It was a great experience doing my first ever scuba dive. The dive instructors were really helpful explaining everything. The boat was lovely and spacious and all the crew really friendly. Yolly’s cooking was amazing!! Thank you for a wonderful time and giving me the diving bug!

Trip Highlight: Scuba diving

Awesome time! The crew did a lot to add humor to the adventure! I would definitely recommend this trip. The crew made me feel comfortable and safe while I tried scuba diving for the first time.

Trip Highlight: Lookout Point, Whitehaven Beach

Everything I could have wanted from a trip and more!!! It was amazing….unforgettable. Thanks to all the crew for making it the best trip.

Trip Highlight: Whitehaven Beach

I am so impressed with everything on this trip. The crew have been so friendly and helpful, the food have been amazing (so much better than I was expecting). The boat itself is really nice very clean and spacious. Thank you Richie, Jake, Stu and Tiff, I had a great time.

Trip Highlight: The whole trip

A very good experience, I would do it all again and will recommend you, Thank you.

Trip Highlight: Boat trip, explanantions about the marine life.

The trip was amazing, It couldn’t have been more laid back, exciting and beautiful. I study marine biology and to see the Great Barrier Reef in real life was amazing, I did my first scuba dive!!! The plan of each day was simple and precise, overall an AMAZING and unforgettable.

Trip Highlight: Seeing 2 turtles

Awesome!! Crew were super friendly and helpful, food was great, amazing snorkeling and diving.

Trip Highlight: Learning to dive

It had been a long, long, looong 24hrs. Caught up in the beginning of the Queensland floods, my plans to catch the Greyhound from Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach were dashed as the driver stepped off the bus only to announced 'we're not going any further tonight folks'. Damn.

A few hours and 3 McDonald’s coffee’s later, and we (myself and my fellow QLD flood refugees, mainly European backpackers out in Australia in search of our famous sunshine) found ourselves on the coach back to Brisbane. A quick stop at the internet cafe in the Roma Street bus station, and we were on our way to the airport for a flight to Mackay. From there, another bus, and finally the lights of Airlie Beach were up ahead.

Legendary for its backpacker/beach holiday style nightlife, Airlie Beach was still pumping as I heaved my backpack on, and headed up the main drag in search of the Nomads hostel. Met by a cheerful after hours security guard, we were given the grand tour, before splitting off into our dorm rooms. And by rooms I mean individual island style bungalows which had been recently renovated with a sparkling new bathroom....bliss by any backpacker standards! Despite being right next door to Beaches Bar, the rooms were relatively quiet, and I was out like a light the minute my head touched the pillow.

Waking up rested the next day, I headed down to the Whitsunday Sailing Adventures office to check in. Whitsunday Sailing Adventures have a range of different boats and daily departures on offer to suit your dream Whitsunday trip, from Eco Tallship Sailing with bush walking and snorkelling safari's, to hard core diving trips out to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. While they do recommend you check in the day before, as some boats have early morning departures, the lovely ladies in the office, who had taken my frantic phone call the previous day, were more than understanding about my tardiness. They were even in the middle of arranging pick up and transfers for other passengers on our trip who had been re-directed via Hamilton Island to avoid the flood water.

Space is limited on the boats sailing the Whitsunday's, but you can leave your main bag at the office for just $5. If you’re planning on diving, there is a medical questionnaire to fill out and you may need a medical certificate, available down the road from aptly named 'The Doctors' medical centre (another reason to be in Airlie Beach the day before).

Paper work out of the way, and I had a few hours to dry out by the beautiful Airlie Beach lagoon before making my way along the foreshore to the Able Point Marina (about a 10-15minute walk, signposted from the lagoon) to meet the crew of Wings 3.

Wings 3 is a superbly fitted out two year old catamaran (which means she is still shinny and new!) complete with hot tub on deck, air-conditioning in the saloon and sleeping quarters and a slushy machine....yes you heard me, a slushy machine, what more could you want on a boat? “We just need a novelty horn” says skipper Stu.

Wings 3 (who also sails as Emperors Wings when she heads out to the Outer Reef) can take up to 26 passengers. You have the option of single or double bed (or berth if I'm to get down with the lingo) in one of the shared cabins, with all your linen and towels included.

Meals were prepared by our 'hostie', Tiff a little English pocket rocket who is also responsible for the awesome photos we took on Whitehaven Beach (what's not to love about being gobbled up by a jar of Nutella on a pristine white beach). And there was no way you were going to starve on this boat! If you couldn't fit enough in at breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks were around for morning and afternoon tea. I had the hilarious task of explaining the makeup of the lamingtons on offer one morning to a few of the German passengers on board, and there is nothing quite like snacking on nachos while sitting in the hot tub watching the sun go down.

While soft drinks and water are available to purchase on board, you are also allowed to BYO booze on Wings 3, so stock up before you jump onboard. Just steer clear of anything in glass and keep in mind that the boat will start moving at around 6am the next morning, hangovers and seasickness really don’t mix!

Your days are filled with exploring above and below the surface of the Whitsunday Islands. Diving Instructors Rich and Dan were on hand to show qualified divers around the top spots on the reef, or to take introductory divers down to give them a taste for the underwater world. Both are also well practised with the camera equipment, and can help you take away that most prized souvenir....an underwater facebook profile picture. All your snorkelling equipment, fins and stinger suits are supplied, with dives starting at $70.

The crew are fabulous, professional and go out of their way to make your experience one to remember. And remember it I will, its going to be hard to forget welcoming in 2011 on a sailing boat...in the Whitsunday's....watching the fireworks of Hayman Island! Thanks again guys!