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Start with the rules for your exact destination
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a multiple-use area, not one set of identical rules. Zoning determines which activities are allowed, while a plan of management, a site-specific restriction, a temporary closure or a permit can impose additional conditions. A boat trip, shore visit, snorkel, dive or fishing activity may therefore have different requirements at different reefs and islands.
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Check before you travel
- Identify the precise site. A broad destination such as Cairns, the Whitsundays or a particular island is not specific enough for compliance. Note the reef, anchorage, beach, island zone and any alternative sites in your itinerary.
- Check the current Marine Park zoning map. Confirm that your intended activity is allowed in the zone and look for local plans of management, closures, no-anchoring areas and permit requirements.
- Download information before losing mobile service. The Reef Authority’s Eye on the Reef app displays zones and what is allowed, works outside mobile range and accepts visitor sightings. Save the relevant information before departure rather than relying on a signal offshore.
- Recheck conditions on the day. Weather, closures, mooring availability and wildlife-management directions can change. A previous visit or an older chart is not proof that today’s activity is permitted.
The Reef Authority’s “Planning your visit” guidance was marked updated 11 September 2023. Because rules are location- and time-sensitive, treat the current official map and notices as controlling information.
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You can organise a trip independently, but that puts every zoning, anchoring, wildlife and waste decision on you. A permitted tourism operator can provide site-specific briefings, equipment procedures and supervision. The Reef Authority also recommends considering a current High Standard Tourism Operator.
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| Visit arrangement | What you manage | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Independent boat or shore visit | Maps, permissions, mooring or anchoring, equipment control, wildlife distances, waste and incident reporting | Current zone and local restrictions; vessel and weather limits; a reliable offline map or Eye on the Reef information |
| Permitted tourism operator | Your own conduct, including following the briefing and keeping clear of wildlife and coral | Current permit status and whether the business is listed as a High Standard Tourism Operator; the itinerary’s permitted sites and activities |
A high-standard designation does not remove your responsibilities. Stay with the briefing, ask where you may enter the water, and tell crew immediately if equipment, a swimmer or a boat is approaching coral.
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Use a public mooring first
Where a public mooring is available, use it in preference to anchoring. The Reef Authority says, “Where moorings are available, please use these in the first instance.” Mooring buoys are colour-coded for limits such as vessel class, maximum stay or time and maximum wind strength. Read the markings and do not use a buoy for a vessel, duration or weather condition outside its rating.
The moorings guidance was marked updated 1 October 2024. Inspect the line and attachment from a safe position, approach slowly, and leave if the mooring appears damaged or unsuitable. A mooring is not permission to remain through weather that exceeds its stated limit.
If anchoring is permitted
First confirm that the location is not a no-anchoring area. Most restrictions are marked, but the Reef Authority identifies unmarked no-anchoring areas at Cod Hole and Lizard Island in the Cairns Planning Area, and at Bait Reef and Hook Island in the Whitsunday Planning Area. These examples do not replace checking the current map for your precise destination.
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Where anchoring is allowed:
- Select sand or mud well away from coral heads and other fragile habitat.
- Lower the anchor without allowing chain or rope to sweep across coral.
- Never wrap a line or chain around coral to hold a boat in place.
- Keep watch for dragging as wind or tide changes, and move if the anchor begins to scour the bottom.
- Retrieve the anchor carefully so it does not hook or scrape coral on the way up.
| Boating choice | When it is appropriate | Critical checks |
|---|---|---|
| Public mooring | Preferred whenever an available buoy is rated for your vessel and conditions | Colour-coded vessel, time and wind limits; condition of the mooring; current local rules |
| Anchor on sand or mud | Only where local rules allow anchoring and no suitable mooring is available | No-anchoring map; distance from coral and fragile habitat; wind, tide, dragging and retrieval |
Snorkel and dive without touching the reef
Coral can be damaged by a fin, knee, hand, tank, camera or dangling accessory. Before entering the water, secure hoses, gauges, straps, cameras, flotation devices and other equipment so nothing trails over the bottom.
Use neutral buoyancy and controlled movement
- Move slowly and maintain buoyancy rather than swimming close to the substrate.
- Keep fins from contacting coral and avoid stirring up sand, which can smother nearby organisms and reduce visibility.
- Never stand, kneel, lean, hold or push off coral, even for balance or a photograph.
- Do not relocate animals, plants or shells to create a better picture.
- Do not collect, break or take coral. Damage, collection or removal requires a Marine Parks permit; ordinary visitors should leave everything in place.
If you are anxious in the water, tell the operator before entering and use an approved flotation aid or a designated rest method that does not contact the reef. A guide can direct you to deeper water or a sandy area for adjustment.
