Iconic reef not so great, apparently

   Source: The Courier-Mail

QUEENSLAND'S Great Barrier Reef has been snubbed in a list of the world's top dive sites - while a cave in the middle of the outback made the cut.

Travel publisher Lonely Planet has released its list of the world's top 10 dive sites but could find no place for the world-famous Barrier Reef, instead listing Cocklebiddy Cave, buried deep beneath the Nullarbor Plain, 1200km east of Perth.

The inclusion of a silty marshland in Papua New Guinea also raised eyebrows and, adding insult to injury, even our neighbours across the ditch got a guernsey, with the wreck of the original Rainbow Warrior slipping in at No.10.

Col McKenzie, the executive director of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, said the Barrier Reef had several sites worthy of the list.

"When you talk to serious divers, the Great Barrier Reef is on everyone's bucket list, so it's ridiculous there's not one site mentioned," he said.

"There are diving experiences you can have on the Barrier Reef that you can't do anywhere else in the world.

"There are at least a couple of sites that should be on the list for sure."

  

Mr McKenzie said neither Cocklebiddy Cave nor the Rainbow Warrior deserved a place in the top 10 compared to some of the Barrier Reef's best sites, including the Yongala wreck near Townsville, Osprey Reef off Cape York and the Acropolis near Lizard Island.

His comments were backed up by Mike Ball, who has run Mike Ball Dive Expeditions for more than 40 years.

"The Yongala is a dive site on steroids," he said. "It's one of the most amazing dives."

Lonely Planet spokesman Adam Bennett said the list was open to debate and meant no disrespect to the Barrier Reef.

"The list was not intended to be definitive, but rather a representative selection of diving sites from all around the world," he said. "It was selected by our online editorial team in London and designed to inspire a global audience.

"Lonely Planet has a long history of recommending the Barrier Reef to travellers."

View the original article here

Iconic reef not so great, apparently

   Source: The Courier-Mail

QUEENSLAND'S Great Barrier Reef has been snubbed in a list of the world's top dive sites - while a cave in the middle of the outback made the cut.

Travel publisher Lonely Planet has released its list of the world's top 10 dive sites but could find no place for the world-famous Barrier Reef, instead listing Cocklebiddy Cave, buried deep beneath the Nullarbor Plain, 1200km east of Perth.

The inclusion of a silty marshland in Papua New Guinea also raised eyebrows and, adding insult to injury, even our neighbours across the ditch got a guernsey, with the wreck of the original Rainbow Warrior slipping in at No.10.

Col McKenzie, the executive director of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, said the Barrier Reef had several sites worthy of the list.

"When you talk to serious divers, the Great Barrier Reef is on everyone's bucket list, so it's ridiculous there's not one site mentioned," he said.

"There are diving experiences you can have on the Barrier Reef that you can't do anywhere else in the world.

"There are at least a couple of sites that should be on the list for sure."

  

Mr McKenzie said neither Cocklebiddy Cave nor the Rainbow Warrior deserved a place in the top 10 compared to some of the Barrier Reef's best sites, including the Yongala wreck near Townsville, Osprey Reef off Cape York and the Acropolis near Lizard Island.

His comments were backed up by Mike Ball, who has run Mike Ball Dive Expeditions for more than 40 years.

"The Yongala is a dive site on steroids," he said. "It's one of the most amazing dives."

Lonely Planet spokesman Adam Bennett said the list was open to debate and meant no disrespect to the Barrier Reef.

"The list was not intended to be definitive, but rather a representative selection of diving sites from all around the world," he said. "It was selected by our online editorial team in London and designed to inspire a global audience.

"Lonely Planet has a long history of recommending the Barrier Reef to travellers."

View the original article here

Runners raise $2m for great cause

The Humanitarian Clowns team during Run for the Kids. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: Herald Sun

VICTORIANS raised a record-breaking $2 million in the Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids, bumping total donations to almost $9 million in eight years.

The event brought in $1.95 million and with CityLink's $50,000 contribution, Run for the Kids' total donations since 2006 have been boosted to $8.7 million. 

About 35,000 runners converged on Melbourne's CBD in support of the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

For one runner, the day also came with a marriage proposal.

Daniel Botros proposed to girlfriend Connie Baker  just minutes after crossing the finish line.

