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ECO-TOURISM & ARISTOCAT
ARISTOCAT accepts a
commitment to best practice ecological
sustainability, natural area management,
and the provision of quality eco-tourism
experiences.
We strive to meet and maintain best
practice eco-tourism standards and to
exceed the expectations of our guests.
Our Destination
Our destination is The Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park, a World Heritage Area
off the north east coast of Australia.
As we enter The Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park you will have a sense of
what eco-tourism is all about
“…travelling to relatively undisturbed
natural areas with the specific object
of studying, admiring and enjoying the
scenery and its wild plants and animals,
as well as any existing cultural aspects
(both of the past or the present) found
in these areas.” …Héctor
Ceballos-Lascuráin who coined the term
“eco-tourism” in 1988.
ARISTOCAT activities include
guided snorkelling tours, introductory
and certified scuba diving to explore
magnificent coral reefs, whale watching
and swimming with Dwarf Minke Whales
(whale activity seasonal).
Reef Paradox…
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef…the
largest living structure in the world
was built by some of the smallest
animals in the world, the coral polyps.
Coral reefs are structures consisting of
coral skeletons built upon coral
skeletons. Coral reefs typically grow in
tropical seas, where there are mild
water currents available to stir sea
water to deliver sufficient food and
oxygen to coral formations. Coral reefs
also need nutrient poor, clear, warm and
shallow water to grow.
The building blocks of coral reefs are
‘skeletons’ of generations of
reef-building algae, corals, and other
organisms that are composed of calcium
carbonate. Waves, grazing fishes and
other organisms break down coral
formations into fragments that settle
into spaces in the reef structure, which
form the building blocks of coral reefs.
A particular type of algae, called
Coralline algae, deposit large amounts
of limestone onto coral reefs, which
contribute to the structural integrity
of reefs.
Growing coral, or coral polyops, are
found in depths of water where
sufficient sunlight is present for
photosynthesis to occur. An alga called
zooxanthellae exists in the tissues of
these coral polyps. This alga carries
out photosynthesis, to produce excess
organic nutrients that are consequently
used by the coral polyps. This delivery
of nutrients is responsible for the
formation of new coral structures.
Safety
Safety is our priority and our vessel,
“ARISTOCAT V”, has been purpose built to
provide a quality marine experience
while ensuring the comfort and safety of
guests and crew.
Group Sizes and capacity
Group sizes based on activity vary from
a maximum of 4 for introductory scuba
diving to 10 for certified scuba diving.
Snorkelling group sizes vary depending
on the time of year with the average
being 35. ARISTOCAT’s total capacity is
100 persons including crew.
Reef Links
To access additional information visit:
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