We saw giant clams, small forests of waving anemones and schools of angelfish. Vacationers devote many hours to exploring Blue Pearl Bay or taking a short trip to the Great Barrier Reef. The coral reef system is habitat to more than 6,600 species of marine life, including 1,500 types of fish and 400 species of coral. Underwater visibility often exceeds 100 meters. Tours by seaplanes or helicopters provide an exhilarating overview of the expansive reef.
Sightseers identify vast coral rivers and deep circular lagoons.
At Hayman Island Resort, the marina has a training tank for diving lessons and a dive shop stocked with equipment and clothing. The staff also organizes parasailing, water-skiing, fishing and sunset champagne cruises. Many vacationers enjoy island-hopping or daylong excursions to isolated stretches of sand such as those found on Whitehaven Beach. The resort is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and was voted the Best Resort - Pacific Rim by Conde Nast Traveler awards in 1999. The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. All Rights Reserved.