Viper Whitsundays

20/03/2025

🌧🌊 DID YOU KNOW...

Rainfall, clouds and thunderstorms in summer are actually beneficial to the Great Barrier Reef?

While we may grumble about the "bad" weather, in our hot summer months, this activity cools down the sea surface temperature which actually helps to prevent coral bleaching.

Coral bleaching isn't as big a factor here in the Whitsundays as it is further north, but it's still something we need to monitor and mitigate.

So next time the clouds roll in and the rain starts to fall, spare a thought for our coral reefs, who will relish in the cooler conditions!

Learn more about coral bleaching from Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority here: https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/learn/reef-health/reef-health-updates

18/03/2025

🦜🐠 This pretty parrotfish is a common sight along the Great Barrier Reef. And boy are they quirky creatures!!

Scientific name: Chlorurus sordidus
Commonly known as the daisy parrotfish or bullethead parrotfish.

Why are they called parrotfish? Their hard beaks look like that of a parrot, and their bright colours.

They reach around 40cm in length, and some females are gender fluid, turning into males when they reach a large enough size! It’s a process known as “protogynous hermaphroditism”.

When you are snorkelling on the reef, listen out for crunching sounds, that will be parrotfish munching away at the corals (don't be alarmed, this is their job), and then excreting the sandy remnants! 💩 It's estimated that one parrotfish could produce up to 90kg of sand a year!!

For more on these fascinating and beautiful fish, see here: https://www.barrierreef.org/news/news/five-fascinating-facts-about-parrotfish

18/03/2025

Excellent value for the month of March, with a FREE sunset cruise thrown in for every Viper tour booked for travel until 31/3!!

All you have to do is book your Viper tour, and respond to the confirmation email you get telling us which date you want your free sunset on. Simples!

The forecast improves in a couple of days, and we are running Viper from Thursday onwards, so come join us!!

To book, go to:
www.iconicwhitsunday.com.au/viper

10/03/2025

Foxface Rabbitfish (Siganus vulpinus)

They grow to 20-25cm long, and are omnivores: they eat both algae and plankton.

They are often found in pairs around healthy branching Acropora corals.

This striking little fish can camouflage itself if ti feels threatened, its bright yellow colour turns to a mottled brown. A handy skill!

Beware though: they have venomous spines and despite their small size, they can pack white a punch! One of the many reasons we ask you not to touch the fish while snorkelling.

10/03/2025

Sunday 9 March

10/03/2025

Tuesday 18 February

Fabulous day and lots of cool marine life in our pics today!

10/03/2025

Friday 7 March

More beautiful weather = more happy snorkellers on the

09/03/2025

Saturday 8th March

Highly unusual north-westerly winds, thanks to TC Alfred down south, had us seeking out different snorkel spots today, check it out!

05/03/2025

Wednesday 5 March 2025

Perfect morning snorkelling at Bait Reef!! The conditions are SO good right now!

Updated with new photos added! Such a beautiful day

04/03/2025

☀️ The weather conditions are SO GOOD up here right now! This graph shows half a metre swell with under 10 knot winds all week! How lucky are we.

In addition the tides are really gentle, very low difference between high and low, which means gentle seas, not much water movement, so the water should be crystal clear below the surface making for superb visibility.

NOW is the time to go for a snorkel in the Whitsundays peeps! the is going to be EPIC this week 🌟

14/02/2025

Snorkelling on the outer Great Barrier Reef at the Stepping Stones - one of our favourite spots to visit on Viper. It's beautiful under the water and epic from the sky too!

10/02/2025

Come see the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef with us in February and get a FREE sunset cruise on Sundowner Cruises as an added bonus!

Woohoo!

🐍☀ FEBRUARY SPECIAL! ☀🐍

Book a day trip on the iconic Viper Whitsundays and get a bonus sunset cruise on Sundowner Cruises FREE!

Just book your Viper tour, then when you get the confirmation email us back with your preferred day for the sunset cruise!

www.iconicwhitsunday.com.au

Some basic T&Cs apply of course: must be taken by the same person, Sundowner must have a confirmed tour with minimum numbers, free sunset cruise can't be taken on a Saturday.

10/02/2025

Tuesday 4th February

We had a great snorkel at the outer Great Barrier Reef with blue skies for a change before the rain came over again.

Lucky our guests didn’t get wet while snorkelling!! 🤣🤪

29/01/2025

What a cool sight for our guests on the weekend!! We found this giant Baler Snail. Possibly a Melo Amphora but a bit hard to tell. There are 3 species of Baler / Melo found on the Great Barrier Reef.

We followed this big one around the sandy sea floor for ages.

Did you know they are carnivores? Yes, they will even eat other snails!

And they are edible for us too! You can cook and eat them like any other mollusc.

The name “bailer / baler” was given when fishermen would use the empty shells as buckets to bail out water from their canoes

29/01/2025

Sunday 26 January
Happy Australia Day!

28/01/2025

25/01/2025

Saturday 25 January

Fabulous snorkel at the reef today!! How good is it!

21/01/2025

Sunday 19th January

More fab outer reef snorkelling for our wonderful guests!