Beginner-Friendly Dive Sites in Queensland
Sites rated beginner and suitable for Open Water divers under normal conditions: sheltered, shallow and usually with little current. Conditions change, so always check the weather notes.
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We wrote a first-dives guide for each state: the five easiest sites, what a first boat day is like, what to hire.
218 sites · the first 48 shown as cards, the rest listed by state below
Queensland 170
- Coral Gardens (Heron Island) · Max 15 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Coral Gardens (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 12 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Coral Grotto (Heron Island) · Max 18 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Danger Marks (Orpheus–Pelorus Channel) · Max 10 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Dunk Island · Max 10 m · Mission Beach & Cassowary Coast
- East Meets West (Thetford Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Ellison Reef · Max 18 m · Mission Beach & Cassowary Coast
- Family Islands · Max 10 m · Mission Beach & Cassowary Coast
- First Bommie (Norman Reef) · Max 15 m · Cairns
- Fish Bowl (Hastings Reef) · Max 15 m · Cairns
- Fitzroy Island · Max 12 m · Cairns
- Fitzroy Reef – South-East Gardens · Max 12 m · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
- Fitzroy Reef Lagoon · Max 15 m · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
- Flat-Top Bommie (Norman Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Florence Bay (Magnetic Island) · Max 15 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Flower Gardens (St Crispin Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Forty Five (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 18 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Four Mile Reef (Bargara) · Max 13 m · Bundaberg & Agnes Water
- Gary's Lagoon (Bait Reef) · Max 18 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Gatakers Reef (Point Vernon) · Max 6 m · Hervey Bay & K'gari
- Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail (Magnetic Island) · Max 6 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Gold Coast Seaway – South-West Wall (Broadwater beach) · Max 8 m · Gold Coast
- Golf Clubs (Hastings Reef) · Max 15 m · Cairns
- Gorgonia Hole (Heron Island) · Max 16 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Great Adventures Pontoon Reef (Moore Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Halfway Island (Keppels) · Max 10 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- Hanging Rock · Max 18 m · Sunshine Coast
- Harry's Bommie (Agincourt Reef 4) · Max 16 m · Port Douglas
- Harry's Bommie (Heron Island) · Max 18 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Haslewood Island – Waite Bay · Max 18 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Henry's Bommie (Fairey Reef) · Max 15 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- HMCS Protector Wreck (Heron Island) · Max 4 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Horseshoe Bay (Bowen) · Max 6 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Horseshoe Bay Wrecks (Magnetic Island) · Max 6 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Hoskyn Islands – Cabbage Patch · Max 18 m · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
- Humpy Island (Keppels) · Max 14 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- Inside (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 6 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Jew Shoal · Max 16 m · Sunshine Coast
- John Brewer Reef – Ocean Sentinels & Coral Gardens · Max 18 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Keswick Island – Connie Bay & Basil Bay · Max 10 m · Mackay
- Kings Beach (Caloundra) · Max 6 m · Sunshine Coast
- La Balsa Park · Max 6 m · Sunshine Coast
- Libby's Lair (Heron Island) · Max 14 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Lighthouse Bommies (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 18 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Little Fairey Inlet (Fairey Reef) · Max 16 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Little Sister (Tongue Reef Sister reefs) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Little Tracey (Flynn Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot · Max 10 m · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
- Long Bommie (Breaking Patches) · Max 14 m · Cairns
- Low Isles · Max 8 m · Port Douglas
- Luncheon Bay (Hook Island) · Max 15 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Mackay Reef · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Mackerel Bay (Hook Island) · Max 12 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Manta Bommie · Max 18 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Maori Wrasse Bommie (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 16 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Marine World Wall (Moore Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Maureen's Cove (Hook Island) · Max 12 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Mermaid Cove (Lizard Island) · Max 12 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Michaelmas Cay · Max 12 m · Cairns
- Middle Island Underwater Observatory Site · Max 10 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- Mojo (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Monkey Beach (Great Keppel Island) · Max 6 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- Mooring One (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 12 m · Lady Elliot Island
- MOUA Coral Greenhouse (John Brewer Reef) · Max 18 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Mudjimba Island · Max 18 m · Sunshine Coast
- Murray Bay (Bowen) · Max 6 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- MV Reef Princess Wreck (Wheeler Reef) · Max 12 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Myora Reef · Max 5 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Ned's Bommie (Heron Island) · Max 14 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Nelly Bay – Coconut Reef (Rocky Bay) · Max 8 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Nemo Wall (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 12 m · Lady Elliot Island
- New Seagull (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Ngaro Underwater Sculpture Trail · Max 10 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Nobody's (Agincourt Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Noosa National Park Headland (Tea Tree Bay – Granite Bay) · Max 6 m · Sunshine Coast
- North Bay (Agincourt Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- North Bommie (Heron Island) · Max 18 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- North Sno (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- North Stradbroke Island Artificial Reef · Max 12 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Nudey Beach (Fitzroy Island) · Max 10 m · Cairns
