Meet the site
St Bees Island lies immediately east of Keswick Island across Egremont Passage, in the South Cumberland Islands National Park north-east of Mackay. It is a hilly, forested island best known ashore for its koala population, and its sheltered western bays carry fringing reefs that are dived by private boats and local clubs. The Marine Life Network's Mackay listing highlights two specific St Bees sites – the MV Cremer wreck near Grimston Point on the north coast, and 'Keswick Caves', crevices near the Cremer recently explored by a local club – and notes that the island's north coast is protected from all but south-easterly seas, with current along the cliff face. More general fringing-reef diving around the island offers hard corals, reef fish such as coral trout and sweetlips, turtles and rays, in the modest visibility typical of the Mackay inshore islands. The dominant factor is the tide. Mackay's tidal range exceeds 6 m on springs, and Egremont Passage between Keswick and St Bees runs very strongly; dive at slack water on neap tides, anchor securely and keep a boat tender aboard. St Bees has no public facilities or ferry, so it is a destination for private boats. Combined with Keswick's shore dives and the Cremer and Singapore wrecks, it offers a quiet island weekend of diving for self-sufficient divers from Mackay. Detailed site documentation for the general fringing reef is limited, and confidence is low-to-medium. Anyone planning to land should check current national park and private-lease arrangements, as parts of the island have historically been under private lease.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
St Bees Island Fringing Reef is recorded as Reef in Mackay. 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.
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 St Bees Island Fringing 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 St Bees Island Fringing 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
Hard corals, coral trout, sweetlips, reef fish, turtles, rays; koalas on land
Location
Fringing reefs of St Bees Island, east of Keswick Island across Egremont Passage, about 35 km north-east of Mackay.
Facilities nearby
Mackay Marina and Mackay Harbour boat ramps (fuel, parking, cafes); Keswick Island has holiday houses and limited services; St Bees has a small private homestead area only. Air fills in Mackay.
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.