AUSTRALIAN DESTINATIONS
Diving in Queensland
Explore 594 listed dive sites and find the local knowledge to help plan your visit.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Choose your reef gateway before your accommodation
Queensland research starts with the departure region. Cairns and Port Douglas, the southern reef islands, Townsville and the south-east coast appear in different parts of this directory. Treat them as separate trip choices: being in Queensland does not put every reef or wreck within reach of the same boat. Work from a proposed operator itinerary back to your accommodation and transfers.
Choose the setting, then the trip Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 594 published site records across Queensland. The recorded categories include reef (290), pinnacle/bommie (73), wall (70), wreck (52). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Start with one of the regional pages below. State-wide totals are useful for browsing, but the actual choice should be made at the level of an operator, a site and a proposed itinerary.
Research operators in Queensland →Ask before booking
- Which port and vessel will run our trip?
- Is the named reef a likely itinerary or a confirmed destination?
- What changes if our island transfer or boat departure moves?
Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Northern reef gateways
Compare Cairns and Port Douglas by the actual departure, return time and proposed trip. Ask which sites are possibilities rather than fixed promises.
Islands and southern reef
For island-based trips, confirm how arrival transfers connect with the diving schedule and what equipment must be reserved.
South-east Queensland
Use the Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and island region pages to distinguish boat departures, shore access and wreck-related records.
Questions, answered
How do I choose a dive in Queensland?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 594 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.
When should I visit Queensland for diving?
Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.
Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?
No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.
Regional planning context: Tourism and Events Queensland — accessing the Great Barrier Reef ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Find your region
Dive sites to explore
ReefCairns
Sudbury Reef
A quiet mid-shelf reef and sand cay for private charters, away from the day-trip crowds.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Sunshine Reef
Deeper boulder-and-coral reef off Sunshine Beach in 20-35 m with coral trout, crayfish and grey nurse sharks.
Details need confirmationReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Table Tops
A seldom-described northern Ribbon Reef mooring on Mike Ball's itinerary map.
Details need confirmationReefSwain Reefs
Taiwan Reef (Swain Reefs)
A sheltered lagoon of colourful coral and fish schools, recovering well from COTS damage.
Details need confirmationReefCairns
Tennis Court (Flynn Reef)
A bright sand arena ringed by coral – easy navigation, rays and turtles.
Details need confirmationWreckBundaberg & Agnes Water
The Barge (Cochrane Artificial Reef)
The shallowest wreck on Cochrane Artificial Reef, at about 15 m, covered in sponges and coral – ideal for new divers.
Details need confirmationPinnacle/BommieWhitsundays & Bowen
The Cluster (Bait Reef)
Four bommies in a cross where turtles sleep – an easy-to-navigate night dive on Bait Reef.
Details need confirmationReefWhitsundays & Bowen
The Gardens (Whitsunday Island)
Shallow plate-coral gardens protected in all winds – the Whitsundays' all-weather fallback.
Details need confirmationReefGold Coast
The Gutters (Palm Beach)
The shallowest listed Palm Beach Reef section, in 5-12 m, cut by sand gutters between rocky ridges.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
The Hole
One of the lesser-documented named reef sites in the Mooloolaba operators' rotation – a chance to dive typical Gneering Shoals…
Details need confirmationReefLady Elliot Island
The Lagoon (Lady Elliot Island)
A shallow, tide-dependent snorkelling lagoon with friendly turtles near Channel One.
Details need confirmationSinkhole/CenoteSwain Reefs
The New Blue Hole (Pompey Complex)
A 100 m-wide blue hole with sheer walls reported to plunge to 90 m – an expedition-only dive.
Details need confirmationReefCairns
The Nursery (Norman Reef)
A lightly documented Norman Reef mooring; details should be confirmed with operators.
Details need confirmationReefGold Coast
The Nursery (Palm Beach)
A shallow Palm Beach Reef site in 7-14 m favoured for newer divers and juvenile fish.
Details need confirmationPinnacle/BommieRainbow Beach
The Pinnacles (Double Island Point)
A named rocky reef in the 2024 Wolf Rock Marine National Park expansion – protected grey nurse shark habitat, not yet documented…
Details need confirmationPinnacle/BommieFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
The Pinnacles (Great Detached Reef)
Twin pinnacles from 60 m to 4 m and 14 m – silvertips, barracuda and a chance of whale sharks.
Details need confirmationPinnacle/BommieCairns
The Pinnacles (Moore Reef)
Coral pinnacles and drop-offs on the edge of Moore Reef's horseshoe, with Maori wrasse, schooling jacks and reef sharks.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
The Plateau
One of the lesser-documented named reef sites in the Mooloolaba operators' rotation – a chance to dive typical Gneering Shoals…
Details need confirmationReefPort Douglas
The Rocks (Agincourt Reef)
Easy boulder-coral reef edge with reef sharks resting on the sand.
Details need confirmationReefPort Douglas
The Wedge (Opal Reef)
Channel-edge site rated one of Opal's best for coral and fish life.
Details need confirmationReefGold Coast
The Zoo
A mid-depth Palm Beach Reef site in 13-16 m, named for the sheer variety of animals typically seen.
Details need confirmationDriftFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Three Mile Opening (TMO)
Shelf-edge upwellings with schooling pelagics, sharks and mantas around a maze of bommies.
Details need confirmationReefPort Douglas
Tongue Reef
Maze-like reef complex whose seaward Sister reefs host Wavelength's exclusive snorkel moorings.
Details need confirmationDriftFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Torres Strait Outer Reef Channels
Fast tidal channels and fringing reefs of the southern Torres Strait islands – experienced, locally guided diving only.
Details need confirmation