Outer Great Barrier Reef Snorkel & Dive
Take a high-speed catamaran from Airlie Beach to the outer Great Barrier Reef — Hardy Reef and Knuckle Reef — for snorkelling and diving on pristine coral gardens 60 kilometres offshore.
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Airlie Beach Ferry Terminal
High-speed catamarans depart Airlie Beach at 8am for the 90-minute journey to the outer reef — the crossing of the Whitsunday Passage through the islands is spectacular before the open ocean begins.
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Hardy Reef Pontoon
Hardy Reef pontoon is a floating platform moored permanently on the reef edge — the platform provides changing rooms, an underwater observatory, and the launch point for snorkelling and diving sessions.
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Coral Garden Snorkel Zone
The coral gardens around Hardy Reef are in excellent condition — staghorn coral, brain coral, and massive Porites formations create the three-dimensional habitat that supports extraordinary fish diversity.
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Heart Reef Scenic Flight
Heart Reef is a natural coral formation in the shape of a perfect heart — it can only be seen from the air, and helicopter flights from the pontoon provide the aerial perspective of this icon of Queensland tourism.
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Underwater Observatory
The underwater observatory at the pontoon descends 6 metres below the surface for a fish-eye view of the reef without getting wet — reef fish congregate around the observatory windows in large numbers.
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Sunset Return Cruise
The return journey in the late afternoon provides the opportunity to spot marine life from the deck — manta rays, sea turtles, and occasionally minke whales are seen in the Whitsunday Passage on the crossing back.