3 Unexpected Things You’ll Find at the Great Barrier Reef

Located off of Australia’s northeastern coast is the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system and a treasure of the biosphere. Visits to the reef—including sailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling—allow you to become familiar with this one-of-a-kind gem up close and personal.

While we all know what a reef is like, more or less, the Great Barrier Reef also holds all kinds of surprises. Here are three that will astound you!

Heart Reef

One of the most curious things you’ll find in the Great Barrier Reef is a “heart reef,” a heart-shaped reef formation located in the Whitsunday area. A helicopter or airplane tour is the best way to see this strange phenomenon in all of its glory.

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Dwarf Minke Whales

While a huge variety of flora and fauna inhabit the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem, one of the most fascinating ones are its dwarf minke whales. These small baleen whales—which are only about 5 meters long on average—can often be observed ambling about while snorkeling or scuba diving here.

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A Shipwreck

The SS Yongala was a ship that capsized during a cyclone in 1911 and settled in the depths of the Great Barrier Reef. Now accessible on dive tours, you’ll be amazed at how the animals and plants of the reef have completely taken over this mechanical structure and turned it into a natural paradise.

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