Townsville
18 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Townsville →Queensland
Diving in Townsville & Magnetic Island
Townsville is the gateway to the SS Yongala, the 1911 passenger steamer that is Australia's most celebrated wreck dive, and to the John Brewer and Lodestone reefs offshore. Magnetic Island, 20 minutes away by ferry, has shore dives on the SS Moltke wreck in Geoffrey Bay, the Museum of Underwater Art sculptures and fringing coral around the bays.
Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by Queensland. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.
Your bearings, in a minute
Townsville & Magnetic Island at a glance
Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.
- Explore
- 42 site records
- Recorded settings
- Reef · Shore/Rock Platform · Wreck
- Map coverage
- 42 locations to explore
- Plan with local help
- Meet the listed operators
Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →
Sources, authorship and review status
Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.
Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.
Who can contribute and how reviews work →Find your bearings
Explore Townsville & Magnetic Island on the map
Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.
42 matching records · 42 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.
Alma Bay (Magnetic Island)
Shore/Rock Platform · 1–10 m
Approximate area
Anzac Reef
Reef · 5–25 m
Approximate area
Arthur Bay (Magnetic Island)
Shore/Rock Platform · 1–10 m
Approximate area
Balding Bay (Magnetic Island)
Wall · 2–7 m
Approximate area
Bowl Reef
Reef · 3–30 m
Approximate area
Bremner Point (Geoffrey Bay Headland)
Shore/Rock Platform · 2–8 m
Approximate area
Broadhurst Reef
Reef · 5–25 m
Approximate area
Centipede Reef
Reef · 3–20 m
Approximate area
Chicken Reef
Reef · 3–20 m
Approximate area
Curtiss Falcon Aircraft Wreck (Nelly Bay)
Aircraft Wreck · Not recorded
Approximate area
Danger Marks (Orpheus–Pelorus Channel)
Reef · 5–10 m
Approximate area
Davies Reef
Reef · 6–25 m
Approximate area
The local notebook
Where should you start in Townsville & Magnetic Island?
Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.
Lucinda / Ingham
9 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Lucinda / Ingham →Horseshoe Bay (Magnetic Island)
6 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Horseshoe Bay (Magnetic Island) →Arcadia (Magnetic Island)
4 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Arcadia (Magnetic Island) →Nelly Bay (Magnetic Island)
2 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Nelly Bay (Magnetic Island) →Alva Beach (Ayr) / Townsville
1 site record refers to this town or area.
Look for operators around Alva Beach (Ayr) / Townsville →Different outings to look into
| Local example | Recorded nearby place | Recorded access | Follow the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curtiss Falcon Aircraft Wreck (Nelly Bay) | Nelly Bay (Magnetic Island) | Shore or Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| MOUA Coral Greenhouse (John Brewer Reef) | Townsville | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
| Picnic Bay Jetty | Picnic Bay (Magnetic Island) | Shore or Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| Little Broadhurst Reef – Barra Bommie | Townsville | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Recorded source ↗ |
How to use this shortlist
Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.
A closer look at Townsville & Magnetic Island
Get a feel for the diving
Our Townsville & Magnetic Island directory currently includes 42 published site records. The largest recorded category is reef (20 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.
Townsville & Magnetic Island: what’s in the directory?
A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.
Source: published YouDive directory records for Townsville & Magnetic Island. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.
A few local records to compare
Start with Curtiss Falcon Aircraft Wreck (Nelly Bay), MOUA Coral Greenhouse (John Brewer Reef), Picnic Bay Jetty. These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.
| Site | Recorded type | Access | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curtiss Falcon Aircraft Wreck (Nelly Bay) Details need confirmation | Aircraft Wreck | Shore or Boat | Depth not recorded |
| MOUA Coral Greenhouse (John Brewer Reef) | Artificial Reef | Boat (day trip) | 4–18 m |
| Picnic Bay Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Shore or Boat | 1–6 m |
| Little Broadhurst Reef – Barra Bommie Details need confirmation | Pinnacle/Bommie | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | 3–20 m |
How the recorded depths compare
A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.
The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.
Find your little corner of Queensland
A Queensland dive holiday starts with a more useful question than “Which reef?”: where will your actual day begin? Use the local records below to explore the setting, then connect that idea with a departure and the time you have available.
Choose the outing before the room
A mainland departure, an island stay and a multi-day boat trip have different rhythms. Write down the exact activity you want, who is joining and whether everyone plans to dive. Ask about meeting and return times before building accommodation and transfers around a promotional reef name. On a mixed trip, find out what non-divers can actually book on the same departure.
Give each day a job
Keep arrival, equipment fitting and your main diving outing visible as separate parts of the plan. If you hope to complete training during the trip, put the course schedule alongside the travel schedule. A free morning on a holiday calendar does not establish that a course session or reef departure will fit into it. Leave the unanswered details in your notes until the provider confirms them.
Make room for the unexpected
Compare the value of the whole outing, including guiding, equipment, meals and transfers. Ask what happens if the itinerary changes and which alternatives might be offered. That gives you something practical to compare between quotes. Seasonal research helps you choose dates; the actual departure still depends on current arrangements and the people operating the trip.
Three conversations worth having before you book
Mainland boat day
Which meeting point and return time apply?
Match transport to the actual departure.
Island-based stay
Which transfers and diving are separate bookings?
Keep each booking and payee visible.
Multi-day trip
Which sites are possibilities rather than promises?
Read the itinerary-change terms.
From “that looks lovely” to a plan
Make Townsville & Magnetic Island your kind of dive trip
Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.
Where are you on your diving journey?
I’m just getting started
Find out how a first course works, compare your options and get comfortable asking questions.
I’m ready to explore more
Connect your next outing with useful reading and a conversation about the right training and support.
