Heron Island Activities

On Heron Island you will find an array of complimentary activities including Interpretative walks and workshops, star gazing tours, education slide shows, tennis, snorkelling lessons and nightly activities.

Please note that the Semi Submersible Reef Boat is currently unavailable. The vessel is out of action until further notice.

Complimentary activities: Guided reef walks (operate daily subject to tides) Island ecology walks Guided birdlife walks Stargazing Wildlife presentations Nightly movie and marine documentary Snorkelling lessons in swimming pool Tennis (night & day) & table tennis Natural history slide show Trivia night Movies under the stars (subject to weather)

Optional Activities (charges apply): Snorkelling excursions to the reef edge Junior Ranger Program - children 7 to 12 years Semi-submersible coral viewing cruises - commentary by reef interpretor Pool tables Diving tours, activties and classes Diving and fishing charters Fishing trips Scenic helicopter flights Sunset wine & cheese cruises Beach Picnic Hampers Spa treatment at the Aqua Soul Spa Turtle Tour (peak nesting times December - April)

Heron Island is the best diving package in Australia. For a start, there's no need for daytrips to the Reef, because you're already there. So you can easily enjoy two full dives a day.

There are over twenty different dive sites, more than half of which are just fifteen minutes from the beach. With so many acres of living coral literally teeming with fish. It's easy to see why keen divers keep coming back to Heron.

Note, all diving must be booked and paid for on the Island. When booking accommodation please include a note that the passenger has an intention to dive - ITD. Booking of individual dives are booked directly with the dive shop after arriving on Heron Island.

Daytime Diving: Day dives packages are available on Heron and Wistari Reef and include scuba tanks, weights, belts and the boat trip.

Night Diving: Night dives are conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays - weather permitting. Divers must have completed minimum of 20 dives or logged a previous night dive or take part in the Night dive as part of an advanced course.

Dive Centre: Fully serviced Dive Shop located on the island. The shop is open daily from 8.15am to 5.30pm.

Discover Scuba Diving: As the name suggests, this course is for beginners who want to try diving but do not hold a certified licence. 'Discover' courses include hire equipment, classroom and pool sessions and one supervised dive with a qualified instructor. Course participation is subject to the completion of a medical questionnaire prior to diving.

Adventure Diving: A full day trip exploring pristine reefs where marine life abounds in these isolated locations such as Wilson, Fitzroy, Lamont, Broomfield and Skyes. Includes dives, lunch and beverages. Maximum 8 divers.

Referral Dive Courses: Take all of your theory and pool sessions at home and complete the certification dives at Heron Island. The Referral course takes two days to complete. Please ensure you bring with you, two passport-sized photos, a referral statement and a medical certificate (A.S.4005.1) signed by a specialist dive doctor.

Refreshers: If you have not dived recently (twelve months or more), refresher courses are conducted in the resort pool before your first dive on the island.
All dive courses are instructed in English only, and are subject to weather conditions. Diving is not guaranteed on the day of arrival.

Australian Scuba Diving Standards require that all certified scuba divers that have any medical conditions contra indicated to diving, for example Asthma, Epilepsy, Diabetes, Heart, Lung or Blood Disorders of any kind require a fully completed Regulation Medical Form (A.S.4005.1) from a Diving Doctor (this form has a comprehensive list of contra indicated conditions). The Medical Form must be completed prior to arrival at the resort and is to be presented to the Heron Marine Centre when registering for diving stating that you are totally fit to dive by Australian Standards. If you do not have this Medical Form and have a medical condition, you may be excluded from diving on Heron Island. The Medical Form can be obtained form this website under Registration and Medical.

For all dive courses, two passport sized photos, a 'C' card and logbook must also be presented to the Reception on arrival.

Nature's Calendar: The circle of life on Heron Island turns in accordance with the rhythm set by Mother Nature. Every month brings new changes and fresh surprises...

The following information is a calendar of biological events throughout a 12 month period on Heron Island.

January: Active bird life. This month is the peak breeding season for sea birds, particularly Black Noddies, Mutton Birds and Reef Herons. Female Turtles are laying eggs on the beach and hatchlings are making their way to the sea. Average rainfall 196mm Average temperature min 23.6C max 29.8C Average water temperature min 26.5C max 30.5C

February: Wedge tailed Shearwater Mutton Bird chicks hatching Female Turtles still laying. Average rainfall 136mm Average temperature min 23.5C max 29.5C Average water temperature min 26.5C max 30.5C

March: Migratory birds - Ruddy Turn-stone and Eastern Golden Plover depart the Island Birds still nesting End of turtle nesting season. Average rainfall 155.99mm Average temperature min 23.3C max 29.0C Average water temperature min 25.0C max 28.0C

April: Noddies departing the Island Young Wedge-tail Shearwater birds (Puffinus pacificus) leave their burrows Adult Shearwaters leave the Island Average rainfall 79.0mm Average temperature min 21.6C max 27.3C Average water temperature min 23.2C max 27.0C

May: Last of the turtle hatchling leave their nests Young Wedge-tailed Shearwaters are still learning to fly Average rainfall 109.7mm Average temperature min 19.4C max 24.4C Average water temperature min 19.5C max 23.0C

June: Humpback Whales northern migration begins Average rainfall 105mm Average temperature min 16.2C max 21.8C Average water temperature min 19.0C max 22.0C

July: Humpback Whales frequently sighted Reef Herons start building their nests Average rainfall 90.5mm Average temperature min 16.2C max 21.4C Average water temperature min 18.0C max 23.0C

August: Black Noddies begin returning Humpback Whale sightings Average rainfall 46.2mm Average temperature min 14.6C max 26.0C Average water temperature min 20.0C max 23.0C

September: Humpback Whales active Black Noddies are now returning Turtle mating may be seen. Northern Hemisphere migratory birds start returning Average rainfall 26.1mm Average temperature min 15.8C max 27.0C Average water temperature min 20.0C max 24.0C

October: Whales and their calves now heading south to the Antarctic Resident Silver Eyes and Black Noddies nesting Wedge-tailed Shearwaters return Turtle mating may be observed Average rainfall 43.5mm Average temperature min 16.7C max 29.0C Average water temperature min 20.0C max 26.0C

November: Turtle egg laying begins Wedge-tailed Shearwaters nesting begins Black Noddies eggs can be seen in the nest Average rainfall 54.1mm Average temperature min 18.5C max 29.0C Average water temperature min 22.0C max 28.5C The annual synchronised mass spawning

December: Bird life is extremely active Turtles are laying eggs and hatchlings emerging from the sand Coral spawning may occur. Average rainfall 55.8mm Average temperature min 22.0C max 29.4C Average water temperature min 25.0C max 29.0C