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.
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
