SMARTEN UP

Before you set sail for the reef on a day or multi-day exploration, brush up on your marine biology so that when you’re out there you can really appreciate what it is you’re looking at. At Reef Teach (reefteach.com.au) in Cairns, from $23 for adults and $14 for kids, attend a presentation on the Great Barrier Reef in a dedicated auditorium where you’ll learn how the various fish and corals play a crucial role in the ecology. You’ll also be able to handle different corals and marine specimens, including some dangeorus ones you wouldn’t dare touch if they were alive.