Airlie Beach has been a travellers haven for many years and it is easy to see why. Airlie has a lot to offer the adventurous, including bush walks, mountain biking and skydiving, Airlie Beacj is, however, famous for one reason, the Whitsunday Islands. An interesting mix of backpackers and yacht club types everyone has one thing in common - sailing around the Whitsundays.

I chose to sail and dive, Airlie Beach is only a two hour cruise from the Great Barrier Reef and so it seemed to make sense to combine the two.As well as attracting a range of people Airlie also offers a range of vessels. Charters from 30ft Motor Sailing Vesels to huge powered catarmarans are on offer and so it is advisable to look around and see what will fit your style and budget. Most companies offer a three day, two night service although two day and day trips are available. Also be aware that those looking for a pure sailing experience might want to avoid the dive boats as they often switch to motors to ensure the dive schedule fits in.

Day one of my trip saw us take a diesel-powered journey from Airlie around to Whitehaven Beach. Voted the worlds best beach it is made up of sand of the highest quality - around 98% silicon. It is so pure that even in the middle of the day the sand remains cool. The Japanese government aware of the purity of the sand offered the Australian Government crazy amounts of money to buy the sand to make microchips.The Government declined, but I reckon they sold it and put sand from another beach on!

From Whitehaven we sailed to Hook Island where we moored at Luncheon Bay for the night. Up bright and early the next morning we were straight in for our first dive. Although not actually on the reef we were still treated to an array of Parrot fish, Damsels, Fusiliers, as well as two Stingrays.

After breakfast the long trip to the Reef proper got under way, and due to favourable conditions under sail power - an awesome experience.

Once moored at Bait Reef we were in for the second dive. Again we saw an array of Clown Fish, more Rays, Trevallys and Barracuda. The Reef itself is a bit disappointing in it's lack of colour. This is perhaps more the Tourist Boards fault than the Reef's but even still some of the Hard Coral, huge brain like structures about 5m in width couldn't fail to impress.

Sleeping on the Reef was a great experience, with a clear sky the stars seemed twice as bright as I have ever seen before. Up again for sunrise we made Herculean efforts to get in the water before 6am. Fortune favours the brave and this was no exception, as we were fortunate enough to see four White Tipped Reef Sharks (Reefos to the locals), a huge Coral Trout, a Hawksbill Turtle and a huge Wrasse.

After another amazing breakfast, it is dumbfounding what Carly and Loren could create in the confines of the Galley on a rocky sea, we moved off the Reef and headed for Hayman Island and our final dive site. Having seen the Reefos in the morning I wasn't confident of beating that experience, however Brent the Dive Master didn't fail us.

Diving in Blue Pearl Bay we were introduced to Elvis the Maori Wrasse and his Fusilier friends for a feeding frenzy beneath the seas. Back up to the surface and another huge meal and then it was time to get back to land.

The trip lasted only three days and in some ways the time flew by, yet in others the company and the excellent crew meant that it felt like that we had known each other for years.