Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot
Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group, Queensland · near Bundaberg (Burnett Heads) / Town of 1770
| Depth | 2–10 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) |
| Entry | Giant stride from private boat, charter or liveaboard |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 15-30 m |
| Water | summer 25-28 °C, winter 20-22 °C |
| Suit | 3 mm full suit in summer; 5 mm full suit (hood optional) June-September |
| Best season | Year-round; May-October for the best visibility and manta rays, humpback whales July-October; turtle nesting November-March and hatching January-April |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | not published |
| Permit | Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – check zoning for Llewellyn Reef |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Brisbane) – nearest; evacuation by helicopter via Bundaberg Hospital |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot
Also known as Trout Spot
A shallow coral garden on Llewellyn Reef ideal for a night dive from an anchored boat.
Near Bundaberg (Burnett Heads) / Town of 1770 · Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group, Queensland
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)
- Boat ride
- ~200 min
- Water
- 25-28 °C
- Visibility
- 15-30 m
Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot2–10 m · Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
In season nowBest months: year-round.
Year-round; May-October for the best visibility and manta rays, humpback whales July-October; turtle nesting November-March and hatching January-April
- Best months
- Now (November)
- Stinger suit Nov–May
Dive facts
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Typical depth
- 6 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)
- Offshore
- 75 km
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~200 min
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 15-30 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 25-28 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 20-22 °C
- Water
- Tropical
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- Yes
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
3 mm full suit in summer; 5 mm full suit (hood optional) June-September
Location
Bunker Group reefs · Southern GBR – Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
No published coordinates. The map above shows the general area, estimated from other documented sites near Bundaberg.
Primary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park – check zoning for Llewellyn Reef
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Brisbane) – nearest; evacuation by helicopter via Bundaberg Hospital
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot →
A day-by-day plan for Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group 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
Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot is a reef liveaboard-only site in Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group, QLD, 2–10 m, suited to Open Water divers, about 200 minutes by boat.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day.
Why dive here
- A shallow coral garden on Llewellyn Reef ideal for a night dive from an anchored boat.
- Commonly dived at night, when octopus, cuttlefish and crustaceans are out.
- Snorkel-friendly, so non-diving companions can join at the surface.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
- Visibility often reaches 15-30 m.
Conditions to avoid
- Cyclone season (roughly December–April)
- Spring plankton blooms
About Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot
Trout Spot is a shallow site on Llewellyn Reef in the northern Bunker Group, described by marine life writers as a nice coral garden suitable for a night dive, with smaller marine life. It complements The Catacombs, the deep wall on the same reef, and gives boats anchored at Llewellyn an easy second or night dive. Published detail is limited, but the name suggests coral trout are a feature, and the shallow coral garden will host the typical Bunker Group mix of damsels, wrasse, parrotfish, butterflyfish, nudibranchs and crustaceans.
At night, octopus, crabs, shrimps and sleeping parrotfish are likely highlights. Because it is shallow and sheltered, the site suits all certification levels, and it is a comfortable place for divers building night-diving experience in a remote setting, provided the boat crew keep a good watch. Divers should plan their navigation carefully at night, using the anchored boat's lights and a compass, and should carry a backup torch and a strobe or light stick.
Trout Spot is included for completeness; independent confirmation of its exact position is not available.
Getting there & entry
A shallow coral garden on Llewellyn Reef in the northern Bunker Group, suitable for a night dive, with smaller marine life.
The Bunker Group reefs lie 80-100 km north-east of Bundaberg and 50-90 km east of the Town of 1770. Private boats launch from the 1770 Marina or Round Hill Creek ramp (bar crossing – check tides), or from Burnett Heads (Bundaberg Port Marina); expect 1.5-4 hours depending on vessel and destination. Yachts commonly anchor overnight in the Lady Musgrave or Fitzroy Reef lagoons and dive the surrounding reefs by tender.
Trout Spot is on Llewellyn Reef, usually dived from a yacht anchored nearby after a dive at The Catacombs.