Give marine animals and birds room
Wildlife is not an attraction to handle or direct. Do not touch, feed, chase, ride, grab or block marine animals. Let an animal choose its route and keep your boat, board, fins and camera out of that route.
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- Observe from a distance and stop advancing when an animal changes direction, dives, flees or shows signs of stress.
- Never feed fish, turtles or other wildlife. Feeding changes natural behaviour and can draw animals toward people or boats.
- Do not surround an animal for photographs or separate a young animal from an adult.
- Keep more than one metre from giant clams under the Reef Authority’s responsible-practices guidance.
Near turtles and nesting beaches
If a turtle emerges to nest, remain still, keep clear of its path and turn lights off. Limit torchlight and avoid changing the nesting environment by moving sand, vegetation or objects. Follow the site’s directions for viewing distance and access; a bright light or a crowd can cause a turtle to abandon a suitable approach.
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Near whales, seabirds and colonies
Boats must follow the applicable speed, approach and distance rules for whales and other protected wildlife. Bird colonies can be disturbed by people landing, walking too close, flying drones nearby or allowing dogs to roam. Stay in designated areas and leave if birds become agitated. Activity-specific directions in the Reef Authority’s responsible-practices material take priority over a general viewing habit.
Keep rubbish and food out of the Marine Park
Plan to bring every item back to shore. Use a secure container for wrappers, fishing line, drink bottles, batteries, wipes and damaged equipment; a reusable waterproof bag can help keep belongings dry and contain rubbish, but buying equipment alone does not protect coral.
- Do not throw food scraps or any other waste overboard.
- Close bins and bags so wind cannot carry light items into the water.
- If you find rubbish and can retrieve it safely without entering coral or disturbing wildlife, take it with you.
- Recycle or dispose of collected waste thoughtfully at an appropriate facility on shore.
- Do not leave broken gear, fishing line, anchors or packaging at a mooring, beach or island.
Do not risk a person’s safety or chase wildlife to recover rubbish. Record the location and pass the information to the operator or relevant authority if removal is unsafe.
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Turn observations into useful information
Eye on the Reef allows visitors to submit sightings and, where offered, complete monitoring surveys. Accurate observations can help document wildlife and reef conditions. Note the date, approximate location, species or feature, and what you actually saw; do not move an animal or touch coral to obtain a better record.
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These submissions are not a substitute for emergency assistance or reporting a suspected offence. For immediate danger, injury, a vessel incident or deliberate damage, use the appropriate emergency or enforcement channel and follow crew instructions. Use the observation tools for non-urgent sightings and monitoring information.
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“There is no buoy where I want to stop.”
Do not assume anchoring is acceptable. Check the local map for a no-anchoring restriction and identify a sandy or muddy alternative away from coral. If the site cannot be used without risk, leave and choose an approved location.
“I need to steady myself for a photograph.”
Move back into open water, improve buoyancy or ask a guide for help. Never grip coral or a giant clam, and do not ask another swimmer to move an animal into position.
“A turtle or whale approaches the boat.”
Do not pursue, feed or manoeuvre to cut it off. Reduce disturbance, follow the applicable wildlife speed and distance rules, and allow the animal to pass.
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“The weather is worsening while I am on a mooring.”
Check the buoy’s maximum wind rating and the latest forecast. Leave before conditions exceed the rating and move to a lawful, safer location rather than relying on a mooring beyond its design limit.
“I see an unmarked restriction.”
Stop the activity and verify the current official map or ask the operator or local authority. The absence of a sign does not prove that an area is open; some no-anchoring areas are unmarked.
A low-impact visit checklist
- Exact reef, island or beach identified, with current zone and local rules checked.
- Closures, seasonal directions and permit requirements confirmed.
- Offline zoning information or Eye on the Reef available before leaving coverage.
- Operator permit and, where relevant, High Standard Tourism Operator status checked.
- Mooring limits understood, or a legal sandy/muddy anchorage selected.
- Anchor, chain, fins, hoses, cameras and other equipment secured away from coral.
- Wildlife viewing distances and turtle, whale and bird guidance discussed.
- Food, rubbish and retrieval bags secured for the return journey.
- Emergency, suspected-offence and non-urgent sighting-reporting routes understood.
Which official guidance to consult
Use the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s current zoning and planning information for the destination, its moorings guidance, and its responsible-practices material for activity-specific wildlife and reef conduct. The Responsible Reef Practices fact sheet was identified as a 2025 Reef Forum document. Because official pages and operator status can change, verify the latest version immediately before travel rather than relying on a saved screenshot or an old itinerary.
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