Heron Island is one of the few places where scuba divers interested in visiting Australia's Great Barrier Reef can actually stay on an atoll that is part of the reef itself. Staying on the reef means more time for diving, as there are no long boat rides out to the reef and back. Indeed, most of the boat dives at Heron Island take place about 10 to 15 minutes from shore, unless you sign on for a specialty day-long "adventure dive" excursion.
Scuba Diving at Heron Island
Divers can expect to see up to 900 of the approximately 1,500 fish species that ply the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, along with about 72 percent of the reef's coral species. Sightings of black and white tipped reef sharks are common, as are sightings manta rays (which often swim near the island's pier) and sea turtles. The occasional lucky guest may even see a whale shark. Night dives have abundant species of interest, including lionfish and a variety of eels.
Dives are fully guided and fairly controlled, with buddies assigned and air gauges checked at the end of dives. Dives are signed up on a first-come first-served basis, with a two-tank dive in the morning, a one-tank dive in the afternoon, and frequent offerings of night dives. All rental gear is available.
Heron Island Resort
The eco-resort takes up most of the 40-acre island, which is also protected as a marine national park noted for its rambunctious bird life and its sea turtle nesting sites. (Note that the nocturnal noise from thousands of nesting shearwaters can be as loud and sleep-depriving as a college fraternity party; ear plugs are available, but guests who don't like birds probably won't find this island a good fit.) There is also a coral reef research station operated by the University of Queensland.
This resort is best suited to divers and snorkelers, although other activities and facilities (spa, tennis courts, a pool, and beaches) also make Heron Island a good choice for a read-a-book-on-the-beach vacation. Nature lovers, especially children, will appreciate the semi-submersible and the nature tours, which include bird watching, wading tours around of the shallow reefs at low tide, and tours focusing on endangered species such as sea turtles.
Accommodations are in cabins grouped together around an outside seating area. There are several levels, priced by size and proximity to the beach. Meals are available a la carte or buffet style, with different offerings and themes every night. Think about the buffet option at an upscale cruise line and you'll get a pretty accurate picture. No camping and no day trips are permitted, giving the island an exclusive, private feel.
Guests arrive by ferry boat from Gladstone, or via helicopter. The ferry trip is about two and a half hours, and the ride can be rough if you're subject to seasickness. The helicopter takes about half an hour.
The island's eponymous eco-resort isn't cheap. Prices, including breakfast, start at around $370 per two-person room, depending on season, and rise steeply from there (note that as of this writing in spring, 2011, the Australian dollar is stronger than the U.S. dollar). The facilities are bright, clean, and appealing, and the resort caters to divers who don't want a "diving dive" but aren't quite willing to shell out for the luxury prices at Lizard Island, the Great Barrier Reef's other famous and more upscale on-reef resort. Special packages are available combining various elements of meals, dives, and multi-night stays.
For divers, the Great Barrier Reef is one of those must-see bucket list places. Heron Island offers the chance to spend more time diving and less time bouncing in less-than-comfortable dive boats, all the while staying in comfortable accommodations.
Karen Berger - Karen Berger is the author of 15 books. Please click on her name to read her full bio.
