Wave Break Island is a man-made island built inside the Gold Coast Seaway entrance to protect the Broadwater from waves. Its rock walls, sheltered from the open ocean, have turned into one of the Gold Coast's busiest snorkel and training sites. Depth runs from the beach to about 12 m, averaging around 4 m, which makes it ideal for snorkelling, introductory dives and open water training.

Gold Coast Dive Adventures notes that the fish are abundant and accustomed to people because operators have fed them for years, and Queensland Scuba Diving Company runs hand-feeding snorkel and dive experiences here. The result is clouds of bream, sergeant majors, damsels and other small fish swarming divers the moment they enter the water. Around the rocks, divers also see wobbegongs, rays, moray eels, lionfish and plenty of macro life; Experience Gold Coast lists colourful fish, coral growth, wobbegongs and even grey nurse sharks, though those are rare visitors.

Turtles are also seen. Because the island is protected, it is often the only diveable site when easterly swell has closed the offshore reefs, and it is a reliable choice for nervous snorkellers and children. The limitation is tide: the site is best at high tide, with a window of roughly 2.5 hours, when clearer ocean water floods in; on the ebb the water becomes murky and currents pick up.

Fish feeding is controversial among some divers, but it is part of the site's character. For experienced divers, it is a relaxed shallow dive rather than a highlight.

Boat access only – there is no bridge. Operators run short boat transfers from Main Beach (Queensland Scuba Diving Company) or Runaway Bay Marina (Gold Coast Dive Adventures, about 10 minutes). Private boats and kayaks can land on the island's sandy beach from the Broadwater ramps near Doug Jennings Park or Main Beach.

Divers wade in from the beach or back-roll from the boat beside the rock wall.

Protected from ocean swell by the Seaway breakwaters, so it is diveable in most weather. It is best at high tide; Gold Coast Dive Adventures gives a window of about 2.5 hours around high tide, after which the ebb brings turbid Broadwater water and current. Strong northerly or westerly winds put chop on the exposed sides of the island.

Visibility drops after heavy rain.

Enter at high tide from the beach or boat, follow the rock wall down to 4-8 m and move slowly along it, then return along the shallower part of the slope. Snorkellers stay over the rocks in 1-4 m.

Queensland Scuba Diving Company (Main Beach) – daily snorkel, fish-feeding and intro dives; Gold Coast Dive Adventures – learn-to-dive, intro and snorkel trips; other Gold Coast schools use it for training.