| Dive area / region : Heron Island - See the map |
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| Best diving season : January • February • March • April • May • June • July • November • December | |||||||||||||||||||
| Recommended number of days to stay : From 2 to 4 days | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number of dive sites : More than 20 Dive Sites | |||||||||||||||||||
| Water temperature and wetsuit advice : 21-25C : Thin Wetsuit | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average visibility : 21 - 25 meters | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average dives depth : 20 Meters | |||||||||||||||||||
| Type of currents : Medium level currents | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months when these currents are present : N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| General surface conditions : Medium conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wreck types : Recent world ships • Artificial wrecks |
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| Type of marine life : Anemone • Barracuda • Corals • Jacks • Moray Eels • Plants • Rays • Reef Fish • Shark - Leopard shark • Shark - Reef shark • Turtles | |||||||||||||||||||
| Presence of caves / caverns : No | |||||||||||||||||||
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Scuba Diving in Heron Island
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Description
Water temperature: 22°C - 25°C (71°F - 77°F) is average Suit: 3mm wetsuit should be adequate Visibility: 10 - 25 metres (15 - 65 feet)
Type of diving: Wrecks, drift, Flinders Reef Marine life: Wobbegong sharks, turtles, barracuda, lobsters, grouper, trevally
When to go: Any time of year
Heron Island can be found at the southern side of the 2050 kilometres-long Great Barrier Reef of Queensland, Australia, about 539 kilometres away from Brisbane, the state capital. It is more popularly known as the ultimate coral cay, housing some 72% of the Great Barrier Reef's total coral species. Heron Island is regarded as one of the best diving location, is surely the premier location on the Great Barrief Reef. The Acropora, the dominant coral specie on Heron Island which branch out like antlers, making an expansive garden that is full of life, is just one among the many attractions that will greet you underwater.
Heron Island, with an area of about 16 hectares, lies within a 12 square-mile lagoon and is part of the Capricornia Marine Park. It is the perfect wildlife sanctuary teeming with diverse species of fish and rich marine life. Birdlife is also abundant in the Pisonia forests of the Heron Island where vegetation is at its richest as well. The most number of seabird kinds that reside in Pisonia are the White-capped Noddy Terns and the Wedge-tailed Shearwater. More than 70,000 of these kinds are found from October to April, which is their breeding season. Aside from the Noddies and the Shearwaters, the Silvereyes, the Eastern Reef Egrets, and the Buff-banded Rails are also around the whole year through.
Amongst the rich marine life, you will see four of the most fascinating, the moray eels (watch out for you fingers), reef sharks, turtles and manta rays. If you are lucky you might spot all four on the one dive. Meanwhile, Green turtles and Loggerhead turtles also make the island their nesting site during the month of January to March. As proof of its exclusive natural beauty, Heron Island has been the choice place of study for reef Scientists for quite some time. In fact, research trips are held during most of year. Diving in Heron Island What makes Heron Island truly famous is its calm and serene surroundings that keep guests gladly enjoying their reef experience in full. Just off the beach are spectacular diving sites that lure anyone visiting the place.
There is actually no need for extensive boat dives at Heron Island because you can easily get a generous serving of its marine beauty by entering from the beach. There are over 30 dive sites available, half of which are just 15 minutes away from the beach. With that privilege, Heron is also the best place to take guided diving lessons. Beginner or old-timer, you will surely find something exciting by immersing yourself in the tropic blue waters of Heron Island. Dive Sites Heron Island Bommies, Gorgonia Hole, Fifth Point, Second Point, First Point, Blue Pools, Pams Point, Coral Gardens, Wistari Reef, Libbie's Lair, Coral Cascade, Hole in the Wall, Coral Grotto, Plate Ledge, Pams Point (Best place to see Manta rays).
User reviews
Average user rating from: 1 user(s)
Heron Island Holiday Wreck
| Overall rating: | 2.3 | |
| Do you agree in general with the rating proposed by this web site? : | 4.0 | |
| Marine life: | 3.0 | |
| Visibility: | 2.0 | |
| Overall dive experience: | 3.0 | |
| Accessibility: | 1.0 | |
| Surface conditions: | 2.0 | |
| Worth travel to: | 1.0 | |
| Water purity: | 3.0 |
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Great island for snorkeling/diving with about 20 dive sites.
I went there about 8 years ago and loved the white sand, food and snorkeling.
Very enjoyable for those things.
The glossy brochures make no mention, except for Heron being a nature reserve, but be prepared for 60,000 mating/nesting birds on a very small island for 9 months of the year, making screeching noises outside your window ALL night, the wailing sound and volume equivalent to about 20 cats fighting (ear plugs provided). Bird droppings will get in your hair and on your clothes, and everyone seemed to have "sea sickness" stories (plenty of sick-bags provided) from the boat trip over. That is why I took the chopper both visits.
THIS TRIP WAS A DISASTER, as Australian Helicopters left my bag at Gladstone because they were doing "joy flights" that afternoon on the island and needed extra fuel, with a "guarantee" to deliver my bag later that day on the 5pm flight.
Disappointingly, it arrived at the end of day two of our holiday. I had everything in that bag for the enjoyment of our holiday, so we could not do what we came to do, until it arrived.
By day two, the island manager gave me thongs, T-shirt and shorts, as my clothes were getting a bit "off" by then. That was all the empathy we received and with no apology, and spending most of that time chasing up for a delivery time. Also not one word from Australian Helicopters at any time.
It was a frustrating experience for our loss of pleasure due to this “shameful lack of service”.
I would like to see Australian Helicopters make a priority of "Customer Focus", instead of putting their commercial interest first, of extra fuel for "joy flights" instead of baggage essential to customers enjoyment of their holiday.
Plus, no communication at any time of when it would eventually arrive!
I will NEVER go back.
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