Competitors of all ages Run for the Kids. Picture: Andrew Brownbill

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was among the runners, finishing the 15km course in 1hr 32min 43sec.

Sudan-born Duer Yoa, 23, made a late surge for victory, dashing to the finish line in 45min 11sec.

Yoa described the victory as the best of his career as he prepares for this season's marathon competitions.

"I'm thrilled. It's a great feeling to be a part of an event that will have such a positive impact on young ones who deserve our love," he said.

Daniel Botros proposes to Connie Baker after crossing the finish line. Picture: Andrew Brownbill

Olympic marathoner Lisa Jane-Weightman, daughter of former Richmond footballer Dale Weightman, was the first female to cross the finish line in 50min 49sec.

News Limited Victoria regional director Mark Gardy said the generosity of the participants allowed Run for the Kids to retain its title as Victoria's largest fun run.

"This event has once again highlighted Victorians incredible generosity," he said.

"Together, we've raised more than $8 million in eight years. Your efforts - as participants, volunteers, supporters of the run or as donors to the Everyday Hero program - have enabled the Run for the Kids to maintain its place as the biggest charity fundraising fun run in Victoria.

Short course participants make their way down Flinders Street.  Picture: Jake Nowakowski

"We should not lose sight of what is fuelling Victorians incredible generosity - the thousands of inspirational children who are treated at the hospital each year," Mr Gardy said. 

The results for this year’s run will be published in Tuesday’s Herald Sun.

Tony Abbott crosses the finish with daughter Bridget. Picture: Andrew Brownbill

View the original article here

Divers' miracle escape from great white

A Great White shark breaks through a dive cage in South African waters. Footage: Bryan Plummer/youtube *Language warning

BRYAN Plummer tried shark diving on March 21st for the first time in Gansbaai, South Africa. He caught a very big fish....on his phone.

While Bryan’s newly married friends prepared to plunge the depths in a shark cave, Bryan took video of them joking around – but surprising them, a great white shark appears out of the blue and begins to barrel towards the cage.

the bait used to lure the shark proves pointless as the great white spears its head through the metal gaps of the cage, thrashing around in search of bigger game.

The terrified divers had to duck below to keep out of reach of some very wide open jaws.

The great white approaches the shark diving cage.

Bryan Plummer apologises for any profanities on the film, but says the attack was "an out of control situation".

Lucky for newly-wed diver Roger and his wife, the shark left the cage without a morsel of man flesh.
 

The great white smashes its was through the cage in search of food.

View the original article here

Divers' miracle escape from great white

A Great White shark breaks through a dive cage in South African waters. Footage: Bryan Plummer/youtube

BRYAN Plummer tried shark diving on March 21st for the first time in Gansbaai, South Africa. He caught a very big fish....on his phone.

While Bryan’s newly married friends prepared to plunge the depths in a shark cave, Bryan took video of them joking around – but surprising them, a great white shark appears out of the blue and begins to barrel towards the cage.

the bait used to lure the shark proves pointless as the great white spears its head through the metal gaps of the cage, thrashing around in search of bigger game.

The terrified divers had to duck below to keep out of reach of some very wide open jaws.

The great white approaches the shark diving cage.

Bryan Plummer apologises for any profanities on the film, but says the attack was "an out of control situation".

Lucky for newly-wed diver Roger and his wife, the shark left the cage without a morsel of man flesh.
 

The great white smashes its was through the cage in search of food.

View the original article here

Fisherman hooks Great White Shark

A fisherman got more than he bargained for when he went out fishing in the US

FAB Marchese has the best fishing story ever. Last Friday he hooked a Great White Shark. And he has the video to prove it.

Mr  Marchese  fought the 1360 kilogram shark for nearly three and a half hours holding the rod against his abdomen.

"Just the vision of seeing that head," Mr Marchese said. "Like, it was massive! That's what I'm going to remember the most."

Mr Marchese said he though he just had to hang on to the shark no matter what.

"Just hold on, yeah hold on and fight," said Marchese. "I wanted to see it right up close."

Joe Maisano with Go Fast Fishing Charters in Treasure Island was stunned when he saw what was on the end of Mr Marchese’s line.

"About four hours into the fishing trip and then big mama showed-up and wanted to play."

"Only a couple species of sharks get that big," Mr Maisano said. "Great hammerheads, tiger sharks, and the great whites are the only three that will get up there that big."

