Meet the site
Broadhurst Reef, together with its smaller neighbour Little Broadhurst, lies in the band of reefs east of Townsville that were a staple of liveaboard trips in the heyday of Townsville diving. The Marine Life Network describes it as a reef of pinnacles, cracks and crevices, 'teeming with fish life and covered with hard and soft corals', with sea whips and gorgonians adding colour. Pinnacle diving shapes the experience here. Rather than a continuous wall, the reef throws up individual towers of coral from deeper water, each ringed by cracks and crevices that shelter fish and invertebrates. Divers typically descend beside one pinnacle, spiral up around it and, in light current, hop to a neighbour. Pinnacles focus current, so fish gather on the up-current sides: fusiliers, snappers and trevally, with coral trout and cod lurking in the cracks. Soft corals and gorgonians grow best on those current-swept faces. Visibility on these outer mid-shelf reefs is typically better than inshore, commonly 15–25 m, and the reef is little affected by coastal flood plumes. The trade-off is distance and exposure: the reef is beyond day-trip range and requires calm conditions. No operator currently lists Broadhurst as a scheduled destination, and published information is limited to general descriptions. Its inclusion reflects its presence in regional site guides. Divers on private or liveaboard charters out of Townsville may find it a rewarding stop, particularly paired with a night dive at Barra Bommie on Little Broadhurst.
What you might see
Hard and soft corals, sea whips, gorgonians, fusiliers, snappers, trevally, coral trout, cod, reef fish
Location
Mid-to-outer shelf reef east of Townsville with pinnacles, cracks and crevices covered in hard and soft corals.
Facilities nearby
Charter departures from Breakwater Marina, Townsville.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.