Heron Island Dive Festival Showcases World-Class Dive Destination
The Heron Island Dive Festival will run again in 2012, following its successful launch in 2011.
Situated at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef less than 100km off the coast of Queensland, Heron Island is a pristine coral cay and is widely regarded as one of the best dive locations in Australia, if not the world.
Running for five days from July 26-29, divers will hit the water twice each day to explore the island’s endless coral gardens and bommies, and will also have the option of night dives. There will be Discover Scuba classes each morning for beginners.
The diving will be broken up with inspirational lectures and workshops from key industry figures and renowned underwater wildlife photographers. There will be afternoon wine tastings, cooking master classes plus treatments and Heron Island’s spa.
Heron Island is renowned for its birdlife, clear waters and acres of brilliant coral with colourful marine life and more than 20 different dive sites to explore. The waters are teeming with reef fish, turtles, mantas, reef sharks and endless varieties of invertebrates.
Diving at Heron Island is relatively shallow, with an average depth of around 15 to 35 metres, and snorkellers can enjoy the shallow reefs that come up to within two or three metres of the surface in places. The waters of the reef off Heron Island are home to around 60% of the 1,500 species of fish and around 72% of the coral species found in the Great Barrier Reef.
We reckon the Festival is great value at $1256 per person, which includes four nights’ accommodation, two dives daily, three meals each day, return launch transfers from Gladstone and tanks and weights.
Visit www.heronisland.com.au for more information.