Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 6 Nov 2026
Double Island Point
Rainbow Beach, Queensland · near Rainbow Beach
| Depth | 3–18 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Giant stride or backward roll from boat; descend a mooring or shot line |
| Current | Moderate |
| Visibility | 5-15 m |
| Water | summer 25-27 °C, winter 19-22 °C |
| Suit | 3-5 mm full suit in summer; 5-7 mm full suit and hood in winter |
| Best season | Winter mornings with westerly winds |
| Bottom time | 45 min |
| Position | -25.93220, 153.19000 (approximate) |
| Permit | Great Sandy Marine Park – Wolf Rock is a Marine National Park (green) zone overlaid by a Grey Nurse Shark designated area in which activities, including diving, are regulated to protect grey nurse sharks and their habitat. The green zone was expanded in May 2024 (6.4 km² to 18 km²) to include Round Rock, The Pinnacles and reef at the base of Double Island Point. No fishing or anchoring on the reef; mooring use authorised only. |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital hyperbaric unit (Herston, Brisbane) — nearest chamber; Wesley Hospital hyperbaric unit (Auchenflower, Brisbane) is the alternative. Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200. |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Double Island Point
Also known as DI Point, Double Island Point reef
The headland that anchors the Rainbow Beach dive area – its base reef is now part of the expanded Wolf Rock Marine National Park zone.
Near Rainbow Beach · Rainbow Beach, Queensland
- Depth
- 3–18 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- ~35 min
- Water
- 25-27 °C
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
Double Island Point3–18 m · Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: June, July, August.
Winter mornings with westerly winds
- Best months
- Now (November)
- Stinger suit Nov–May
Dive facts
- Depth
- 3–18 m
- Typical depth
- 10 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Open Water (10–18 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Offshore
- 0.5 km
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~35 min
- Current
- Moderate
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 25-27 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 19-22 °C
- Water
- Subtropical
- Bottom time
- 45 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- Partial
Exposure suit
3-5 mm full suit in summer; 5-7 mm full suit and hood in winter
Location
Double Island Point · Rainbow Beach & Cooloola Coast
-25.93220, 153.19000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: parks.qld.gov.auMarine park & permits
Great Sandy Marine Park – Wolf Rock is a Marine National Park (green) zone overlaid by a Grey Nurse Shark designated area in which activities, including diving, are regulated to protect grey nurse sharks and their habitat. The green zone was expanded in May 2024 (6.4 km² to 18 km²) to include Round Rock, The Pinnacles and reef at the base of Double Island Point. No fishing or anchoring on the reef; mooring use authorised only.
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital hyperbaric unit (Herston, Brisbane) — nearest chamber; Wesley Hospital hyperbaric unit (Auchenflower, Brisbane) is the alternative. Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200.
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Double Island Point →
A day-by-day plan for Rainbow Beach with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Double Island Point is a reef boat dive in Rainbow Beach, QLD, 3–18 m, suited to Open Water divers, moderate current, about 35 minutes by boat.
Rated intermediate because of surge on the entry or in the shallows.
Why dive here
- The headland that anchors the Rainbow Beach dive area – its base reef is now part of the expanded Wolf Rock Marine National Park zone.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
Conditions to avoid
- Wind over about 20 knots
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
About Double Island Point
Double Island Point is the prominent headland and lighthouse at the southern end of the Cooloola coast, between Rainbow Beach and Noosa. It is better known as a 4WD, surfing and sightseeing destination than a dive site, but it anchors the whole Rainbow Beach dive area: Wolf Rock lies 1-2 km offshore of the point, and Round Rock sits between the two.
The reef at the base of the headland has become more significant since May 2024, when the Queensland Government expanded the Wolf Rock Marine National Park zone from 6.4 km² to 18 km² to take in areas at the base of Double Island Point, Round Rock and The Pinnacles, protecting additional rocky-reef habitat used by grey nurse sharks.
There is little published information about diving the headland itself. Wolf Rock Dive refers to Double Island Point only as the landmark for its sites and does not run dedicated dives on the point. Expect rocky gutters and boulders covered in algae, soft corals and sponges, with typical subtropical reef fish, rays on the sand and turtles, in conditions dictated by the exposed coast: surge close to the rocks and visibility that depends on recent weather.
For practical diving, visitors should book Wolf Rock or Round Rock with the Rainbow Beach operator. Anyone exploring from a private boat must observe the Marine National Park rules (no fishing or collecting) and should be experienced with the Wide Bay Bar, which lies between Carlo Point and the open sea and has claimed many vessels.
