsulaairliebeach.com

To book your day trip with Cruise Whitsundays visit www.cruisewhitsundays.com.au or call 07 4946 4662. For more information on the area visit Tourism Whitsundays at www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au

Beyond the Sea

Seaworld Shark Dive

Too scared to take to the high seas? Why not test the water at Seaworld's Shark Dive on Queensland's Gold Coast. Shark Bay is the world's largest man-made lagoon system for sharks and houses some of the most dangerous of the species in an innovative exhibit. The Tropical Reef Snorkel is not as scary as it sounds, an acrylic panel separates you from the maneaters. You will, however swim amongst the docile Leopard, Blacktip and Whitetip reef sharks as well as schools of tropical fish and stingrays. Family member can watch every paddle of your adventure from the underwater viewing area.
The Shallow Reef and Ray Adventure is designed especially for younger children to experience the Shark Bay Pool. The children are given an educational talk and are led on a shallow water encounter with clown fish, anemones, rays and sea stars.

For those more adventurous, The Shark Encounter is Sea World's most thrilling animal adventures where brave souls enter a purpose built acrylic cage that is lowered into the Shark Lagoon where they witness an exhilarating shark feeding session.

To Go: Visit www.seaworld.com.au or call 07 5588 2205