Page 27 - Tropic Magazine Issue 18

TROPIC • TOURISM

BANKING ON SUCCESS
Belief in the Reef MILLION DOLLAR LADY

CONFIDENCE $1 MILLION
Quicksilver Group continues to make large The luxury 30-metre sailing
investments in its local operations. catamaran Wavedancer now has
two new engines as well as a flash,
Words Renee Cluff updated interior.
The leading Great Barrier Reef tour operator may have
come from humble beginnings some 40 years ago, but it’s DIVE RIGHT IN
hardly stopped investing in its own growth. Fast forward $3.85 MILLION
from its pioneering beginnings in 1979 - when one vessel Port Douglas’ only dedicated 5
ferried visitors to Low Isles - to today and the company Star PADI Training and Instructor
now boasts a 14-strong fleet, as well as pontoons, dive Development Centre has a 4m deep
centres, coaches and Green Island Resort. The size of its training pool with a unique above-
workforce now numbers some 650 staff, spread across ground design and viewing wall.
the Group’s operations in Port Douglas, Cairns and Green
Island, making it one of Tropical North Queensland’s NEW SET OF WHEELS
largest private employers. $340, 000
Among its more recent investments is construction of a A third Volvo Marcopolo B7R luxury
state-of-the-art dive centre in Port Douglas and a complete 57-seater is now taking Quicksilver
refit of luxury catamaran, Wavedancer. guests along one of Australia’s most
“The Quicksilver Group is very focused on continuing to picturesque drives between Cairns
be a driving force in attracting tourism to the region,” and Port Douglas.
Managing Director Tony Baker told Tropic. “We will
continue to invest in our facilities and services UNDERWATER STROLL
moving forward.” In January, the Quicksilver Group
This year, the company also announced a new partnership purchased Seawalker Green
with Nautilus Aviation, which flies visitors to Quicksilver’s Island helmet diving operation,
reef platforms and Green Island. complementing its Great Adventures
Green Island day visitor facilities.
MORE: quicksilver-cruises.com

27 • tropicnow.com.au