The only problem with hooking such a big catch is that it’s going to be hard to beat it.

"Yeah, this is like a dream come true basically," Mr Marchese said. "You never think something like this is going to happen. It's just like, how am I going to top this now?"

View the original article here

Fisherman hooks Great White Shark

A fisherman got more than he bargained for when he went out fishing in the US

FAB Marchese has the best fishing story ever. Last Friday he hooked a Great White Shark. And he has the video to prove it.

Mr  Marchese  fought the 1360 kilogram shark for nearly three and a half hours holding the rod against his abdomen.

"Just the vision of seeing that head," Mr Marchese said. "Like, it was massive! That's what I'm going to remember the most."

Mr Marchese said he though he just had to hang on to the shark no matter what.

"Just hold on, yeah hold on and fight," said Marchese. "I wanted to see it right up close."

Joe Maisano with Go Fast Fishing Charters in Treasure Island was stunned when he saw what was on the end of Mr Marchese’s line.

"About four hours into the fishing trip and then big mama showed-up and wanted to play."

"Only a couple species of sharks get that big," Mr Maisano said. "Great hammerheads, tiger sharks, and the great whites are the only three that will get up there that big."

The only problem with hooking such a big catch is that it’s going to be hard to beat it.

"Yeah, this is like a dream come true basically," Mr Marchese said. "You never think something like this is going to happen. It's just like, how am I going to top this now?"

View the original article here

The great haul of China

Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE Kangaroo Route is about to become the Dragon Route.

And with yum cha, Chinese tea and bok choy on the menu, travelling to Europe will have a different taste after China's largest airline confirmed flights to the region up to 50 per cent cheaper than their locally owned rivals.

As national carrier Qantas seeks to shore up its Australasian routes through its recent tie-up with Emirates, China Southern Airlines has offered stand-alone flights from Sydney to London at a discount.

Once dubbed the "Kangaroo Route", the Chinese airline's cheapest economy-class return fare between Sydney and London, with a three-hour stopover in Guangzhou, for a two-week trip starting early May was $1442.

A Qantas spokesman last night confirmed a comparable return fare on Qantas to London started at $2207.

Henry He, China Southern's managing director for Australia, last night told The Daily Telegraph the region was "vitally important" going forward, particularly given the strong "visiting friends and relatives" factor.

"Our research has shown a strong Cantonese population in both Sydney and Melbourne dating back to the gold rush in the 1850s," Mr He said.

From April 1, the Guangzhou-based airline will also operate more flights to Europe than Qantas - in a bid to lure traffic from Singapore and Hong Kong.

The move is the first push in an ever-increasing aviation war, with China Southern recently signalling their intentions by recruiting more Australians as cabin crews and setting up a local school for "elite stewards".

The airline has leased one of Sydney Airport's most expensive billboards for three years.

China Southern has 42 weekly flights out of Australia, while Qantas will reduce its service to 28 a week as part of the Emirates alliance.

Chinese tourists, who spent $105 billion overseas in 2012, are forecast to make 94 million trips this year, almost double the level in 2009, statistics from the China Tourism Academy have shown.

Qantas last night acknowledged the increased competition on the route, but cited its "evolving service", which matched what its customers wanted.

"We've been flying Australians to London for more than 50 years and we've always evolved our services to match what customers have told us they want," a spokesman said.

"A comfortable seat, friendly and familiar service, plenty of in-flight entertainment options, good food and wine - these are important things that make a big difference when you're on an aircraft for 20 hours."

Aviation analyst Oliver Lamb last night said the rise of Chinese airlines would soon pose an "enormous challenge" for Virgin and Qantas.

"They're an enormous market and China Southern is the third-biggest airline in the world," Mr Lamb said.

"Their margins on transferring customers to London via Guangzhou will be lower than their rivals.

"So it's going to be very competitive going forward."

View the original article here

The great haul of China

Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE Kangaroo Route is about to become the Dragon Route.

And with yum cha, Chinese tea and bok choy on the menu, travelling to Europe will have a different taste after China's largest airline confirmed flights to the region up to 50 per cent cheaper than their locally owned rivals.

As national carrier Qantas seeks to shore up its Australasian routes through its recent tie-up with Emirates, China Southern Airlines has offered stand-alone flights from Sydney to London at a discount.

