Meet the site
Coconut Reef is the fringing reef off the southern end of Nelly Bay, the island's main arrival point, and the North Queensland Underwater Explorers Club describes it as a narrow strip of reef about 100 m offshore, running parallel to the beach. It is easy to reach – a short walk from the ferry terminal and a beach entry at the old boat ramp – and in 2012 a snorkel and dive trail with translocated giant clams and marker floats was installed here, with a second trail nearby. The reef is broken into patches by sand gullies, with large colonies of lettuce coral, big coral bommies and massive Porites heads at 7–8 m. Small reef fish are plentiful, and a slow diver will find nudibranchs, wart slugs, scorpionfish and cleaner shrimps. At night turtles and painted crayfish come out, and the site has a following as a relaxed night dive close to accommodation. Nelly Bay faces south-east, so it takes the trade winds more than the Arcadia bays, and visibility is often limited. The club notes that seasonal sargassum blooms in the hotter months crowd out the lettuce coral, so the reef looks best in the cooler months when the macro-algae die off. Navigation is the other challenge – the reef is a low strip with similar-looking gullies, so a compass box pattern is recommended. The club also warns of green ants in the trees above the beach, which drop on unwary divers gearing up in the shade. A former white mooring buoy marked the reef for boats, but the yellow snorkel-trail floats are no-mooring markers; anchor on sand if you must. Coconut Reef is not spectacular, but it is a convenient shallow reef for snorkellers, training and night dives.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Nelly Bay – Coconut Reef (Rocky Bay) is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Townsville & Magnetic Island. The listed access is shore. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Nelly Bay – Coconut Reef (Rocky Bay) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Nelly Bay – Coconut Reef (Rocky Bay) 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
Lettuce coral, Porites bommies, translocated giant clams, nudibranchs, wart slugs, scorpionfish, cleaner shrimps, small reef fish, green turtles and painted crayfish (night)
Location
Narrow fringing reef about 100 m offshore at the southern end of Nelly Bay, with lettuce-coral patches, bommies and a marked snorkel trail.
Facilities nearby
Street parking on Nelly Bay Road, shade trees; ferry terminal, shops, cafes and toilets at Nelly Bay; nearest air at Pleasure Divers (Arcadia).
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
nquec.org.aumarinelife.org.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
