Meet the site
The Roy Rufus Artificial Reef is Hervey Bay's most popular dive site. Development began in 1968, and by 1987 about 63 separate drops had been made – old car bodies, concrete pipes, railway wheels, tyres, barges and ships – over an area described as around 3 km² off the eastern side of Big Woody Island. The reef is named after Roy Rufus, a local diver, fisherman and conservationist who drove the project.
Among the structures are several historic hulls. Marinelife.org.au lists the Pelican (1880), Otter (1884), Lass O'Gowrie (1885) and K'gari (1897), plus the Goori. Three of them – the Otter, Pelican and Lass O'Gowrie – lie close together and are joined by picket lines at 14-17 m, so all three can be seen in one dive; the Goori and K'gari hulls each sit at about 16 m. Between them lie barges, car bodies and other debris, some of which appear and disappear as the sand shifts.
The reef's life is the draw. Visit Fraser Coast and marinelife.org.au list wobbegongs, stingrays, turtles, gropers, coral trout, kingfish, sea snakes and a crowd of reef fish, and the growth on the old steel is dense with scorpionfish and stonefish – a good reason to keep hands off everything. Penetration is limited, but the encrusting life makes the exteriors rewarding.
Conditions shape the dive. The reef lies in the Great Sandy Strait, where tides run strongly, so it is dived only around high tide, and visibility averages about 5 m and rarely exceeds 10 m. That makes navigation between structures challenging and is why the picket lines matter. Visit Fraser Coast pitches it at experienced divers; with a guide from Hervey Bay Dive Centre it is manageable for Open Water divers comfortable in limited visibility.
Individual structure groups have separate rows in this database.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Roy Rufus Artificial Reef is recorded as Artificial Reef in Hervey Bay & K'gari. The listed access is boat. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
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 Roy Rufus Artificial Reef suitable for my certification?
The record lists 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 Roy Rufus Artificial Reef 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
Wobbegongs, stingrays, turtles, Queensland gropers, coral trout, kingfish, sea snakes, stonefish, scorpionfish, reef fish, soft corals and sponges
Location
One of Australia's largest artificial reefs, off the eastern side of Big Woody Island about 4.5 nm east of Urangan Harbour; built 1968-1987 from around 63 drops of ships, barges, car bodies, pipes and railway wheels.
Facilities nearby
Departure: Urangan Boat Harbour (parking, toilets, cafes, public ramp)
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
visitfrasercoast.commarinelife.org.aufishingboatingexploring.com.auscubadivefrasercoast.weebly.comdiveherveybay.com.auqueensland.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.