Maureen's Cove is a small bay with a white beach on the northern coast of Hook Island, used by snorkel tours and sailing charters as a sheltered alternative to the busier northern Hook sites. It sits within the Marine National Park green zone that covers the northern Hook fringing reefs. The cove's fringing reef runs along both rocky sides and across the front of the beach, dropping from shallow reef flat to sand at around 10–12 m.

It is a shallow, gentle site best suited to snorkellers and new divers, with coral heads, reef fish, turtles feeding on the algae and the occasional reef shark along the edges. Like Butterfly Bay and Luncheon Bay, Maureen's Cove was reported by the ABC as partially destroyed by Cyclone Debbie in March 2017, with branching corals broken and bleached. The reef has been recovering, and it remains in use, but coral quality varies.

Its beach, one of the more attractive on northern Hook, also makes it a popular lunch and swimming stop. Published dive detail for Maureen's Cove is sparse, so depths here are drawn from the general profile of the area's fringing reefs rather than a detailed site survey. Operators choose it according to wind and tide, and it is most often visited by sailing trips and snorkel tours rather than dedicated dive boats.

For a relaxed snorkel off a sheltered beach, it serves well; divers wanting more structure should look to the Pinnacles, Manta Ray Bay or Alcyonaria Point, all within a few minutes by boat.

Boat only. Northern Hook Island is about 22–28 nautical miles from Airlie Beach – roughly 45–75 minutes by fast day boat from Coral Sea Marina or Port of Airlie, or about 1 hour from Hamilton Island marina. Day tours that stop here include Ocean Rafting, Red Cat Adventures (Thundercat), Whitsunday Dive Adventures and Explore Group (from Airlie and Hamilton Island); overnight sailing and bareboat charters also visit.

Private and bareboat skippers must use the public moorings (time-limited, first come first served) and observe no-anchoring areas marked by reef protection markers; bareboat operators restrict where hirers may go. Parking at Airlie is available near Coral Sea Marina and the Port of Airlie.

The northern Hook Island bays face north and are sheltered from the dominant south-east trades (15–25 knots April–September), but they are open to northerly winds and swell (common October–March) and to very strong south-easterlies that wrap around the headlands. Tidal currents through the islands are strong on spring tides (tidal range up to about 4 m) and can make points and bay entrances difficult – plan dives at slack water and neap tides where possible. Visibility is usually 5–15 m, dropping after strong winds, big tides and wet-season rain.

Manta rays visit May–September. 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).

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie (March 2017) badly damaged the fringing reefs of northern Hook and Hayman islands; recovery is ongoing.

Snorkel or dive the fringing reef from the beach edge out along the cove's sides at 2–10 m, then return in the shallows. Use the beach as a reference.

Ocean Rafting (Northern Exposure/Southern Lights – daily snorkel stops on northern Hook), Red Cat Adventures Thundercat (daily, Mantaray Bay/Stonehaven), Whitsunday Dive Adventures (certified and Discover Scuba day trips, several times a week), Explore Group (dive and snorkel from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, daily), plus overnight sailing vessels and bareboats.