Broadhurst Reef, together with its smaller neighbour Little Broadhurst, lies in the band of reefs east of Townsville that were a staple of liveaboard trips in the heyday of Townsville diving. The Marine Life Network describes it as a reef of pinnacles, cracks and crevices, 'teeming with fish life and covered with hard and soft corals', with sea whips and gorgonians adding colour. Pinnacle diving shapes the experience here.

Rather than a continuous wall, the reef throws up individual towers of coral from deeper water, each ringed by cracks and crevices that shelter fish and invertebrates. Divers typically descend beside one pinnacle, spiral up around it and, in light current, hop to a neighbour. Pinnacles focus current, so fish gather on the up-current sides: fusiliers, snappers and trevally, with coral trout and cod lurking in the cracks.

Soft corals and gorgonians grow best on those current-swept faces. Visibility on these outer mid-shelf reefs is typically better than inshore, commonly 15–25 m, and the reef is little affected by coastal flood plumes. The trade-off is distance and exposure: the reef is beyond day-trip range and requires calm conditions.

No operator currently lists Broadhurst as a scheduled destination, and published information is limited to general descriptions. Its inclusion reflects its presence in regional site guides. Divers on private or liveaboard charters out of Townsville may find it a rewarding stop, particularly paired with a night dive at Barra Bommie on Little Broadhurst.

Boat only, and beyond normal day-trip range. The outer Townsville reefs lie 90–130 km offshore; they are reached by liveaboard or extended charter from Breakwater Marina, Townsville (typically an overnight steam or 3–4+ hours by fast vessel), sometimes combined with the Yongala on multi-day itineraries. Private skippers need a capable offshore vessel, long-range fuel, EPIRB and a settled forecast, and should launch from the Townsville Breakwater or Ross River ramps.

There is no shelter on the passage and anchoring must be on sand, never coral.

The Townsville mid-shelf reefs sit fully exposed to the south-east trade winds, which blow 15–25 knots for long stretches from April to September. Operators generally cancel when winds exceed about 20 knots or a strong wind warning is current, and the 2–2.5 hour crossing is rough above 15 knots. The calmest windows are the late-spring and early-summer glassouts (October–December) and occasional winter high-pressure lulls.

Visibility is usually 12–25 m, dropping after big south-easterly blows and after wet-season floods from the Burdekin and Herbert rivers push turbid plumes offshore (January–April). Marine stinger season (box jellyfish and Irukandji) runs roughly November to May – wear a full-length stinger suit or wetsuit with hood and gloves, carry vinegar. Cyclone season November–April; tropical lows and cyclones can close sites and damage coral (TC Yasi 2011, TC Debbie 2017).

Tidal currents around reef edges and bommies are strongest on spring tides; plan wall and pass dives near slack.

Descend beside a pinnacle to 15–20 m, circle it upward exploring the cracks and crevices, then cross to the next pinnacle if current allows; finish on the top of a pinnacle for the safety stop.

No scheduled day trips. Visited on occasional liveaboard and long-range charters out of Townsville (e.g. Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive liveaboard/charter departures, private and club charters).

Historically on Townsville liveaboard circuits of the 1980s–2000s.