It's been a time to celebrate for the Quicksilver Group! It was a wonderful night of recognition at the prestigious 2012 Queensland Tourism Awards in being named the State's Best "Major Tour and Transport Operator", announced in Brisbane on 23 November.

Quicksilver Group Managing Director, Tony Baker said, "We're extremely proud to be acknowledged with this award for outstanding contribution to tourism, continued commitment to quality customer service, innovation and environmentally sustainable practices. » Read More

After many years of planning and great anticipation, eclipse chasers from around the world and ‘first-timers’ witnessed the awesome total solar eclipse over the Great Barrier Reef Cairns and Port Douglas region on 14 November.

Once seen, it is easy to understand the passion of “umbraphiles” who travel the world to witness this mystical, astronomical event. At Green Island, in the direct path of the eclipse, visitors had front row, uninterrupted viewing for the duration.

View some amazing footage and images here…

It might be another 200 years until the next total solar eclipse is visible from Green Island, but guests can see this view under the Southern sky nightly. Join the activities officer for nightly stargazing sessions from 8pm.

Special thanks to Les and Mary Anderson, third time visitors to Green Island Resort, for sharing this magnificent photo with us.

With the festive season on the way, there was a different kind of "snowstorm" in the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef!

Described as an upside-down snowstorm as corals release millions of eggs into the warm water, adventurers aboard Silverswift's Night Dive excursions were able to combine the excitement of night diving with the dramatic and unique spectacle of witnessing coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef in early December. » Read More

In an exciting new development for Pro Dive Cairns, Nitrox or Enriched air is now available on two of our Scubapro liveaboard vessels for suitably qualified divers or certified divers who wish to attain the necessary qualification to dive on this gas.

Nitrox is a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen (like normal atmospheric air is) in which the oxygen concentration is greater than that found in air. The commonly used mixture is 32% oxygen as opposed to the 20% in normal air. Simply put, this means safer and potentially longer dive times for anyone diving on this gas due to reduced nitrogen absorption compared to normal atmospheric air, which is especially attractive for older divers as well the experienced underwater adventurers including photographers and videographers. For more information please contact the Pro Dive Cairns team at info@prodivecairns.com

Guests at Green Island Resort can recharge body and mind with one of Arumi Day Spa's tropical yoga sessions. Everyone is welcome, from absolute beginners to experienced. You can book a private session with the Spa's qualified yoga teacher, or join a session on Saturday mornings from 9.30 – 10.30am. Just see reception for bookings.

In the spirit of giving, the Quicksilver Group is pleased to be once again supporting our local charities through our annual Quicksilver Group Christmas Charity Appeal. Now in its 9th year, the donations will provide some much needed food items and gifts to help make the festive season a little brighter for many people in need in our community. Sincere thanks to all of our industry colleagues, suppliers and friends who have contributed to assist our local charities of St Vincents de Paul, Uniting Care Community, The Salvation Army and the Douglas Community.

Russell Hore, head of Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch and our team of marine biologists has some great tips to help you get the most enjoyment from your snorkelling experience.

• Always swim in buddy pairs – it’s a much safer option, and you have someone to share your amazing experiences with!
• Never look directly down when snorkelling, or your snorkel may turn into a drinking straw!
• Keep your face looking forward, and ensure your snorkel in slightly angled backwards, and this should keep your snorkel dry.

When you travel to the Outer Barrier Reef with Quicksilver, a great option to learn more about the reef and its magnificent inhabitants is to join our marine biologists for a guided snorkel tour.

Following her annual refit, our 30m (98ft) luxury sailing catamaran Wavedancer, is sparkling in tip top condition and setting sail for the idyllic Low Isles. A fully inclusive day with marine biologist guided snorkel and island tours, glass bottom boat viewing and a delicious buffet lunch, this is a wonderful day perfect for families, couples or those just wishing to relax under a thatched umbrella on a tropical Great Barrier Reef island!

Passengers are forever making comments about the amazing colours of our tropical reef fish. From the brilliantly patterned wrasses, to the intricate markings of the juvenile angelfish, it is the one common topic that is discussed on the way back from a successful day on the reef. But why do these fishes have such varied patterns and colours?

One of the most important reasons is communication. With most fish lacking any form of vocalization, the only way to communicate is by sight. This is very important at breeding time, when many species are making good use of the water conditions (ie. right tides, right temperature, etc), and ensuring that they are mating with a fish of the same species. Some fish will drastically change colours when about to breed, such as blue-green chromis. These fish, normally blue-green as the name suggests, change to a dramatic yellow with a black vent when about to breed. Other fish have exotic patterns and colours on their fins, which they flash around when trying to woo a mate.

Just a short note to thank you on behalf of our group for organizing such a wonderful Reef Tour for us! Everyone had the most amazing time on your cruise! For me it was definitely a highlight of my travels. It’s a wonderful set up with the pontoon and the add ons available were great and a lot of fun! The number of colourfish was unbelievable and to get to see some sea turtles was pretty special too! Your staff are a credit to your organisation and I'm sure everyone who went would recommend you to their friends. Thanks for such a great time!

Staff & Fans of the SKYCITY Breakers Basketball Team