Queensland · 42 sites
Townsville & Magnetic Island dive sites
Townsville is the gateway to the SS Yongala, the 1911 passenger steamer that is Australia's most celebrated wreck dive, and to the John Brewer and Lodestone reefs offshore. Magnetic Island, 20 minutes away by ferry, has shore dives on the SS Moltke wreck in Geoffrey Bay, the Museum of Underwater Art sculptures and fringing coral around the bays.
- Sites
- 42
- Wrecks
- 8
- Shore
- 11
- Boat
- 27
- Beginner
- 21
- Deepest
- 40 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The Yongala's calmest, clearest months are September to November: 24–25 °C water, 15–25 m visibility and light winds most days out of Ayr and Townsville. Book ahead; it is the most requested dive in the country and the boats fill.
Getting there
Fly into Townsville. Yongala trips run from Townsville (3 hours each way) or from Alva Beach near Ayr (30 minutes); the Ayr option is more reliable. Magnetic Island is a ferry ride.
When to go
September to December for the calmest seas and clearest water; the Yongala is weather-dependent year-round.
Water & suit
Summer 27-29 °C · winter 22-24 °C. 3 mm full suit or stinger suit in summer (lycra/stinger suit essential Nov–May); 5 mm full suit June–September
Nearest chamber: Townsville University Hospital hyperbaric unit (Douglas, Townsville)
Most recorded marine life in Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Coral trout 16
- Parrotfish 16
- Nudibranchs 13
- Damselfish 12
- Fusiliers 12
- Turtles 11
- Reef sharks 10
- Sweetlips 10
- Batfish 9
- Trevally 8
- Reef fish 7
- Surgeonfish 7
- Moray eels 6
- Cod 5
Plan a dive trip to Townsville & Magnetic Island →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Townsville & Magnetic Island
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Townsville & Magnetic Island
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 Townsville & Magnetic Island plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Townsville & Magnetic Island's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- SS Moltke Wreck (Geoffrey Bay)Wreck · Max 8 m · Open Water
- Alma Bay (Magnetic Island)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 10 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Townsville & Magnetic Island for, including SS Yongala.
- SS YongalaWreck · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- Florence Bay (Magnetic Island)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 15 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 Townsville & Magnetic Island.
- Wheeler ReefReef · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
- Helix ReefReef · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Townsville & Magnetic Island
All Queensland operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Yongala Dive
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Alva Beach · Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD
An Ayr-based operation specialising in the SS Yongala, with a shorter boat transit to the wreck than Townsville departures.
yongaladive.com.au · 0407 299 876
DestinationCharter4 services12 sites
Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
South Townsville · Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD
A Townsville operation running SS Yongala trips alongside reef diving and training.
adrenalindive.com.au · (07) 4724 0600
CharterTrainingDestination4 services46 sites
Pleasure Divers Magnetic Island
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Arcadia, Magnetic Island · Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD
A Magnetic Island training and guided-diving operation serving island-based visitors.
pleasuredivers.com.au · (07) 4778 5788
TrainingCharter3 services30 sites
Pro Dive Magnetic Island
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island · Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD
A Magnetic Island operation offering training and local diving.
prodivemagnetic.com · (07) 4778 5506
TrainingCharter2 services1 site
Orpheus Island Lodge
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Orpheus Island · Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD
Luxury island resort (Morris Escapes) offering diving to guests, not a dive shop.
orpheus.com.au · (07) 4777 7377
13 sites
Coral Expeditions
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD
Expedition cruise line (Cairns-based), not a dive shop; diving/snorkelling offered on Great Barrier Reef itineraries. Phone not extractable from site.
coralexpeditions.com
1 site
Map of Townsville & Magnetic Island dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 10 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
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32 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 42 Townsville & Magnetic Island dive sites
All Townsville & Magnetic Island sites at a glance
42 sites in Townsville & Magnetic Island · click a column to sort
| Alma Bay (Magnetic Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Anzac Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Arthur Bay (Magnetic Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Balding Bay (Magnetic Island) | Wall | Max 7 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Bowl Reef | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Bremner Point (Geoffrey Bay Headland) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Broadhurst Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Centipede Reef | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Chicken Reef | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Curtiss Falcon Aircraft Wreck (Nelly Bay) | Aircraft Wreck | Depth not published | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Danger Marks (Orpheus–Pelorus Channel) | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Davies Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Florence Bay (Magnetic Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail (Magnetic Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 6 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Weekly |
| Helix Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Horseshoe Bay Wrecks (Magnetic Island) | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| John Brewer Reef – Ocean Sentinels & Coral Gardens | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Keeper Reef | Reef | Max 21 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Kelso Reef | Reef | Max 21 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Little Broadhurst Reef – Barra Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Little Kelso Reef | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Lodestone Reef | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| MOUA Coral Greenhouse (John Brewer Reef) | Artificial Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| MV Reef Princess Wreck (Wheeler Reef) | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Myrmidon Reef | Reef | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Nelly Bay – Coconut Reef (Rocky Bay) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Orchard Rocks (Magnetic Island) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Orpheus Island – Iris Point | Wall | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Orpheus–Pelorus Channel (Ray's Lump & Western Edge) | Reef | Max 16 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Pelorus Island – Front Reef | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Pelorus Island – House Mooring | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Pelorus Island – Northern Point | Reef | Max 15 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Pelorus Island – Southern Wall | Wall | Max 16 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Picnic Bay Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Pioneer Bay Giant Clam Gardens (Orpheus Island) | Reef | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Platypus Dredge Wreck (Arthur Bay) | Wreck | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Shark Alley (Wheeler Reef) | Reef | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| SS Gothenburg Wreck (Old Reef) | Wreck | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| SS Moltke Wreck (Geoffrey Bay) | Wreck | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Daily |
| SS Yongala | Wreck | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Wheeler Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Yanks Jetty (Orpheus Island) | Jetty/Pier | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
Townsville & Magnetic Island diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Townsville & Magnetic Island?
Fly into Townsville. Yongala trips run from Townsville (3 hours each way) or from Alva Beach near Ayr (30 minutes); the Ayr option is more reliable. Magnetic Island is a ferry ride.
When is the best time to dive Townsville & Magnetic Island?
September to December for the calmest seas and clearest water; the Yongala is weather-dependent year-round.
How many dive sites are there in Townsville & Magnetic Island?
42 documented sites, including 8 wrecks and 11 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 40 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Townsville & Magnetic Island?
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 Townsville & Magnetic Island?
Typically 27-29 °C in summer and 22-24 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm full suit or stinger suit in summer (lycra/stinger suit essential Nov–May); 5 mm full suit June–September.
Which dive centres operate in Townsville & Magnetic Island?
Yongala Dive, Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive, Pleasure Divers Magnetic Island, Pro Dive Magnetic Island, Orpheus Island Lodge, Coral Expeditions are recorded as running sites in Townsville & Magnetic Island. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Townsville & Magnetic Island?
Townsville University Hospital hyperbaric unit (Douglas, Townsville). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
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