Hardy Reef

after 2 hours we reach our destination, the Reef World pontoon. They even have a plane !

sorry mate, show's over

watch your step lady

it is difficult to gauge the full length of these behemoths, but they are big

and she brought the whole family

we got company, a whale checks us out

the reef is nice but not spectacular

but I am going for a dive

Hardy Reef is located 65 km NE of Airlie Bay and forms a part of the Outer Great Barrier Reef that runs parallel to North Queensland's coast.

The coral bleeching of 2016 did not leave Hardy Reef unscathed but the damage was limited to less than 20%.

In 2019 shark attacks on snorkelers and divers occurred at the reef. Local fishermen also reported sightings of aggressive bullsharks, so something must attract these predators. Maybe all that soft Homo Sapiens flesh?

At the reef sits a permanently moored pontoon with full hotel facilities. Apart from snorkeling and diving you can take a dip in a semi submarine or take to the skies in a seaplane or chopper to soar over the reefs.

The pontoon is operated by a company called Reef World but when we visited here in July 1999 it was called FantaSea.

Diving was not spectacular but on the way out to the reef we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by a pot of whales and even some hammerhead sharks showed up.

That was a very nice experience indeed.

a map at Shute Harbor shows the way to Hardy Reef, 65 km out, a 2 hours sail by fastboat

we have left Shute Harbor and relax with the Whitsundays in the background

this is the designated area for the snorkel class

when we leave the tide is coming in

on the way back we make a stop at Hamilton Island to pick up a whole bunch of tourists