Meet the site
Jons Cave is the newest site on Brisbane Scuba's list of Moreton Island dives, described as a recently discovered cave system off the eastern coast of the island. It has multiple entry and exit points, with nice wide openings at at least two of them, but some passages are tight and require careful buoyancy and trim; the operator warns that it is not for divers uncomfortable with squeezes. Part of the system opens into the seafloor, where the cave passes over sedimentary rock beneath the granite, an unusual formation for this coast. The upper level of the reef is covered in kelp gardens, typical of Moreton's eastern side, where cooler upwelling and exposure produce a mix of temperate and subtropical life. Inside the cave, crayfish shelter in the cracks and black corals grow on the walls, a sign of the low light. The surrounding reef shares the character of nearby China Wall and Cherubs Cave: granite outcrops, gutters and kelp, with turtles, wobbegongs and pelagic fish, and grey nurse sharks in the gutters in winter. Depths are not published. Because the site is new, detailed layout information is still limited, and divers should treat the operator's briefing as essential. The minimum requirement set by Brisbane Scuba is Advanced Open Water. For cave-curious divers who have done the Moreton classics, it offers something genuinely different, provided the sea is calm enough to dive the eastern coast. Winter trips to the eastern side also coincide with the humpback whale migration, and whales are frequently seen on the run down the coast.
What you might see
Crayfish, black corals, kelp, wobbegongs, turtles, pelagic fish; grey nurse sharks in winter in the eastern Moreton area
Location
Recently discovered cave system off the exposed eastern coast of Moreton Island, with multiple entries and exits under a kelp-covered reef.
Facilities nearby
Departure facilities at Manly Boat Harbour.
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
brisbanescuba.aubrisbanescuba.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.