Thanks guys

Raid, I am headed there in September. Why the danger from December to March?

Stephen,

It is just the wife and I, our youngest is 17 and oldest is 36, none of which get to go.

Now that you have gone would you recommend Port Douglas over Cairns? I really do not like crowds.
I have been looking at some of the reef tours and I found one that had pictures and 50 to 100 people were in the water at once. That was not appealing to me, I prefer my trips to be more laid back and not crowded.