Once dubbed the "Kangaroo Route", the Chinese airline's cheapest economy-class return fare between Sydney and London, with a three-hour stopover in Guangzhou, for a two-week trip starting early May was $1442.

A Qantas spokesman last night confirmed a comparable return fare on Qantas to London started at $2207.

Henry He, China Southern's managing director for Australia, last night told The Daily Telegraph the region was "vitally important" going forward, particularly given the strong "visiting friends and relatives" factor.

"Our research has shown a strong Cantonese population in both Sydney and Melbourne dating back to the gold rush in the 1850s," Mr He said.

From April 1, the Guangzhou-based airline will also operate more flights to Europe than Qantas - in a bid to lure traffic from Singapore and Hong Kong.

The move is the first push in an ever-increasing aviation war, with China Southern recently signalling their intentions by recruiting more Australians as cabin crews and setting up a local school for "elite stewards".

The airline has leased one of Sydney Airport's most expensive billboards for three years.

China Southern has 42 weekly flights out of Australia, while Qantas will reduce its service to 28 a week as part of the Emirates alliance.

Chinese tourists, who spent $105 billion overseas in 2012, are forecast to make 94 million trips this year, almost double the level in 2009, statistics from the China Tourism Academy have shown.

Qantas last night acknowledged the increased competition on the route, but cited its "evolving service", which matched what its customers wanted.

"We've been flying Australians to London for more than 50 years and we've always evolved our services to match what customers have told us they want," a spokesman said.

"A comfortable seat, friendly and familiar service, plenty of in-flight entertainment options, good food and wine - these are important things that make a big difference when you're on an aircraft for 20 hours."

Aviation analyst Oliver Lamb last night said the rise of Chinese airlines would soon pose an "enormous challenge" for Virgin and Qantas.

"They're an enormous market and China Southern is the third-biggest airline in the world," Mr Lamb said.

"Their margins on transferring customers to London via Guangzhou will be lower than their rivals.

"So it's going to be very competitive going forward."

View the original article here

The great haul of China

Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE Kangaroo Route is about to become the Dragon Route.

And with yum cha, Chinese tea and bok choy on the menu, travelling to Europe will have a different taste after China's largest airline confirmed flights to the region up to 50 per cent cheaper than their locally owned rivals.

As national carrier Qantas seeks to shore up its Australasian routes through its recent tie-up with Emirates, China Southern Airlines has offered stand-alone flights from Sydney to London at a discount.

Once dubbed the "Kangaroo Route", the Chinese airline's cheapest economy-class return fare between Sydney and London, with a three-hour stopover in Guangzhou, for a two-week trip starting early May was $1442.

A Qantas spokesman last night confirmed a comparable return fare on Qantas to London started at $2207.

Henry He, China Southern's managing director for Australia, last night told The Daily Telegraph the region was "vitally important" going forward, particularly given the strong "visiting friends and relatives" factor.

"Our research has shown a strong Cantonese population in both Sydney and Melbourne dating back to the gold rush in the 1850s," Mr He said.

From April 1, the Guangzhou-based airline will also operate more flights to Europe than Qantas - in a bid to lure traffic from Singapore and Hong Kong.

The move is the first push in an ever-increasing aviation war, with China Southern recently signalling their intentions by recruiting more Australians as cabin crews and setting up a local school for "elite stewards".

The airline has leased one of Sydney Airport's most expensive billboards for three years.

China Southern has 42 weekly flights out of Australia, while Qantas will reduce its service to 28 a week as part of the Emirates alliance.

Chinese tourists, who spent $105 billion overseas in 2012, are forecast to make 94 million trips this year, almost double the level in 2009, statistics from the China Tourism Academy have shown.

Qantas last night acknowledged the increased competition on the route, but cited its "evolving service", which matched what its customers wanted.

"We've been flying Australians to London for more than 50 years and we've always evolved our services to match what customers have told us they want," a spokesman said.

"A comfortable seat, friendly and familiar service, plenty of in-flight entertainment options, good food and wine - these are important things that make a big difference when you're on an aircraft for 20 hours."

Aviation analyst Oliver Lamb last night said the rise of Chinese airlines would soon pose an "enormous challenge" for Virgin and Qantas.

"They're an enormous market and China Southern is the third-biggest airline in the world," Mr Lamb said.

"Their margins on transferring customers to London via Guangzhou will be lower than their rivals.

"So it's going to be very competitive going forward."

View the original article here