Getting there & entry
Rocky headland with lighthouse at the southern end of the Cooloola coast, about 10 km south-east of Rainbow Beach; rocky reef lies around its base, now inside the expanded Marine National Park zone.
Rainbow Beach is about 2.5 hours' drive north of Brisbane (via the Bruce Highway and Gympie, then the Rainbow Beach Road). Wolf Rock Dive Centre's trips meet at the shop in Rainbow Beach at 8 am; boats launch from the Carlo Point boat ramp on Tin Can Bay inlet, a few minutes' drive north-west of town, and cross the Wide Bay Bar before running south-east along the coast to Double Island Point – about 40 minutes to Wolf Rock. Trips return around 2-2.30 pm.
The headland can also be reached by 4WD along the beach from Rainbow Beach at low tide (or from Noosa North Shore via the Cooloola beach), with a QPWS vehicle permit. There are no dive facilities at the point and no regular operator trips to the headland reefs themselves.
Entry: Giant stride or backward roll from boat; descend a mooring or shot line
Facilities: None at the point; 4WD beach access with QPWS permit; services in Rainbow Beach
Weather, swell & tides
The Rainbow Beach sites sit off the exposed Cooloola coast with no shelter from south-easterly trade winds or easterly swell, and every trip must also cross the Wide Bay Bar, one of the most dangerous bar crossings in Queensland. Wolf Rock Dive cancels when waves exceed about 1.8 m or winds exceed about 20 knots. North-westerly and westerly winds (common on winter mornings) produce the flattest seas.
Currents are strongest in summer and can run hard over the pinnacles; visibility is highly unpredictable (5-50 m, averaging 10-15 m) and drops after easterly blows. Water ranges from about 27°C in February to 19°C in August. Humpback whales pass June-October.
Best season: Winter mornings with westerly winds
How the dive is usually run
If diving from a private boat on a flat day, anchor in sand off the northern side of the point, descend to the reef edge and follow the rocky gutters, staying well clear of the surf line. Ascend on the anchor line.
Marine life
- Subtropical reef fish
- rays
- turtles →
- soft corals
- sponges; grey nurse sharks possible nearby →
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Within the 18 m limit of an entry-level certification.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Exposed headland with surge and breaking swell; Wide Bay Bar crossing; strong currents off the point; no facilities; Marine National Park zone rules.
Dive centres that go here
No regular operator – Wolf Rock Dive focuses on Wolf Rock and Round Rock; the headland reef is visited only opportunistically by private boat.
Operators recorded for Double Island Point
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views
Double Island Point: frequently asked questions
How deep is Double Island Point?
Double Island Point reaches a maximum depth of 18 m, with the shallowest part at about 3 m; most of the dive is spent around 10 m.
What certification do I need to dive Double Island Point?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated intermediate because of surge on the entry or in the shallows.
Can I shore dive Double Island Point?
No, it is reached by boat (about 35 minutes). A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive Double Island Point?
Winter mornings with westerly winds.
What marine life will I see at Double Island Point?
Regularly recorded: Subtropical reef fish, rays, turtles, soft corals, sponges; grey nurse sharks possible nearby.
What wetsuit do I need at Double Island Point?
3-5 mm full suit in summer; 5-7 mm full suit and hood in winter.
How cold is the water at Double Island Point?
Typically 25-27 °C in summer and 19-22 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Double Island Point?
Exposed headland with surge and breaking swell; Wide Bay Bar crossing; strong currents off the point; no facilities; Marine National Park zone rules. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Double Island Point?
Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital hyperbaric unit (Herston, Brisbane) — nearest chamber; Wesley Hospital hyperbaric unit (Auchenflower, Brisbane) is the alternative. Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach exists on the dive map for one reason: Wolf Rock, four volcanic pinnacles off Double Island Point that are the only known gestation site for grey nurse sharks on the east coast, with pregnant females present year-round, plus eagle rays, bull rays and wobbegongs in strong current.
Getting there: Three hours north of Brisbane. One dive operator launches from Rainbow Beach; the crossing to Wolf Rock takes about 20 minutes.
Sources
- parks.qld.gov.au/parks/great-sandy-marine/about/culture/grey-nurse-sharks
- wolfrockdive.com.au/dive-sites
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Island_Point
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Depths and diveability unverified; no operator runs the headland.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
