Blue Pearl Bay, on the western side of Hayman Island, has long been one of the Whitsundays' most-used dive and snorkel sites: sheltered from the south-east trades, a short run from Airlie Beach and Hayman's resort, and with a fringing reef that slopes from the beach to about 18 m. Texas T Charters describes it as ideal for beginners and Open Water divers, with expansive coral and fish life at 3–18 m, and Whitsunday Dive Adventures lists it among its dive sites. The bay's reef has hard and soft corals on the slope, coral heads on the sand and a rich population of reef fish, with Maori wrasse, turtles, parrotfish, fusiliers and damselfish regularly encountered.

Fish are used to snorkellers and approach closely. Blue Pearl Bay was one of the worst-hit sites when Cyclone Debbie crossed in March 2017: the ABC reported that it 'sustained extensive damage', and a QUT thesis later studied the cyclone's impact on the bay. Recovery has been a focus of reef restoration efforts, and the bay is part of the Ngaro Underwater Marine Sculpture Trail, which placed Adriaan Vanderlugt's 2.7 by 3.85 m aluminium Maori Wrasse here at 7–10 m, honouring the humphead wrasse.

The bay is in a Marine National Park green zone with public moorings. It suits snorkellers, Discover Scuba divers and Open Water divers, and its shelter means it is diveable on most days in the trade-wind season. Divers returning after years away will find a reef still rebuilding, but with good fish life and an art installation to add interest.

Boat only. Hayman Island's north-west coast is about 20–24 nautical miles from Airlie Beach – roughly 45–70 minutes by fast day boat from Coral Sea Marina or Port of Airlie, or about 1 hour from Hamilton Island marina. Day tours that stop here include Ocean Rafting, Red Cat Adventures (Thundercat), Whitsunday Dive Adventures and Explore Group (from Airlie and Hamilton Island); overnight sailing and bareboat charters also visit.

Private and bareboat skippers must use the public moorings (time-limited, first come first served) and observe no-anchoring areas marked by reef protection markers; bareboat operators restrict where hirers may go. Parking at Airlie is available near Coral Sea Marina and the Port of Airlie.

The northern Hook Island bays face north and are sheltered from the dominant south-east trades (15–25 knots April–September), but they are open to northerly winds and swell (common October–March) and to very strong south-easterlies that wrap around the headlands. Tidal currents through the islands are strong on spring tides (tidal range up to about 4 m) and can make points and bay entrances difficult – plan dives at slack water and neap tides where possible. Visibility is usually 5–15 m, dropping after strong winds, big tides and wet-season rain.

Manta rays visit May–September. Marine stinger season (box jellyfish and Irukandji) runs roughly November to May – wear a full-length stinger suit or wetsuit with hood and gloves, carry vinegar. Cyclone season November–April; tropical lows and cyclones can close sites and damage coral (TC Yasi 2011, TC Debbie 2017).

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie (March 2017) badly damaged the fringing reefs of northern Hook and Hayman islands; recovery is ongoing.

Descend from the mooring to the reef slope, follow it at 8–15 m past coral heads and the Maori Wrasse sculpture (7–10 m), then return in the shallows for snorkelling-depth coral and a safety stop.

Whitsunday Dive Adventures (named site on certified and Discover Scuba day trips); Explore Group; Ocean Rafting and sailing charters for snorkelling; InterContinental Hayman Island Resort guest activities.