Queensland
Diving in Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast has one of the best wreck dives in Australia, the ex-HMAS Brisbane, scuttled off Mooloolaba in 2005 with access cut into every deck, plus the Gneerings and Murphys reefs with grey nurse sharks in winter and, further north, Wolf Rock's resident pregnant grey nurse sharks and Flinders Reef's coral gardens off Noosa's doorstep.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Sunshine Coast
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 41 published site records in Sunshine Coast. The recorded categories include reef (32), shore/rock platform (5), island (1), muck/sand (1). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Sunshine Coast site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.
Research operators in Queensland →Ask before booking
- Which port and vessel will run our trip?
- Is the named reef a likely itinerary or a confirmed destination?
- What changes if our island transfer or boat departure moves?
Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Questions, answered
How do I choose a dive in Sunshine Coast?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 41 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.
When should I visit Sunshine Coast for diving?
Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.
Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?
No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.
Regional planning context: Tourism and Events Queensland — accessing the Great Barrier Reef ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Dive sites in this region
WreckSunshine Coast
Ex-HMAS Brisbane
Queensland's great destroyer wreck – 133 m, upright, funnels 3 m below the surface and 1000+ species – now with a…
ReefSunshine Coast
Hanging Rock
A 50 m overhanging wall carpeted in sun corals above a sandy trench, with some of the largest plate corals on the local reefs.
ReefSunshine Coast
Jew Shoal
Noosa's best dive: an 11 m solitary pinnacle and a cave-and-gutter system in sheltered Laguna Bay, with more than 100 nudibranch…
Muck/SandSunshine Coast
La Balsa Park
Australia-class nudibranch muck dive: 700+ nudibranch species recorded in the Mooloolah River, in 1-6 m with easy stair entries…
IslandSunshine Coast
Mudjimba Island
The Sunshine Coast's all-weather site: a sheltered wall from 16 m to 5 m and coral gardens from 2 m, rich in macro life and ideal…
ReefSunshine Coast
Nurse Rock
A winter grey nurse shark aggregation (July-October) among boulders and swim-throughs in 14-22 m, with better visibility than the…
ReefSunshine Coast
The Caves (Gneerings)
A shallow 12 m ledge with overhangs and small swim-throughs – schools of surgeonfish, wobbegongs and ray cleaning stations; ideal…
ReefSunshine Coast
Barwon Banks
The Sunshine Coast's deep offshore bank: caves and ledges from 22 m, gorgonians and black coral, pelagic schools and big sharks,…
ReefSunshine Coast
Coral Gardens (Gneerings)
The Gneerings' shallow coral gardens in 10-15 m – the classic easy reef dive of the Sunshine Coast.
ReefSunshine Coast
Inner Gneerings
The Sunshine Coast's core reef system, 15 minutes from Mooloolaba: gutters, ledges, caves and pinnacles with outstanding…
Shore/Rock PlatformSunshine Coast
Kings Beach (Caloundra)
An easy boat-ramp entry onto a shallow soft-coral reef at Kings Beach, with 40+ fish species, wobbegongs and turtles on calm,…
ReefSunshine Coast
Magic Mountain
The Sunshine Coast's most complex reef topography: a maze of gullies, ravines, swim-throughs and pinnacles to 25 m on the Outer…
ReefSunshine Coast
Outer Gneerings
Deeper, clearer and fishier than the inner reef: boulders and outcrops in 15-25 m with winter pelagics.
Shore/Rock PlatformSunshine Coast
Point Cartwright
A rock-platform snorkel and shore dive at the Mooloolah River mouth with regular nudibranch and cowrie finds.
Pinnacle/BommieSunshine Coast
The Pinnacles (Gneerings)
Three upright pinnacles in about 10 m, busy with batfish, trevally, barracuda and wobbegongs.
ReefSunshine Coast
A-Bay Reef
An exposed reef off Noosa National Park's Alexandria Bay – clearer water than Laguna Bay on calm days, but rarely dived.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Aussie's Reef (Gneering Shoals)
An easy, shallow Gneering Shoals reef with coral growth.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Big Plates
An easy reef of large plate corals and small overhangs.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Brays Rock
A Caloundra rock reef favoured by spearfishers, with basic diving along the reef towards Kings Beach.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Butterflies
An easy, rolling reef with plenty of reef fish.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Castle Rock
A large rock overhang carpeted in orange coral at about 21 m, with crayfish, batfish and trevally.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Chardons Reef
A deep open reef 9 km off Noosa in 30-55 m – a pelagic fishing ground, essentially undocumented as a dive.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Clown Reef
A shallow reef of anemones and clownfish with good macro life – an easy dive for beginners and photographers.
Details need confirmationReefSunshine Coast
Currimundi Reef
A little-known fishing reef off Currimundi – rarely dived and undocumented.
Details need confirmation