When people think of diving in Queensland, they often think about the world-famous Great Barrier Reef. However, Queensland is bursting with amazing dive sites down the entire length of its coastline, and provides new and experienced divers with a choice of top sites to explore. With fantastic wrecks, reefs and marine life, Brisbane has world-class diving to offer all those in her waters.
Here we take a look at just seven of the many great dive sites off the coast of Brisbane:
1. Flinders Reef
Flinders Reef is the only true coral reef found near Brisbane. This stunning reef is located off Moreton Island. Divers can observe over 150 species of fish, turtles, stingrays, wobbegong sharks, and occasionally the odd manta ray also visits Flinders Reef. You can also see over 112 species of coral here, including many hard and soft coral species. Divers can also enjoy the many walls, swim throughs, caves, and pinnacles.
Where: Moreton Bay
Max Depth: 28 metres/92 feet
2. Curtin Artificial Reef
If groupers are a favourite of yours, then look no further than Curtin Artificial Reef off Moreton Island. Groupers are often spotted swimming around the (over 30) scuttled ships at Curtin Artificial Reef. These wrecks make for fantastic underwater photography opportunities and are often frequented by wobbegongs, schools of barracuda, and stingrays.
Where: Moreton Bay
Max Depth: 27 metres/86 feet
3. Shag Rock
If it’s small animals that you are after, Shag Rock is your ticket as it is known for its many magical macros. Found off Brisbane’s North Stradbroke Island, this dive site is not only fantastic for seeing macro life but also turtles, wobbegongs, catsharks, shovelnose rays, leopard sharks, and occasionally manta rays are also spotted.
Where: North Stradbroke Island
Depth: 20 metres/66 feet
4. Flat Rock
Flat Rock provides divers with spectacular sites of turtles, leopard sharks, and many species of fish. During the winter months, divers are treated to the sight of the numerous grey nurse sharks that frequent ‘Shark Alley’ at Flat Rock.
Where: North of North Stradbroke Island
Max Depth: up to 35 metres/115 feet
5. Manta Bommie
Want to see some of Brisbane’s larger marine animals? Leopard sharks, turtles, guitar sharks, bamboo sharks, octopuses, bull rays, and occasionally even manta rays can be spotted during summer.
This rocky reef off North Stradbroke Island attracts marine life like metal to a magnet. It’s not only larger sea animals that you will see here but also a plethora of smaller reef fish and an abundance of critters. This dive site is suitable for all levels and particularly divers who want to practice their underwater photography skills.
Where: North Stradbroke Island
Max Depth: 16 metres/52 feet
6. The Cementco Wreck
If you have a passion for shipwrecks, the Cementco wreck should not be missed. The Cementco was a 67 meter/220 feet long hopper barge that worked in Brisbane’s Moreton Bay transporting fossilized coral to be used in cement production. Now resting upside down in 25 meters/ 82 feet of water off Stradbroke Island, this is a dive of intrigue and history. Since her sinking in 1985, the Cementco wreck has become an important part of the local marine ecosystem. The wreck also provides habitat for numerous species of fish, critters, and cephalopods.
Divers are able to safely enter the ship and explore the now decaying hull, providing they have the appropriate experience and certifications. For divers planning to dive this wreck, an Advanced Open Water certification is needed because of the depth. The wreck diver specialty certification is also highly recommended – particularly if you are planning a penetration dive.
Marine life highlights and likely encounters include batfish, mackerel, barracuda, schools of trevally, and look out for octopus hiding among the wreckage.
Where: Stradbroke Island
Max Depth: 25 metres/82 feet
7. Cherubs Cave
Cherubs Cave is an underwater cavern that once had a small concrete cherub statue marking its main entrance – hence the name. The Cherub has long since disappeared but the cavern remains as stunning as ever. At approximately 20 by 15 metres/66 by 49 feet, the circular cavern is adorned with soft corals and sponges.
There are multiple entries and exits to the cavern making every dive unique according to your planned route. The surrounding area is also packed with gullies, canyons, other smaller caves, and swim throughs – the topography here does not disappoint!
Marine life encounters at Cherubs Cave are both abundant and diverse. During the winter months expect to see the grey nurse sharks that gather on the sand in the surrounding gullies. Other (year round) highlights also include barracuda, kingfish, trevally, groupers, and wobbegongs. Look out for turtles on the reef and in the blue – surfacing for air.
If you are a macro underwater photography enthusiast, the critters found here will keep you shooting dive after dive.
Where: Moreton Island
Max Depth: 26 metres/85 feet
These are only 7 of the many amazing dive sites found around Brisbane, however, there are many more! Add Brisbane to your calendar for future dives, and you won’t be disappointed!
Are you keen to learn to dive, or wet your fins in Brisbane?
Know a dive site in Brisbane that you think should have appeared on this list? Leave a comment below and let fellow divers know!
