Local dive sites
The following section shows four fabulous dive locations with 21 dive sites on the east coast of Australia. Click your favourite dive site to go directly to the individual section:
Moreton Island | North Stradbroke Island | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast
Moreton Island
FLINDERS REEF
Depth Range : 3 - 16m
Visibility averages 15m in summer and 30m in winter
Nearest true coral reef to Brisbane zones a marine park in 1998. Has more than 175 fish species. There are more species and varieties of corals in this one area than any other single reef on the Great Barrier Reef. The diverse amount of marine life include schools of Wrasse, Sweetlip, Trevally, Parrot, Bat, Surgeon, turtles and tropical fish. Manta Rays, Wobbegongs and Leopard Sharks are among the larger creatures that reside here. Sightings of Whaler sharks are sometimes seen on the eastern side of Flinders. During the months of June to September, Humpback Whales can be seen on the surface as they pass by.
CURTIN ARTIFICIAL REEF
Depth Range : 12 -30m
Visibility averages 10m
For the wreck enthusiasts, on this site inside Moreton Bay lies over 22 scuttled wrecks. Scattered around this site you will also come across concrete pipes and steel pontoons, tyres and car bodies. The artificial reef has come a long way since the sinking of its first vessel in 1968. Its popularity is due to the variety of diving it offers. For the wreck divers some of the wrecks offer full penetration and for divers who are not into wrecks, large schools of marine life including Queensland Groupers, Cod, Kingfish, Turrum, Red Emperor, Trevally, Tuskfish and the list goes on. This site is best dived on slack high, for those wanting more excitement and the chance to see almost all the wrecks it is good to drift dive.
SMITHS ROCK
Depth Range : 6 - 20m
Visibility averages 20 - 30m
Smiths Rock is often frequented by the large species of marine life. Often prone to currents is best dived at slack water. This site has great potential for exploration with caves and swim-throughs which are alive with crayfish. Smith Rock is notorious as a shipping hazard claiming ships as they attempt to navigate around Cape Moreton.
AAHRUS (Sank 1894)
Depth Range : 20 - 25m
Visibility averages 20 - 30m
Lying on a sandy bottom, the 640 tonne sailing baroque grounded hard on Smiths Rock three times before sinking in just 12 minutes. The Aahrus is mostly covered by sand with sections still remaining. Large schools of big eyes cover some sections of the remains and often frequented by schools of pelagics.
HUTCHISON SHOALS
Depth Range : 3 - 30m
Visibility averages 15 - 30m
Surrounded by deep and spectacular drop-offs, caves and ravines, its waters are alive with pelagic fish, whilst the reef has a good cover of tropical growth and smaller marine life. Weather conditions must be almost perfect to dive the shoals.
ST PAUL (Sank 1919)
Depth Range : 30 - 42m
Visibility averages 15 - 30m
A French freighter became the second victim of Smiths Rock. The remains of the boilers greet you as you first approach the remains of the St Paul. Amongst the twisted handrails and superstructure lies hidden treasures of time gone by.
MARIETTA DAL (Sank 1950)
Depth Range : 12 - 14m
Visibility averages 20m
The Marietta Dal was a British Freighter that ran aground on Smiths Rock. Her cargo of oils, chemicals, machinery and tractors sand along with the Marietta Dal. Scattered cargo is amongst small bommies and rocky outcrops. The hull rests in 13 metres of water flat on the ocean floor and still providing a great opportunity to explore.
BRENNAN & ROBERTS SHOALS
Depth Range : 12 - 25m
Visibility averages 20m
Roberts Shoal, just east of the Cape Moreton Lighthouse, and Brennan Shoal north of Roberts form the southern limits of a line of shoals. Both sites are very similar in terrain with pinnacles and big caves. Fish life at these sites is quite prolific with schools of big pelagics and the largest of wobbegong sharks. Currents are generally not a problem, but big swells can make it quite uncomfortable.
THE PINES
Depth Range : 10 - 18m
Visibility averages 10m
The Pines consists of a wall of coffee rock and scattered bommies. This site is best dived on a drift dive as its gives you the opportunity of covering a large section of this site. Only 100 metres off the beach inside Moreton Bay it travels north to south with encounters with turtles, rays, lionfish and large schools of fish.
TANGALOOMA WRECKS
Depth Range : 6 - 12m
Visibility averages 8m
Just north of Tangalooma Resort lying half under the surface, old Harbours and Marine Department Steam-driven Dredges and Barges. Beneath the surface walls of steel, large propellers make home to large schools of fish, wobbegong Sharks, Lionfish, Stonefish, Moray Eels and lots of tropical fish. This site offers small penetration for the wreck divers. It is best dived on slack high or on an outgoing tide for a drift dive.
HENDERSON ROCK & CHERUBS CAVE
Depth Range : 12 - 30m
Visibility averages 20m
This is one of Brisbane's best and least frequented dive sites. Henderson Rock and just North, Cherubs Cave is an extensive granite outcrop on the ocean side of Moreton Island. Few divers have the chance to dive because of the distance and is dived more frequently in winter due to westerly winds and calm seas. As you leave the surface you will notice extensive kelp beds full of lots of hidden treasures, sea horses, pipe fish and nudibranchs. The terrain is spectacular with deep ledges, overhangs and caves to explore. Long deep gutters to the east of the pinnacle offers promise of unexpected encounters. In the winter you can expect sightings of Grey Nurse Sharks. The marine life here is enough to get your heart racing with large schools of pelagic fish and batfish. Around many of the gutters and caves you will find Wobbegongs Sharks, Gummy Sharks and resident Queensland Groupers.
