Cochrane Artificial Reef is Bundaberg's most popular boat dive and the local answer to the lack of natural offshore reef along this coast. Built up progressively since the early 1990s within the Woongarra Marine Park, it covers an area of roughly 400 by 800 m on sand about 3 nautical miles offshore, with most structures sitting in 15-18 m.

The reef is a collection of separate targets rather than one site. Marinelife.org.au and Tourism Queensland list the Porteur 77 gravel barge (about 40 m), a 50 m dredge, the 50 m Ceratodus II, two Mohawk aircraft and a King Air, two light ships, a barge, a landing craft, a water tank, the ex-trawler Nirvana and concrete maze structures. GoodDive dates the Ceratodus II to 1992, the Mohawks to 1996, 'The Barge' to 1999 and the light ships to 2000. The structures are now well encrusted with sponges, soft corals and algae.

Marinelife.org.au records more than 140 fish species here. Tourism Queensland highlights friendly estuary cod and a resident Queensland groper family; divers also see big schools of baitfish, barracuda and tuna over the higher structures, turtles, stingrays, wobbegongs and leopard sharks, and manta rays pass through in winter. The aircraft are particularly popular: sitting upright on the sand, they are small enough to see in full and make striking photographs when visibility allows.

The reef is also a popular fishing ground, so discarded line is a constant – carry a knife and keep clear of lines if anglers are present. Some older structures are deteriorating and should not be entered. Visibility is the main variable: 8-12 m on an average day, less after rain.

Cochrane suits Open Water divers wanting their first wrecks, photographers, and anyone who enjoys big resident fish. Individual structures are listed separately in this database.

Cochrane Artificial Reef lies about 3 nautical miles off the rocky Woongarra coastline east of Bargara. Charter and private boats launch at the Burnett Heads boat ramp beside the Port of Bundaberg (15 km north-east of Bundaberg on Burnett Heads Road; large trailer park, toilets). From the Burnett River entrance it is a short run south-east – roughly 20-30 minutes in a small boat.

The reef covers an area of about 400 x 800 m, and each structure has its own GPS mark, so boats either pick up a buoy where one is present or anchor in sand beside the target structure (never on the wreck). Bundaberg Aqua Scuba runs boat dives here when the weather allows; others come by private boat.

The reef is in open water off the Woongarra coast, partly sheltered from southerly ocean swell by K'gari but exposed to south-east trade winds and north-easterly sea breezes. Operators generally want winds under about 15 knots and seas under 1 m. Visibility averages 8-12 m and is best in winter (May-September) with light westerlies; it falls sharply after heavy rain as the Burnett and Elliott rivers flush brown water along the coast, typically in the December-March wet season.

Tidal current is usually mild but can run on big spring tides – dive around slack water on neaps for the clearest, calmest conditions. Manta rays pass through in winter.

Choose one or two structures per dive rather than trying to see the whole reef – they are spread over a large area. Descend the line to the target, circle it at the base (15-18 m) looking under hulls for cod and wobbegongs, then work up onto the deck or airframe. If two structures are close, follow a compass bearing between them over the sand.

Return to the line with a third of your gas and complete a safety stop on it.

Bundaberg Aqua Scuba (Bourbong St, Bundaberg) – boat dives to Cochrane Artificial Reef when weather permits, typically weekends or on demand; otherwise private boats from Burnett Heads. Fishing charters use the reef heavily.