The 74 Island Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef have long been renowned as a scuba diving mecca. With iconic sites as Blue Pearl Bay, Black Island, the Stepping Stones and the Cathedral, it’s easy to see why. Local dive operators cater for every skill level from novice to dive master. Divers have the opportunity to experience stunning underwater scenery of thousands of species of brightly coloured fish and brilliantly coloured corals and a diverse marine life including dolphins, turtles, dugong and whales (in season).
New divers can learn to dive and have their first experience diving with a qualified dive instructor in many environments: on a sailing trip, an overnight boat, at a Great Barrier Reef diving pontoon, or at a dive school in Airlie Beach. Those seeking to gain their Open Water or Advanced Open Water diving qualifications can now complete the theory online with PADI eLearning, meaning that when they arrive in Airlie Beach ready to commence their scuba dive training, they can hop straight in the water and do their first dive.
The ‘outer’ Great Barrier Reef is around 50 nautical miles off the Whitsunday Coast, just a short two hour boat ride away. It’s possible to visit just for the day, but some overnight sailing trips include a visit to the outer Great Barrier Reef as part of their 2 – 3 night itinerary.
The Whitsunday islands and coast all have fringing reefs of coral gardens, with abundant marine life to explore. At some beaches it is possible to walk straight off the beach to snorkel over stunning fringing reefs.