Unparalleled Expertise
We pride ourselves on ensuring you have the most fulfilling experience aboard the Sydney Sundancer meaning we've gone the extra mile to bring you unparalleled expertise.
Qualified Master Reef Guide at your service
Lynne Boyce is a Master Reef Guide who is in the water with guests leading every snorkelling expedition. She ensures that the very best of the underwater world at every location is discovered in a virtually private Master Class situation.
Master Reef Guides are expert guides to the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. They interpret the nature of the Marine Park in an educational, entertaining and engaging manner that is a delight to visitors, far exceeding their expectation.
Using the latest knowledge delivered through world class guiding and interpretation, Master Reef Guides provide an exceptionally memorable experience for Great Barrier Reef visitors.
Ecological, geological, cultural and historical values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Areas are fostered by Master Reef Guides so that visitors gain a full understanding and appreciation of their uniqueness.
There are around 2 million visitors to the Great Barrier Reef each year and in 2022 there were only 82 Master Reef Guides which equates to around 24,500 visitors for each guide. This is your opportunity to have your own private Master Reef Guide who will ensure you discover the best of the Great Barrier Reef.
There are 74 Islands collectively known as The Whitsundays. Most are National Parks that are generally pristine being unaffected by man or machinery, a truly unique area. Being originally part of mainland Australia they are inhabited by the natural flora and fauna found on our Island continent. The Islands became separated from the mainland as the sea level rose at the end of the last ice age. As the sea level rose, the original inhabitants, the seafaring Aboriginal Ngaro people (often called the “Canoe “ People) developed skills that enabled them to cross the water in their highly advanced, sturdy three piece bark canoes (which were often made of iron bark) and capable of traversing the open sea. These allowed them to hunt large marine animals such as turtles, dugongs and even small whales using barbed harpoons. They are examples of inhabitation predating European discovery. Archeological evidence proves that they inhabited and navigated the regions marine environments continuously for at least 9,000 years. Unlike many other coastal Aboriginal groups, the Ngaro were specialized full-time marine people.Their lives, food sources and travel routes were completely intertwined with the ocean and tidal mangrove systems. They left behind an extensive footprint across the Whitsundays, representing some of the oldest archeologist sites on the Great Barrier Reef and Eastern Australia. One that is very popular to visit, is on the Southern end of Hook Island at Nara Inlet, where the Aboriginal Rock art and shell middens (estimated to be up to 500 years old) reveal how the Ngaro lived and ate. We visit that fascinating and very beautiful historical place on just about every charter. Guests can sit under a beautiful Zamia Palm whilst listening torecordiings of voices from Aboriginal people about the history of that area. There is a huge cave with rock paintings which we have nicknamed “the Nara Hilton” due to its size and comfort from the elements!
In conducting our expeditions we personally introduce our guests to places of rare natural beauty on the islands, in the intertidal zone and under the water. We identify the inhabitants encountered and describe the interaction in their environment. Under the water is the worlds largest symbiotic relationship where the whole environment lives and interacts together. It is a privilege to share our knowledge with our guests.
Ecotourism Certified
At Luxury Yachting, not only do we harness the wind for propulsion, just like nature intended, but we believe that as an operator, we play a vital role in the protection of the Great Barrier Reef and in the education of tourists visiting the area. Therefore, our operation is continually striving to be as sustainable as possible and looking for ways to pass on our philosophy and knowledge to our guests. We aim to provide guests with a higher interest in learning about these key ecosystems in this UNESCO's World Heritage Marine Park and also to provide basic education on the reef and marine life in a way that is exciting and easy to embrace and understand. Through effective interpretation we aim to improve a visitor's experience and assist in minimising human impact.
High Standard Tourism Operator
We are also a High Standard Tourism Operator appointed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority who operates sustainably and delivers high quality reef experiences. We help to protect and present the Marine Park to a consistently high standard and are recognised by GBRMPA for that commitment and dedication to showcasing and preserving the reef. We are independently certified by environmental certification schemes, such as Ecotourism Australia and Earth Check as part of the High Standard Tourism Operator programme requirements.