Meet the site
Hannah Rock is the deeper of the two reefs off Great Keppel Island's southern coast, reaching about 30 m. It is a dive for experienced divers that trades the colourful shallow coral of the western bays for a deeper, darker world of sea whips and black coral trees. The lower reef is dominated by whips and black coral trees, some of them large, which grow in the moderate current. Among their branches live small gobies, shrimps and whip crabs, and larger fish congregate around the structure. The site is noted for large pelagic fish, such as trevally and mackerel, which cruise past the edge of the reef, and for the chance of rays and reef sharks. Because of its depth and exposure, Hannah Rock is rarely dived, which gives it a pristine feel but also means current information is limited: rely on the skipper's local knowledge and choose a calm day. Visibility is typically moderate for the inner bay, and light levels at 20-30 m can be low, so a torch is useful for bringing out the colour of the whips and corals. Hannah Rock suits Advanced divers who are comfortable with depth and moderate current. Divers who want the same type of habitat with less depth can dive nearby Bald Rock, which is shallower and more often visited. Pair the two on a calm day for an interesting contrast between the shallow plate-coral reef and the deep whip garden.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Hannah Rock (Keppels) is recorded as Reef in Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Hannah Rock (Keppels) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Hannah Rock (Keppels) through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Sea whips, black coral trees, gobies, whip shrimps, large pelagic fish (trevally, mackerel), rays, reef sharks, reef fish
Location
A deeper rocky reef off Great Keppel Island's south coast reaching about 30 m, dominated by sea whips and black coral trees and visited by large pelagic fish.
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 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.