We
came to Hayman Island, in the Whitsundays, Central Queensland for a
laid-back holiday. Not carrying dive gear around adds the diving to
the laid-back experience. Carrying that approach to the extreme we
check out our first dive site from above. A Coral Air Beaver seaplane
service operates from near the Hayman Island Marina and we board it
for a scenic flight over the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier
Reef.
From
the air, a maze of reefs form patterns between the deep blue ocean
passages and the sheer size of the Great Barrier Reef becomes
obvious. Through the intercom the pilot tells us some of the names,
Hook Reef, Bait Reef and our planned dive site, the Stepping Stones.
Five
minutes later we are above Heart Reef, a perfect heart-shaped reef
amidst a million other reefs that stretch to the horizon. Then the
Beaver seaplane turns and begins the run back, landing in a cloud of
spray just outside the Hayman Island Marina.
Next
morning we join our dive gear on Hayman Island’s dive boat, Reef
Goddess,
and retrace the seaplane journey through the Whitsunday Islands to
the outer reefs. On the way we sit back and relax with fresh fruit
and juice while watching for humpback whales.
Less
than an hour after setting off, Reef
Goddess
slows as we arrive at our first dive site, around 50km off the coast.
After an awesome couple of dives and a hot shower followed by fruit
juice we settle in for the trip back. Ten minutes into the trip, the
huge dark back of a humpback whale appears below a cloud of vapour.
It blows again, arches its back, lifts its tail and vanishes, leaving
a boatload of bubbly whale watchers.
Back
at the marina it is decision time. Should we take the shuttle from
the dive shop or walk? We choose the latter, under the palm trees and
through the rain forest lining the back of the resort, amongst the
lorikeets, cockatoos, kookaburras and flying foxes.
We
feel like we are a world away from one of the world’s top luxury
resorts. Somehow Hayman Island has the best of both worlds as we make
the transition up the steps to our room. Below our balcony the
massive swimming pool beckons and we can’t resist.
Then
it is decision time again as we think of food. Should we have Chinese
at the Oriental Restaurant or Italian at La Trattoria. The world of
reality is becoming a distant memory along with the stress. Life is
to enjoy and what’s wrong with being pampered a little?
See more at Queensland Tourism
