Charter Chatter

Swim with the whale sharks at Ningaloo, Tangalooma added water attractions, free scuba diving lesson in Airlie, new cruise vessel for Port Macquarie

- Ningaloo's first whale shark of 2011 was spotted off the coast of Exmouth in February, an early start of the annual whale shark season. Last year's record whale shark season was from mid March until mid July. Many tour operators recorded a 100 per cent success rate for swimming with the whale sharks on tours. Whale sharks are attracted to the Ningaloo Marine Park each year to feed on the rich nutrient waters created from the mass spawning of coral on the reef. Ningaloo Reef is one of the most reliable and easily accessible places in the world to swim with whale sharks, which are the largest fish in the sea, growing up to 14 metres in length. www.westernaustralia.com

- Tangalooma Island Resort has added a sunset cruise, stand-up paddle boarding and scuba diving to its range of activities. Guests board a 12-metre catamaran for the one-hour sunset cruise and return in time for the nightly feeding of wild dolphins at Tangalooma. Stand-up paddle boarding and scuba diving are available for beginners to advanced.

- Dive HQ/H20 Sportz is running free scuba diving lessons at the Airlie Beach Lagoon to offer people an opportunity to try scuba diving for the first time.

- Cruise Whitsundays has introduced a new half-day Whitehaven Beach Cruise offering a comfortable cruise on an air-conditioned catamaran specifically to see Whitehaven Beach.

- Port Venture is Port Macquarie's newest cruise vessel which can carry up to 150 passengers on the Hastings River and 100 passengers offshore for whale watching from May to November.

- All charter boats in Australia must have a current survey certificate issued by a state authority and they must be operated by qualified crew. Survey requirements demonstrate the vessel has passed safety and seaworthy checks and is suitable for cruises around harbours and waterways. Two vessels chartered in Sydney for New Year’s Eve were found to be not in survey. www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

- The Brisbane River is now open for limited use to commercial vessels. Mirimar Cruises, Kookaburra River Queens, River City Cruises and Brisbane Star Cruises have all reopened after being closed for a month following the floods. The cruise companies are using temporary pick up and drop off locations at North Quay, Brett's Wharf or Manly.

- HMB Endeavour is having an extensive refit in preparation for her around Australia Voyage visiting 16 ports. The voyage starts from Sydney 15 April 2011 and returns in May 2012. You can join the Endeavour as voyage crew, sleeping in hammocks and participating in the operation of the vessel or as a supernumerary, sleeping in an individual cabin and choosing your level of involvement with the sailing of the vessel. www.endeavourvoyages.com.au

- The new Sun Odyssey 409/Sunsail 41 wins the European Yacht of the Year, selected by a jury composed of representatives from leading European marine magazines. The new addition to the Sunsail fleet has a three-cabin, two-head layout, offering a contemporary interior which is light, open and spacious. Features include all the latest navigation equipment from Raymarine and an increased swim platform, unique to Sunsail. The monohull will be available in 2011 for charter from Sunsail bases in the British Virgin Islands, St Martin, Australia, Turkey, Croatia and Greece.

Photograph: The first whale shark of 2011 in the Ningaloo Marine Park

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Written byKathy McKenzie

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