Scuba Diving magazine asked its readers to rate its top dive and snorkelling destinations around the world.

Readers were also invited to vote on a number of other categories including wreck diving, visibility and marine life.

More than 4500 readers participated in the survey, giving Australia the nod as the premier underwater destination in the region.

Described on www.scubadiving.com as "the undisputed world champion of underwater biomes" the Great Barrier Reef scored the top snorkelling destination accolade, and made the top 10 in overall dive destinations.

Bonaire in the Caribbean took the top overall dive destination award for the fifth year running.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef also earned second place for top wreck diving in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as top five rankings in the top destination for beginners and top small animal encounters categories.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest marine park in the world, stretching more than 2300km along the north-east coast of Australia from the northern tip of Queensland to just north of Bundaberg.

It boasts a huge variety of marine life, and almost two million people visit the reef each year, pumping more than $4 billion into the economy.

Queensland Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said she was not surprised the reef ranked so highly as a dive and snorkelling destination.

"The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the world," Ms Keech said.

"It features amazing natural attractions, coral formations, fish and other living organisms in a wonderful, colourful marine world.

"It provides an unforgettable experience."

Ms Keech said the reef attracted more than 120,000 international tourists in the 12 months leading up to September last year.

She said UK tourists were the number one international visitors to the reef but it was also popular with American, Japanese and German visitors.

# News item from News.com.au, January 2007.