Sunshine Reef is a large offshore reef off Sunshine Beach, south-east of Noosa National Park. Deep Sea Fishing Co places it at 26°25.100'S 153°09.150'E, about 10 km from the Noosa bar, in 20-35 m, and describes 'scattered boulders mixed with coral reef and patches of sand'. GoodDive lists it at 32-33 m, with coral trout, parrotfish, tuskfish, coral crayfish, mantis shrimps, banded coral shrimps, Spanish dancer nudibranchs and grey nurse sharks.

The combination of depth, boulder topography and open-ocean position gives Sunshine Reef a different character to the shallow Laguna Bay reefs. Visibility is usually better, fish tend to be larger, and pelagic species pass along the reef. The grey nurse shark record is notable: the reef is part of the coastline these sharks move along between their aggregation sites, including Wolf Rock to the north.

The trade-off is exposure. The reef lies outside the shelter of the Noosa headland, so it is diveable only on calm days, and getting there requires crossing the Noosa River bar. Depth puts it in Advanced territory, with limited bottom time on air.

There is no regular dive operator; it is best known as a fishing ground, and the Sea Slug Forum mentions it only in passing as one of the Noosa sites.

Sunshine Reef suits experienced divers with their own boat looking for a deeper, less-visited reef with bigger fish and a chance of grey nurse sharks.

Noosa's reefs are reached by boat. SubSurface Scuba runs Jew Shoal double and triple dives (about 20 minutes' boat ride to the shoal). Private boats launch at the Noosa River ramps (Noosaville/Munna Point or Tewantin) and must cross the Noosa River bar at the river mouth beside Noosa Heads – a shallow, shifting bar that is hazardous in any swell and best crossed on a rising tide in daylight.

From the bar, run east around the Noosa headland and south-east past Alexandria Bay to the reef at about 26°25.100'S 153°09.150'E – roughly 10 km, 20-30 minutes. Unlike the Laguna Bay reefs, this site is outside the shelter of the headland. Anchor in sand beside the reef.

Sunshine Reef lies east of the Noosa headland in open water, exposed to the south-east trades and easterly swell that the Laguna Bay reefs escape. It needs light winds (under about 12-15 knots) and small seas, plus a safe Noosa bar crossing on the way out and back. Winter westerlies give the best window and the clearest water; summer north-easterly sea breezes build in the afternoon.

Offshore currents can run along the coast – carry an SMB and have boat cover. Visibility is typically better than inshore because the site is clear of the river plume.

Anchor in sand beside a boulder area, descend to 20-25 m and explore the boulders and coral patches on a loop back to the anchor. Keep an eye on NDLs (nitrox recommended) and send up an SMB if current carries you off.

Nitrox recommended for 25-30 m profiles.

No regular dive operator documented – private boat and club dives; a major Noosa fishing ground.