- Olive Point (Middle Island) · Max 8 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- One Bum Beach (Barren Island) · Max 9 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- Paradise Reef (Breaking Patches) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Peel Island – Horseshoe Bay · Max 4 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Pelorus Island – Front Reef · Max 10 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Pelorus Island – House Mooring · Max 10 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Phil's Lagoon (Tongue Reef Sister reefs) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Phil's Reef (Agincourt Reef 3) · Max 16 m · Port Douglas
- Picnic Bay Jetty · Max 6 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Pinnacle Reef (Green Island) · Max 12 m · Cairns
- Pirates Cove (Hastings Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Plato (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Platypus Dredge Wreck (Arthur Bay) · Max 8 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Playground (Norman Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Pretty Patches · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Rayban (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Reefworld Pontoon (Hardy Reef) · Max 18 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Reefy Seconds (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 9 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Rose Bay (Bowen) · Max 7 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Rudder Reef · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Saba Bay (Hook Island) · Max 15 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Sandbox (Opal Reef) · Max 11 m · Port Douglas
- Sandra's (Saxon Reef) · Max 12 m · Cairns
- Sandy Seconds (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 9 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Saxon Coral Gardens · Max 15 m · Cairns
- Scawfell Island – Refuge Bay · Max 12 m · Mackay
- Scottish Prince Wreck · Max 12 m · Gold Coast
- Second Reef (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 12 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Shark Pool (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 8 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Shelving Beach (Great Keppel Island) · Max 5 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- Simmos (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 15 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Sno (Opal Reef) · Max 18 m · Port Douglas
- Southern Comfort · Max 16 m · Gold Coast
- Southside (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- SS Cooma Wreck (North Reef) · Max 6 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- SS Moltke Wreck (Geoffrey Bay) · Max 8 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- St Bees Island Fringing Reef · Max 12 m · Mackay
- St Crispin Reef · Max 18 m · Port Douglas
- Staghorn Banks (Heron Island) · Max 14 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Steel Barge S4 (Big Woody Island) · Max 12 m · Hervey Bay & K'gari
- Stepping Stones (Hastings Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Stonehaven Anchorage (Hook Island) · Max 12 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Sudbury Reef · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Summer Bay · Max 15 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Sunlover Pontoon Reef (Moore Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Table Tops · Depth not published · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Taiwan Reef (Swain Reefs) · Max 15 m · Swain Reefs
- Tallebudgera Creek · Max 10 m · Gold Coast
- Tambaroora Wreck (Polmaise Reef) · Max 8 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Tangalooma Wrecks · Max 12 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Tenements 1 (Heron Island) · Max 16 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- The Aquarium (Lady Musgrave Lagoon) · Max 10 m · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
- The Caves (Gneerings) · Max 12 m · Sunshine Coast
- The Chapel (Agincourt Reef 4) · Max 18 m · Port Douglas
- The Gap (Agincourt Reef 3) · Max 12 m · Port Douglas
- The Gardens (Agincourt Reef 2) · Max 10 m · Port Douglas
- The Gardens (Whitsunday Island) · Max 15 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- The Gutters (Palm Beach) · Max 12 m · Gold Coast
- The Lagoon (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 3 m · Lady Elliot Island
- The Nursery (Norman Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- The Nursery (Palm Beach) · Max 14 m · Gold Coast
- The Pinnacles (Gneerings) · Max 14 m · Sunshine Coast
- The Rocks (Agincourt Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- The Zoo · Max 16 m · Gold Coast
- Three Pyramids (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 18 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Tongue Reef · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Tryon Island Reef · Max 15 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Turner Artificial Reef · Depth not published · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Turtle Alley (Lady Musgrave Lagoon) · Max 10 m · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
- Turtle Bay (Norman Reef) · Max 15 m · Cairns
- Turtle Bay (Tongue Reef Sister reefs) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Turtle Beds (Lady Elliot Island) · Max 12 m · Lady Elliot Island
- Turtle Bommie (Lady Musgrave Lagoon) · Max 10 m · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
- Turtle Cleaning Station (Flinders Reef) · Max 14 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Turtle Gully (Heron Island) · Max 18 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Turtle Point · Max 16 m · Gold Coast
- Two Mile Rocks (Bargara) · Max 15 m · Bundaberg & Agnes Water
- Undine Reef · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Upolu Cay · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Walts Bommie (Heron Island) · Max 14 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Watsons Bay (Lizard Island) · Max 8 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Wave Break Island · Max 12 m · Gold Coast
- West End (Agincourt Reef 2) · Max 15 m · Port Douglas
- Wild West (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Wilson Island Reef · Max 18 m · Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Wonder Wall (Upolu Reef) · Max 16 m · Cairns
- Woody Point Jetty · Max 5 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Wreck Beach (Great Keppel Island) · Max 12 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- Yanks Jetty (Orpheus Island) · Max 8 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Your Place (Agincourt Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas