Wistari 2 is the deep dive on the Wistari Reef wall, across the channel from Heron Island. The mooring is at 24 m at the base of the wall, and divers explore the wall structure as they ascend towards the surface, giving a natural deep-to-shallow profile. The wall is well covered with coral and invertebrates, and the base and open water beside it are where the action is: schooling fish, turtles and sharks are regular, and divers who look out into the blue have a chance of spotting pelagic species and large rays.

The dive team describes the site as best done on an incoming tide, when water flows onto the wall bringing in clearer water and fish. Because the mooring is deep, the dive requires good planning: bottom time at 24 m is limited, and divers should begin their ascent early enough to enjoy the upper wall without pushing no-decompression limits. The channel current also needs to be considered, so guides time the dive carefully.

Wistari 2 suits experienced divers who are comfortable with depth, ideally with Deep or Advanced certification. It is one of the better options at Heron for divers who want a deeper wall with a sense of open water. It is part of the Wistari Reef system that the earlier database pass grouped into a single row, and it is now listed separately alongside Wistari 1 and The Cliffs.

Nitrox-certified divers gain useful extra time at the base, and a computer is essential for tracking the multi-level ascent profile along the wall.

Heron Island is 72 km north-east of Gladstone. Fly or drive to Gladstone, then take the Heron Islander ferry from the Gladstone Marina terminal (72 Bryan Jordan Drive; check-in from 7:45 am, departs 9:30 am on scheduled days, about 2 hours), or transfer by seaplane or helicopter. Dive gear is carried on the ferry in addition to baggage.

On the island, the dive centre sits beside the harbour; boats leave the jetty for three dives daily and most Heron Reef sites are 5-15 minutes away. Wistari 2 is on the eastern wall of Wistari Reef across Wistari Channel, about 10-15 minutes from the jetty, dived from a mooring in 24 m.

Heron Reef sites are chosen on the day by wind and tide. The prevailing south-east trade winds (strongest April-September, often 15-25 knots) make the southern and south-eastern reef edge rough, so the sheltered northern and western sites are dived most. Northerly winds in spring and summer reverse this.

The tidal range is up to 3-4 m and currents run strongly around the reef edge and through Wistari Channel on springs; visibility is usually best on the incoming tide. Cyclone season is November-April; summer storms and plankton blooms can drop visibility to 10 m. Stingers are uncommon this far south but present in summer.

Wistari 2 is best on an incoming tide, when clearer water and fish flow along the wall; outgoing tides can reduce visibility and increase current.

Descend the mooring directly to the base of the wall at 24 m, spend the first part of the dive along the base looking out into the blue for rays and pelagics, then ascend the wall gradually in stages, finishing on the top of the reef for a safety stop.

Nitrox (EAN32, MOD about 34 m) extends no-decompression time at the 24 m mooring for certified divers; check availability with the dive centre.

Heron Island Resort Dive Centre is the only operator: three guided boat dives a day (about 9 am, 11 am and 3 pm) plus scheduled night dives, from the resort jetty; sites are rotated by tide and wind. Access requires a stay at Heron Island Resort (or the University of Queensland research station).