The staff of the Derwent Hunter visited the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre this week, and learnt about all the amazing work Libby and her team do at the turtle hospital.
At the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre they provide sick and injured turtles with the help they need to recover and be released back into the wild. Every turtle gets checked by a local vet for assessment and they are treated and recover in 1 of 4 quarantine tanks at the centre.
The turtles can suffer from a range of things including boat injuries malnutrition and diseases such as herpesvirus which causes fibropapillomatosis a condition causing tumours around the eyes, flippers, tail, shell or internal organs. They can also suffer from a condition called ‘floating syndrome’ which occurs when gas gets trapped in their bodies and they float at the surface unable to dive for food.
Queensland is home to 6 out of 7 species of marine turtle with the Hawksbill and the Green Turtle being the most common in the Whitsundays. 5 of these turtle species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.
How are we helping?
With turtle experiences being such a big part of our daily reef adventures, our staff dreamed up a fabulous idea. Customers buy drink tickets to use over the bar on Derwent Hunter. At the end of the trip, we refund any unused drink tickets. Often customers ask us if we do a collection for any local causes, as they would like to donate their unused tickets. So, after visiting the Turtle Rescue Centre, our customers will now be able to donate their extra tickets to the turtle hospital, to ensure they can continue to provide this amazing rescue and rehabilitation service for our beautiful native wildlife.
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Some recent favourite photos
Derwent Hunter is available for private charters
Rent the Derwent Hunter for a whole day for yourselves and go wherever you please! We have a great rate for private charters and will work with you to create a suitable itinerary.
Of course we’d love to take you to our favourite places, Bali Hai and Langford Island, and show you the amazing healthy coral reef systems and abundance of fish and turtles that call that area home.
This week we hosted local caterer Gabi from ‘Peach and Pear Catering‘ for a special birthday celebration. She was so happy with the day, she wrote us the following…
‘Hi Jo.
Just wanted to thank you for an unbelievable time and hope that we were all semi-well behaved.
The crew were absolutely fantastic and so so helpful. I’m afraid my piggie friends had doubles before the crew even ate, even though I urged them to jump in.
Let me know when these 4 may be working together again and I will throw a platter of goodies together for just them.
Many thanks again. Everyone had a ball.
-Gabi’
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Winter Sun Special
Experience the amazing Derwent Hunter reef adventure in our glorious winter sun. It’s a beautiful time to sail and snorkel. The water’s still so warm, the sun is shining, and it’s simply gorgeous!
Just $175 for adults and $155 for concessions. Kids still only $99.
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“There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents, and only one for birthday presents, you know.”
-Lewis Carroll
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