WRECK OF THE CEMENTCO (Sunk deliberately in 1985)
Depth Range : 16 - 30m
Visibility averages 15m summer 30 winter
Formerly named the Crusader, lies near the north-eastern tip of Flinders Reef. The wreck has become home to Queensland Groupers and schooling fish are also abundant. The wreck lies upside down with most areas easily accessible. For those with wreck and penetration experience many sections of the Cementco can be discovered with floors carpeted with crayfish.
North Stradbroke Island
SHAG ROCK
Depth Range : 8 - 16m
Visibility averages 10m
Very close to Stradbroke Island and known because of the Shag birds who reside on top of the rock. Very protected because of it's closeness to the island and easily dived. Sea urchins blanket the bouldered floor requiring good buoyancy skills. Its inhabitants included Wobbegong Sharks, turtles, octopus, tropical fish and a range of nudibranchs.
MANTA RAY BOMMIE
Depth Range : 5 - 16m
Visibility averages 10 - 15m
At the southern end of Stradbroke Island is a bommie named after its summer residents. Magnificent Manta Rays come around divers and perform their magic to captivate everyone. Also in summer are incredible numbers of Leopard Sharks and Shovel-nosed Rays in the sand gutter, so many that they lie on top of each other and completely cover the sandy bottom. Often seen are Spanish Dancers, mostly lazy during daytime dives. This site is best dived during the summer months.
BOAT ROCK
Depth Range : 10 - 30m
Visibility averages 15m summer 30m winter
Not far from Manta Ray Bommie and often prone to strong currents is Boat Rock. This dive is best done by experienced divers due to depth and currents. Quite a spectacular large fish dive with eagle rays swimming in formation, bull rays and enormous Queensland Groupers and Cod.
FLAT ROCK
Depth Range : 8 - 30m
Visibility averages 15 - 20m
Off Stradbroke Island is a number of dive sites, the most popular being Flat Rock. There are a number of sites around Flat Rock, the name being obvious when seen. The shallower part is named "The Nursery" because of the large quantities of small tropical fish. In the summer months there are large numbers of Leopard Sharks and Shovel-nosed rays. Around the whole site turtles, bullrays and eagle rays are regularly seen. The deeper gutters are called the shark gutters because of the winter congregation of Grey Nurse Sharks. This whole site offers a diversity of marine life and depth ranges to suit most divers.
Gold Coast
COOK ISLAND
Depth Range : 8 - 20m
Visibility averages 10m - 25m
Only ten minutes boat ride from the Tweed River, Cook Island offers divers a variety of sites. The ledges, gutters, bommies of Cook Island are home to resident turtles, wobbegongs, octopus, Moray eels, Yellowtail Kingfish, Sweetlip and a variety of tropical fish. During the summer months Cook Island is renowned for its large numbers of Leopard Sharks.
FIDOS REEF
Depth Range : 8 - 20m
Visibility averages 15m - 25m
Not far from Cook Island this site has ledges and gutters ranging in depth. Sometimes prone to current, which can make a pleasant drift dive. Often seen are large schools of Eagle Rays and large numbers of Leopard Sharks in the summer months. Wobbegong Sharks are hidden in crevices all around the site. Some sections of a wreck can be found with the large boiler still in tact.
NINE MILE REEF
Depth Range : 12 - 25m
Visibility averages 20m+
Nine Mile Reef got its name because it is a nine mile round trip from the Tweed River Bar. It is prone to strong currents and so drift dives are common. This site is mostly dived in the winter months because of better weather conditions as it is very exposed. Whales are also known to be sighted regularly at this site during winter months and can be heard serenading divers under the water.
MARY'S ROCK
Depth Range : 8 - 20m
Visibility averages 12m - 20m
To the north-east of Cook Island, Mary's Rock is an impressive dive with big pinnacles, narrow canyons, caves and swim-throughs. The large sponges which grow on the rocky ledges are very impressive. A good array of marine life frequent the area including Wobbegong sharks, Eagle rays, Blue Grouper, Crayfish and during the months of December to March large numbers of Leopard Sharks dominate the area.
KINGSCLIFFE REEF
Depth Range : 15 - 25m
Visibility averages 12m-20m
What makes this site different is the underwater terrain. Impressive arrange of domed pinnacles, large rocky outcrops, canyons, caves and swim-throughs. This site is great for the explorer diver as every nook and cranny finds homes for a great variety of marine life. These include Wobbegong sharks, Turtles, Blue Grouper, Coral Trout, Moray Eels, Crayfish, the occasional Cod. Large schools of Butter Bream and Nannygai cover cave entrances. During summer Leopard sharks and large schools of Jewfish and Golden Spangled Sweetlip are seen.
THE ALBERTA
Depth Range : 6 - 15m
Visibility averages 12 - 15m
This is a wreck dive which is shallow enough to really enjoy. Swim through the Boiler two different ways & through the open sections of the skeleton of the wreck. There are always lots of Wobbegong Sharks lying amongst sections of the wreck, Turtles, Butter Bream and a range of tropical fish. Schools of Eagle Rays are often seen swimming past. The wreck is surrounded by reef to also explore.
Sunshine Coast
WOLF ROCK
Depth Range : 12 - 40m
Visibility averages 15m summer 30m winter
North of Double Island Point Wolf Rock is an impressive dive. This is a serious diver's dive and is not suitable for novice divers because of the depth and being prone to current. A massive granite pinnacle rising from the sea floor to only a small tip appearing at the surface. This is a big fish dive boasting Grey Nurse Sharks in winter in larger numbers. Regularly seen are Whaler sharks, Bull rays, Manta rays, Eagle Rays, Barracuda, Giant Trevally, Queensland Grouper and Cod. This site takes a bit of traveling to get to, either by longer boat ride or trip by four-wheel drive along the beach, but well worth the effort. It is not dived very often because it requires almost perfect weather conditions being very exposed as it is.