I’m thinking about teaching
Explore the professional pathway and prepare better questions for a training centre.
These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.
People to talk to about Townsville & Magnetic Island
These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.
Listed in this region
Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive
South Townsville
A Townsville operation running SS Yongala trips alongside reef diving and training.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Coral Expeditions
Cairns
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Orpheus Island Lodge
Orpheus Island
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Pleasure Divers Magnetic Island
Arcadia, Magnetic Island
A Magnetic Island training and guided-diving operation serving island-based visitors.
Meet this operator →Let’s put the pieces together
Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.
Open my trips
Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Townsville & Magnetic Island
Three different reasons to choose the Townsville region
Townsville is a mainland gateway for reef travel; Magnetic Island offers an island-based setting; the SS Yongala is a separate wreck objective. Tourism and Events Queensland describes these as distinct experiences, alongside the Museum of Underwater Art at John Brewer Reef. Start by choosing the kind of outing you want. Then check the operator’s actual departure point rather than treating every regional listing as an island day trip.
One useful question: Is our booking for local island diving, an offshore reef or the Yongala, and where does that exact product depart?
| Your interest | Research next | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Island base | Compare island accommodation with the meeting point for the proposed activity. | Ask whether a mainland transfer is needed. |
| Reef or underwater art | Request the proposed reef and activity, including arrangements for non-divers. | A regional attraction does not guarantee that every boat visits it. |
| Yongala objective | Discuss the wreck itinerary and experience requirements directly with the provider. | Keep this booking separate from assumptions about an introductory reef experience. |
Local context: Tourism and Events Queensland — Great Barrier Reef from Townsville. Prepared 1 October 2026; this is destination research, not current access verification.
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 42 published site records in Townsville & Magnetic Island. The recorded categories include reef (20), shore/rock platform (7), wreck (6), wall (3). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Townsville & Magnetic Island 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 Townsville & Magnetic Island?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 42 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 Townsville & Magnetic Island 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
Search within Townsville & Magnetic Island, or narrow the list to a recorded dive type. Open a site for its map, sources and access notes.
42 matching site records. Listings do not confirm current access or availability.
QLD
Reef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Pelorus Island – Northern Point
Current-fed point with detached rocks, bommies, swim-throughs and barramundi cod – the best, and hardest, dive on Pelorus.
QLDWall
WallTownsville & Magnetic Island
Pelorus Island – Southern Wall
Shallow wall with sea fans, barrel sponges, a distinctive corner bommie and a two-metre black coral tree.
QLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Pioneer Bay Giant Clam Gardens (Orpheus Island)
Impressive giant clam patches along a pretty reef wall beside the JCU research station.
QLDWreck
WreckTownsville & Magnetic Island
Platypus Dredge Wreck (Arthur Bay)
Coral-encrusted steam boilers of an early Townsville harbour dredge in a quiet rocky cove, swarmed by angelfish and sergeant…
QLDWreck
WreckTownsville & Magnetic Island
SS Gothenburg Wreck (Old Reef)
Boilers, oscillating engines and iron frames of the Gothenburg, lost in 1875 with about 102 lives – one of Australia's worst…
QLDJetty/Pier
Jetty/PierTownsville & Magnetic Island
Yanks Jetty (Orpheus Island)
WWII degaussing-station jetty with friendly fish, anemones and giant clams, a beach entry from the campground.
QLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Anzac Reef
Drop-offs, pinnacles and coral gardens in clear outer-shelf water; a noted night dive for lobsters and flatworms.
Details need confirmationQLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Bowl Reef
Gorgonian fans and sea whips on the drop-offs, caves, eagle rays and a good night dive in the shallows.
Details need confirmationQLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Broadhurst Reef
Pinnacles and crevices densely covered in hard and soft corals with abundant fish.
Details need confirmationQLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Centipede Reef
Quiet mid-shelf reef near Wheeler with trevally schools and bommies on its exposed faces.
Details need confirmationQLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Chicken Reef
Topographically interesting northern flank with gullies, caves and swim-throughs; a 1980s classic recovering from Cyclone Yasi.
Details need confirmationQLDAircraft Wreck
Aircraft WreckTownsville & Magnetic Island
Curtiss Falcon Aircraft Wreck (Nelly Bay)
Engine and propeller of a USAAF CW-22B Falcon that ditched in 1943 – a rare wartime aircraft relic off Magnetic Island.
Details need confirmationQLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Danger Marks (Orpheus–Pelorus Channel)
Shallow gutters with symmetrical walls and colourful low corals, protected in the Orpheus Marine National Park zone.
Details need confirmationQLDWreck
WreckTownsville & Magnetic Island
Horseshoe Bay Wrecks (Magnetic Island)
Two shallow modern wrecks – a 40 m burnt-out floating-restaurant ketch and a prawn trawler – in the island's most sheltered bay…
Details need confirmationQLDPinnacle/Bommie
Pinnacle/BommieTownsville & Magnetic Island
Little Broadhurst Reef – Barra Bommie
A bommie rated an excellent night dive on Townsville overnight charters.
Details need confirmationQLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Little Kelso Reef
Vertical north-eastern drop-off with gullies, caves, overhangs and swim-throughs, and a sheltered back for the boat.
Details need confirmationQLDWreck
WreckTownsville & Magnetic Island
MV Reef Princess Wreck (Wheeler Reef)
Scant remains of the Reef Princess, a timber dive boat lost at Wheeler Reef in a 1981 storm – a footnote to Townsville dive…
Details need confirmationQLDReef
ReefTownsville & Magnetic Island
Shark Alley (Wheeler Reef)
Wheeler Reef's shark site – reef sharks and grey whalers year-round, pygmy mantas October–December.
Details need confirmation