After nearly a week of strong winds, we had a reprieve and a choice to make: climb the Cairn or head out to the outer reef. Gee that’s a bit tough… the reef won of course!
Sue had a couple of snorkeling practice runs at Luncheon Bay at the top of Hook Island and at Cataran Bay on Border Island, enough to get her itching for the real stuff. We headed out at dawn on 28 September from Dumbell Island.
Sue…’I think I saw a shark!’
No it’s an Angelfish!
This time we sailed a bit further and explored around Hook, Line and Hardy Reefs, seeing the very deep channel that runs between the three reefs. The naming of this group must have been done by the local fishermen: Bait, Barb, Line, Hook, Sinker, Hardy!
The channel between the reef is natural and very deep – 60m plus!
It is always a bit tricky to find a spot close to the reef wall and in between the bommies, yet not too deep, so we can just jump in the water from the back of the boat to go snorkeling.
The cardinal marker at the start of the channel between Line and Hardy Reefs
This catamaran is inside Hardy Reef, we are at Line Reef
Getting ready to snorkel at Hook Reef
We ended up anchoring for one night back at Hook Reef, not far from where we were last time, and picked up a public mooring at Bait Reef for a second night before the strong wind returned. This time the conditions were a bit stronger: 10 to 15 knots easterly. In this sort of breeze the snorkeling required a fair bit of energy – more chop, more current, but the visibility was excellent. We saw lots of little fish and interesting soft coral.
We had multiple dives. Sue was delighted to spot the little anemone fish, a few giant clams, plenty of fusiliers and parrotfish. But with a lot of current and chop, it was a relief to see the ladder at the back of Take It Easy!
Welcome sight!
This Trevally befriended us at Bait Reef, staying under our hulls
Tied up to a public mooring at Bait Reef
We had a brisk sail back this sunday morning and were lucky enough to pick up one of the only two moorings at the northern tip of Whitsunday Island. Eggs and bacon for breaky then we are off to climb the Cairn! Mission doubly accomplished!
Sv-Anui 
Wow, the fish and coral and everything! Incredibly beautiful! I’m glad you guys got a great twofer in too. 👍🏻😎🌴
Very lucky… now we are off for the hot and steep climb!
More beautiful pictures! What a wonderful place is the coral reef! Thank you for the post Chris… 🙂
It is our pleasure, HJ. We feel very lucky to see such wonders.
Awesome photos Chris and Wade. Paradise incarnate. So glad to see such healthy looking parts of the reef.
Hi Craig – thanks for the feedback. People cruising the Whitsundays who think the coral and fish life there is beautiful, don’t know what they are missing. The outer reef is just so much more vibrant and worth the effort.
Fabulous.
See what you will be missing out on if you don’t come longer than 10 days!
Thats not a Tuna but a Trevally likely a great trevally Cheers
Hi John – many thanks for the correction. Photo caption updated! It was big, very friendly and stayed there for ages! Being in a green zone I did not let Wade spear it but he was a little bit tempted! 🐟😉
Having a break from the computer and thought I would revisit your posts. What a wonderful time we had. Thanks
We did, Sue. Always special to share these places with friends!