Thinking of going scuba diving in the Whitsundays? Diving is an excellent activity to enjoy on your yacht charter holiday, and the Whitsunday Islands are home to fantastic dive spots. Vibrant, fascinating coral reefs, pleasant water conditions year-round, and a teeming underwater world of marine wildlife: these are among the reasons the Whitsundays are great for scuba diving. Plus, the water is relatively calm and the dives offer good visibility and easy depths.

In short, a bit of Whitsunday scuba diving will enhance your bareboat yacht charter and help you make your best memories. Read on for our quick guide on the how and where of scuba diving in the Whitsunday Islands.

Getting Your Gear

No scuba diving gear is provided onboard your yacht charter, so you’ll need to hire it from the local dive shop. Right here in Coral Sea Marina Resort, just steps away from Queensland Yacht Charters, you’ll find Aqua Dive, the leader in Whitsunday scuba dive equipment hire. The friendly and helpful team at Aqua Dive will make sure you’re fully outfitted with the safest and most well-suited gear. Not interested in diving? They also hire snorkel gear and more, so you can be ready for all your Whitsunday adventures.

Get Certified

Not just anyone can jump into the water and go for a dive—you’ll need to be properly certified. Luckily, you can complete your coursework right here in the Whitsundays, just in time to head out for your sailing charter. Also located conveniently in Airlie Beach is Whitsunday Dive Adventures, offering PADI courses taught by qualified instructors. There are a range of courses available, and if you don’t live locally, you can complete a majority of the theory work using their online system. That means a quicker course and more time for diving!

Where to Dive in the Whitsundays

So you’re certified, have booked your sailing charter, and are ready to head out and explore the islands. Finally it’s time to get into the water and go diving. But, first, you’ll need to know where to find the Whitsundays’ Best Dive sites. Here are a few of the top choices:

Blue Pearl Bay

Located off the western side Hayman Island, Blue Pearl Bay is a nice spot for diving as well as snorkelling. Undersea canyons and caves make this a good spot for exploring the depths.  Maximum depth is roughly 19m. This area is often visited by manta rays and Maori wrasse, and includes some beautiful, unique coral formations.

Alcyonaria Point

Another one of the best diving spots in the Whitsundays is Alcyonaria Point, on Hook Island’s northern tip. Alcyonacea is a name for a type of soft coral found here. You won’t see the alcyonacea in many other spots, so check it out here. There is also an abundance of marine wildlife swirling amongst the bommies. Keen on snorkelling? Some good snorkel spots are found closer to shore.

Eaglehawk Reef

Also off of Hook Island is Eaglehawk Reef, a popular dive and snorkel spot. As you sail in, you can find a mooring at Stonehaven Anchorage. This is a fairly shallow dive, making it a good choice for new divers. Key your eye out for anemones amidst the reef and for ospreys nesting along the shoreline’s rocks—hence the spot’s name, Eaglehawk Reef.

Want even more dive sites to explore? Take a look at our list.

Bookings are going fast for upcoming dates. For adventures in the Whitsundays snorkelling, diving, sailing, swimming, and relaxing, your yacht charter holiday awaits. Get in touch with us now to book your vessel.

CHARTER:  www.yachtcharters.com.au

Call:  (02) 4946 7400– Email: [email protected]

SALES: www.dreamyachtsales.com

Call: 0457 036 756 – Email [email protected]

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