5 Reasons Daydream Island is one of Australia’s top snorkelling spots

Juvenile Anemonefish at Daydream Island

IF snorkelling with the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, you may want to book a trip to Daydream Island immediately.

Located in the Whitsundays, Daydream Island is one of the most naturally beautiful islands in Australia with white coral beaches and turquoise seas.

The island is also a snorkeller’s paradise.

John Gaskell, the manager of Daydream Island’s Living Reef attraction, and resident marine biologist, said the waters surrounding the island were teaming with fish and coral.

“The diversity of fish and corals found around Daydream Island is comparable to even the most dense parts of the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

He said the coral reefs, particularly those around popular Lovers Cove, allowed people to snorkel in a safe environment that boasted many of the region’s marine wonders.

Here are five great reasons you should snorkel at Daydream Island:

1) Easy Access

The island is easily accessible to travellers and is only a 30-minute ferry trip from the Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island (which has direct flights daily to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns).

Travellers can also fly to the Whitsunday Coast Airport in Proserpine on the mainland. From the airport, there is a 30-minute transfer to the Abel Point Marina in Airlie Beach, where a connecting ferry transfers guests to Daydream in 30 minutes.

Once you get to the island, you can immediately go snorkelling off one of the island’s most popular locations, Lovers Cove.

2) You can see Nemo’s Cousin!

Ever since the Disney movie Finding Nemo, children and adults have alike have been fascinated by the striking orange Clownfish or ‘Nemo’.

At Daydream Island, snorkellers can see ‘Nemo’s cousin, the gorgeous Red-And-Black Anemonefish. They can also see five other Anemonefish from the same genus in this part of the Great Barrier Reef.

“Evidence of breeding Red-and-Black Anemonefish is an indicator of the health of the fringing reef habitat that surrounds Daydream Island,” said Mr Gaskell.

3) Great variety

Surf Parrotfish viewed whilst snorkelling at Lovers Cove

Daydream Island has a diverse and extensive marine ecosystem. Just a few metres off the shore of popular Lovers Cove, snorkellers can see a variety of colourful fish including the aforementioned Red-And-Black- Anemone Fish, the colourful Surf Parrot fish, the Blue Tuskfish, Fusiliers and Sergeant Majors.

4) The Fish Come to You!

If snorkelling is a bit too much effort, you can just sit in the shallows and wait for the fish to come to you! A staff member will simply throw fish pellets into the water and before you know it, the fish will be swimming around your feet. Easy!

5) Education

Want to learn more about the Great Barrier Reef?

Daydream Island is also home to one of the world’s largest man-made living coral reef lagoons, the Living Reef. It features more than 140 species of marine fish and 80 species of coral and guests have the opportunity to hand feed resident stingrays, sharks and barramundi.

There’s also the Living Reef Ranger program for those guests who want an extended hands-on Living Reef experience and become more educated about the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and the animals that live within it.

Bookings can be made at the Activities Desk.

For more information on visiting Daydream Island visit www.daydreamisland.com

Marine life dazzles in Daydream’s new night tours

SEE the marine world come alive at night with Daydream Island Resort and Spa’s exciting new Night Tours at its popular Living Reef lagoons.

Holidaymakers will be able to see the fascinating inhabitants of Daydream’s Living Reef – one of the world’s largest man-made living coral reef lagoons – from a completely different perspective.

Living Reef Manager John Gaskell said the Night Tours were a fantastic opportunity to see what marine creatures got up to at night.

“We’ve found that marine creatures, particularly the big rays, tend to be quite active at night time so it’s an excellent time to see them up close,” he said.

“They will be able to feed baby sharks, hold a baby bamboo shark and a sea star, feed and touch the huge stingrays and learn about Australian marine life from Daydream Island’s resident marine biologists. It’s an unforgettable experience.”

The Living Reef is home to more than 140 species of colourful marine fish, 82 species of coral and 15 species of other invertebrates such as starfish, sea cucumbers and crabs. It comprises two lagoons and holds more than 1.5 million litres of water.

New marine animals are continually being discovered in the Living Reef, with many of these on display in tanks in the Living Reef centre. Ever popular clownfish also call The Living Reef home and are a continual favourite with guests and one of the iconic images of Daydream Island and The Great Barrier Reef.

The Night Tours are available every Friday from 6.15pm at the Living Reef Centre. Prices are $25 per person or $70 for a family (two adults, two children).

Bookings are essential – please book at the activities desk before 4pm on Daydream Island Resort and Spa or call 1800 075 400.

For more information visit www.daydreamisland.com 

Coral spawning season begins on Daydream Island

Daydream Island’s resident biologists were witness to one of the world’s natural wonders last week – the annual coral spawning in the Great Barrier Reef.

The amazing phenomenon, which usually resembles an underwater snowstorm, occurs when hard coral polyps simultaneously release egg and sperm into the water column to increase the chance of fertilisation.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa’s Living Reef Manager John Gaskell said island biologists had seen the spectacular sight while diving in the waters off the island.

“The annual coral spawning is an event that has to be seen to be believed,” he said.

“The Great Barrier Reef coral spawning is often referred to as the biggest reproductive phenomenon on earth. We’re incredibly lucky to see such a rare event.”

He said the event always occurred a few days after the full moon in November or December, around two to three hours after dark when most of the day predators were less active.

Large spawning events on Western Australia's reefs usually occur in autumn, while large events on the Great Barrier Reef usually occur in late spring or early summer.

Mr Gaskell said researchers had predicted there would be another spawning event on the Great Barrier Reef approximately four days after the December full moon.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is located in Queensland’s tropical Whitsundays in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, only a 30-minute boat ride from Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) and a 30 minute ferry ride from Airlie Beach.

The award-winning resort features 296 rooms and suites, a great selection of restaurants and bars, lagoon swimming pools, a fringing coral reef to explore and a Rejuvenation Spa offering health and beauty treatments.

There are over 20 free guest activities, which include kayaks, catamarans, stand-up paddleboards, a stingray and shark feeding show and an open-air cinema.

For more information visit www.daydreamisland.com

ENDS Media enquiries to Brenton Gibbs