Entry: Giant stride from private boat, charter or liveaboard
Weather, swell & tides
The Bunker reefs are open ocean: south-east trades over about 20 knots make the crossing from 1770 or Bundaberg rough and limit diving to the lee (north-western) sides, while the Fitzroy and Lady Musgrave lagoons provide secure anchorages. The best windows are September-December and March-May calms. Tidal currents run strongly around reef edges and through lagoon entrances on springs.
Cyclone season November-April; summer plankton reduces visibility. Shallow and sheltered on the lee side; ideal for a night dive from an anchored boat in calm conditions.
Best season: Year-round; May-October for the best visibility and manta rays, humpback whales July-October; turtle nesting November-March and hatching January-April
How the dive is usually run
Descend onto the coral garden near the anchored boat, stay within 3-8 m and make a slow loop, searching for small creatures. At night, keep the boat's anchor light in view and return along a compass bearing.
Marine life
- Coral trout
- damselfish
- wrasse
- parrotfish
- butterflyfish
- nudibranchs →
- crustaceans
- octopus (night) →
- hard coral garden
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Shallow enough for snorkellers and for a first dive under supervision. Any certified diver can dive it.
Courses that help here
- Night Diver – Commonly dived at night.
- Underwater Navigation – Navigation is part of the dive plan.
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
Night navigation – use boat lights and compass; remote; shallow coral.
Dive centres that go here
No scheduled day trips. Lady Musgrave Experience mentions the northern Bunker reefs (Boult, Llewellyn, Lamont and Fitzroy) as remote sites for special or extended trips, Heron Island Resort has historically run occasional long-range trips to the northern Bunker reefs, and most diving is from private yachts and occasional liveaboards.
Operators recorded for Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot
Heron Island Resort
ListedHeron Island · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A coral cay resort on the southern Great Barrier Reef with an on-island dive operation and sites a short boat ride from the jetty.
heronisland.com
Lady Musgrave Experience
ListedBurnett Heads · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A Bundaberg-based operation providing day and overnight access to Lady Musgrave Island and its lagoon.
ladymusgraveexperience.com.au · (07) 4151 5225
1770 Reef
ListedSeventeen Seventy · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
An operation running trips from the Town of 1770 to Lady Musgrave Island and the southern Great Barrier Reef.
1770reef.com.au · (07) 4972 7222
Other dive centres in Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
Bundaberg Aqua Scuba
ListedBundaberg · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A Bundaberg-based training and equipment business serving the local diving community and southern reef access.
aquascuba.com.au · 0402 937 765
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
ListedLady Elliot Island · Bundaberg & Agnes Water · QLD
A coral cay resort at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, strongly associated with manta ray encounters and accessed by light aircraft.
ladyelliot.com.au · 1800 072 200
General area
No position has been published for Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot. The circle shows where it is likely to be, worked out from other documented sites near Bundaberg. Ask a local operator for the exact site.
Dashed circle: general area (about 32 km), from other documented sites near Bundaberg. 6 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot: frequently asked questions
How deep is Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot reaches a maximum depth of 10 m, with the shallowest part at about 2 m; most of the dive is spent around 6 m.
What certification do I need to dive Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day.
Can I shore dive Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
No, it is reached by boat (about 200 minutes). A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
Year-round; May-October for the best visibility and manta rays, humpback whales July-October; turtle nesting November-March and hatching January-April.
What marine life will I see at Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
Regularly recorded: Coral trout, damselfish, wrasse, parrotfish, butterflyfish, nudibranchs, crustaceans, octopus (night), hard coral garden.
What wetsuit do I need at Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
3 mm full suit in summer; 5 mm full suit (hood optional) June-September.
How cold is the water at Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
Typically 25-28 °C in summer and 20-22 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
Night navigation – use boat lights and compass; remote; shallow coral. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Can you night dive Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot?
Yes, Llewellyn Reef – Trout Spot is commonly dived at night.
Diving in Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group
Lady Musgrave is a coral cay with a navigable lagoon in the Bunker Group, day-tripped from Bundaberg and 1770 and used by liveaboards and campers. The outer reef has manta cleaning stations, coral bommies, turtles and reef sharks in 20 m-plus visibility; the lagoon is a gentle snorkel and training site.
Getting there: Day boats from Bundaberg (Burnett Heads) and Town of 1770; overnight pontoon stays and camping on the island by permit.
All Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Position unknown.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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