Queensland · 38 sites
Heron Island & Capricorn Group dive sites
Heron Island is a coral cay on the southern Great Barrier Reef where you walk off the beach into a reef, and the Heron Bommie, Gorgonia Hole and the Coral Cascades are a few minutes by boat. Turtles nest on the beach from November to March, reef sharks and rays patrol the harbour, and mantas visit the cleaning stations in winter. Wilson, Wistari and One Tree islands are nearby.
- Sites
- 38
- Wrecks
- 3
- Shore
- 1
- Boat
- 36
- Beginner
- 21
- Deepest
- 30 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Manta season at Lady Elliot is past its winter peak but rays are still on the Lighthouse Bommies most days. Water 21–22 °C, clear, and the turtle nesting season starts in November on Heron and Lady Musgrave. October is quiet and good.
Getting there
Fly to Gladstone then a two-hour ferry or a helicopter transfer to Heron Island. The resort's dive centre runs two or three boat dives a day.
When to go
Year-round; June to October for the best visibility and mantas, November to March for nesting turtles and coral spawning.
Water & suit
Summer 25-28 °C · winter 20-22 °C. 3 mm full suit in summer; 5 mm full suit (hood optional) June-September
Nearest chamber: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Brisbane) – nearest; Townsville University Hospital is the alternative. Evacuation by helicopter via Gladstone
Most recorded marine life in Heron Island & Capricorn Group
- Reef fish 20
- Reef sharks 18
- Turtles 18
- Nudibranchs 11
- Moray eels 8
- Hard and soft corals 7
- Coral trout 6
- Pelagic fish 6
- Rays 6
- Scorpionfish 5
- Crustaceans 4
- Damselfish 4
- Manta rays 4
- Soft corals 4
Plan a dive trip to Heron Island & Capricorn Group →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Heron Island & Capricorn Group
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Heron Island & Capricorn Group
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own Heron Island & Capricorn Group plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with the gentler sites while you get used to local conditions and the operator's routine.
- Heron BommiePinnacle/Bommie · Max 20 m · Advanced Open Water
- HMCS Protector Wreck (Heron Island)Wreck · Max 4 m · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Heron Island & Capricorn Group for, including the main wreck.
- Hole in the Wall (Heron Island)Reef · Max 20 m · Advanced Open Water
- The Junction (Heron Island)Reef · Max 14 m · Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Heron Island & Capricorn Group.
- Three Rocks (Heron Island)Drift · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
- Wistari 1 (Wistari Reef)Wall · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Heron Island & Capricorn Group
All Queensland operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Heron Island Resort
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Heron 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
ResortDestination5 services46 sites
Bundaberg Aqua Scuba
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Bundaberg · 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
TrainingRetail4 services21 sites
Lady Musgrave Experience
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Burnett 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
CharterDestination2 services20 sites
1770 Reef
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Seventeen 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
CharterDestination2 services19 sites
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Lady 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
ResortDestination5 services1 site
MV Adori liveaboard
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
Heron Island & Capricorn Group · QLD
Most recent trips found were 2021 departures from Rosslyn Bay booked through Turtle Town Scuba; no 2025–26 schedule located.
11 sites
Map of Heron Island & Capricorn Group dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 1 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
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37 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 38 Heron Island & Capricorn Group dive sites
All Heron Island & Capricorn Group sites at a glance
38 sites in Heron Island & Capricorn Group · click a column to sort
| Blue Pools (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Bromfield Reef | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Bylund's Pass (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Coral Canyons (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Coral Cascades (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 19 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Coral Gardens (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Coral Grotto (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Gorgonia Hole (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Harry's Bommie (Heron Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Heron Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| HMCS Protector Wreck (Heron Island) | Wreck | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Daily |
| Hole in the Wall (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Libby's Lair (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Manta Channel (North Reef) | Drift | Max 15 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Masthead Island Reef | Island | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Ned's Bommie (Heron Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| North Bommie (Heron Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| North West Island Reef | Island | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| One Tree Island Reef | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Pam's Point (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Plate Ledge (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Polmaise Bommies | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Southpark (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| SS Cooma Wreck (North Reef) | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Staghorn Banks (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Sykes Reef | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Tambaroora Wreck (Polmaise Reef) | Wreck | Max 8 m | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Tenements 1 (Heron Island) | Wall | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Tenements 2 (Heron Island) | Wall | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| The Cliffs (Wistari Reef) | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| The Junction (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Three Rocks (Heron Island) | Drift | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Tryon Island Reef | Island | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Turtle Gully (Heron Island) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Walts Bommie (Heron Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Wilson Island Reef | Island | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Wistari 1 (Wistari Reef) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Wistari 2 (Wistari Reef) | Wall | Max 24 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
Heron Island & Capricorn Group diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Heron Island & Capricorn Group?
Fly to Gladstone then a two-hour ferry or a helicopter transfer to Heron Island. The resort's dive centre runs two or three boat dives a day.
When is the best time to dive Heron Island & Capricorn Group?
Year-round; June to October for the best visibility and mantas, November to March for nesting turtles and coral spawning.
How many dive sites are there in Heron Island & Capricorn Group?
38 documented sites, including 3 wrecks and 1 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 30 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Heron Island & Capricorn Group?
Yes, 21 sites are rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in Heron Island & Capricorn Group?
Typically 25-28 °C in summer and 20-22 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm full suit in summer; 5 mm full suit (hood optional) June-September.
Which dive centres operate in Heron Island & Capricorn Group?
Heron Island Resort, Bundaberg Aqua Scuba, Lady Musgrave Experience, 1770 Reef, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, MV Adori liveaboard are recorded as running sites in Heron Island & Capricorn Group. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Heron Island & Capricorn Group?
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (Brisbane) – nearest; Townsville University Hospital is the alternative. Evacuation by helicopter via Gladstone. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
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