12 Best Scuba Diving Sites Near Brisbane & Map

If you’re searching for the best scuba diving sites near Brisbane, you might be surprised by just how many incredible underwater spots there are right on the city’s doorstep.

The challenge for first-time visitors or even locals new to diving here is knowing where to start. It can feel overwhelming to work out which dives suit your level, what gear you’ll need, and how to get there.

Between Matt and I, we’re both Divemasters and have logged hundreds of dives in Brisbane and its surrounds. We’ve explored everything from beginner-friendly shore dives to advanced wreck penetrations, and we know first-hand what makes each site special.

In this guide, I’ll share our insider tips on the top dive sites near Brisbane, what to expect at each one, and how to plan your trip for the best experience.

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Map of Brisbane Scuba Diving Sites!

When it comes to scuba diving near Brisbane, you’re spoiled for choice! But please use this pinned map of the Diving sites to find places stretching from down to the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and up to the Sunshine Coast.

Pinned Map on Scuba Diving Sites Near Brisbane

Graph Data on Month to Month Average Weather Temperatures & Rainfall in Brisbane, Queensland

➡ Brisbane Area

1. Flat Rock & Shark Alley

Location: North Stradbroke Island
Depth: 12 to 35 Metres

Flat rock is not necessarily a dive site you will visit as a novice or open-water diver. However, some sections are shallow enough to suffice for some training. There are several different sites here, but the most visited would have to be Shark Alley.

As the name suggests, the winter season (June to August) has a large number of Grey Nurse sharks congregating here. The site contains lots of gutter, gulley, and canyons where the sharks like to hang out. Apart from that, this area is also brilliant for green or loggerhead turtles, and you can get really close to a resting Leopard Shark.

➡ Find Diving Tours HERE with GYG, Or HERE with Viator.

2. Manta Ray Bommie

Location: North Stradbroke Island
Depth: 5 to 16 Metres

Straddie is definitely worth visiting and Manta Bommie would have to be one of my personal favourite sites. Why do Manta Rays come here? Well, it’s a cleaning station, so you will often find them hovering above the bommie’s waiting to be cleaned.

And, If you’re lucky, Manta’s will pass above you wanting to massage their bellies on the bubbles expelled from your regs. But, you can also find heaps of different Nudibranch Species hiding in the rocks and crevices. It’s hard to imagine that on a single 40-minute dive, I once came across about 15 different coloured Nudibranchs.

Plus, with the sandy bottom and rocks all around, you will often find Sting rays and wobbegongs hiding. Leopard sharks, Bull Rays, octopuses, Guitar Sharks, and Eagle rays can also show an appearance.

Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!

3. Flinders Reef

Location: Moreton Bay
Depth: 3 to 28 Metres

Flinders Reef is located just off the coast of Moreton Island and contains hundreds of different fish species and a known turtle cleaning station. This coral reef was named after Matthew Flinders and is protected within the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Sea life include encountering Wrasse, Sweetlip, Trevally, Parrot, Bat, Surgeon, turtles, and tropical fish. Larger creatures like Manta Rays, Wobbegongs, and Leopard Sharks will also come past in season.

The walls, gutters, caves, and pinnacles of this reef are covered in over one hundred coral species, including staghorn, brain, plate, and many others, as well as soft corals, gorgonians, and sponges.

Fish cleaning turtle — Fish cleaning Turtles at Flinders Reef

4. Tangalooma Wrecks

Location: Tangalooma Island Resort, Moreton Island
Depth: 1 to 12 Metres

The Tangalooma Wrecks is a dream for beginners or open-water divers! Not only that, the Advanced diver can find amazing creatures and enjoy the feel of exploring the Tangalooma Wrecks.

➡ Book Moreton Island HERE with GYG.

It’s one of the easiest dive sites to navigate and has 15 wrecks in a line, but not only that, you’re 100 metres away from shore and it makes it worth visiting Moreton Island. Because of this, you will often find several Snorkelers and free divers also exploring the wrecks.

Staying one the island, means you can add it to the many activities available from the Islands resort. Alternatively, you can jump on a boat from the mainland shores and head out for the day.

Fish life in the Tangalooma Wrecks — Fish life in the Wrecks

5. Curtain Artificial Reef

Location: Moreton Bay
Depth: 16 to 27 Metres

The Curtain Artificial Reef is a man-made structure of 30 wrecks all clustered together off the coast of Moreton Island. You could see the remnants of Ships, cars, and possible pontoons with a varied amount of sea creatures surrounding them.

Big Groupers are often found swimming around this section, and I have found the biggest Nudibranchs I have ever encountered. Apart from that, wobbegongs (which are common here), schools of Barracuda, and often stingrays are around.

6. Shag Rock

Location: North Stradbroke Island
Depth: 6 to 20 Metres

Shag Rock could be a perfect place for you if you’re after an accessible and shallow diving site. I haven’t found the visibility to be that good all the time, but smaller or macro creatures thrive in the area. Therefore, If you know where to look, you can find a fantastic variety of underwater life to entertain you.

Shag Rock consists of large rocks and two swim-throughs going from the eastern side to the western side. If you’re a photographer like me, then a dive site like this can save a “bad” visibility day, but it takes some practice to find everything that’s hidden in the rocks.

➡ North of Brisbane

7. Ex-HMAS Brisbane

Location: Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
Depth: 15 to 30 metres

For any diver that loves Wrecks, the Ex-HMAS Brisbane is the place for you. It’s even better that it only takes 10 to 15 minutes to get out there, so there isn’t much waiting around. Not to mention, there are about 1000 different species of marine life in and around the wreck, which makes it a dream to dive.

➡ Check prices for Diving trips to HMAS HERE with GYG

The boat itself has several different mooring lines, so it’s effortless to navigate down and return back to the boat. You can choose to explore around the outside or enter one of the holes to go inside.

➡ South of Brisbane

8. Julian Rocks

Location: Byron Bay, New South Wales
Depth: 15 to 30 metres

Julian Rocks off the coast of vibrant Byron Bay is one of Australia’s most spectacular diving spots. It’s quick and easy to get to with just a 15-minute ride from the beach.

Apart from that, you have an abundance of marine life, such as beautiful turtles, leopard sharks, and manta rays, along with more fascinating creatures like nudibranchs and grey nurse sharks.

You can even encounter dolphins or migrating whales while you’re below the surface. All in all, it’s an experience that should not be missed!

9. Cook Island

Location: Gold Coast
Depth: up to 15 metres

The beautiful Cook Island on the Gold Coast is an easy-to-navigate paradise for divers of all abilities. There are lots of large rocks to explore, where divers can find a variety of colorful fish and other charming sea creatures.

Keep your eyes peeled for an octopus or two, not to mention some shy turtles! Even if you’re a beginner diver, you’ll no doubt be captivated by the spectacular sights that await beneath the surface at this majestic location.

10. Scottish Prince Shipwreck

Location: Gold Coast
Depth: up to 10 metres

For a unique scuba diving experience, explore the Scottish Prince shipwreck off the Gold Coast of Australia. The 1887 steel-masted iron barque has been in the ocean for over 130 years yet still provides an astonishing array of wildlife to behold.

It is 64 metres long and surrounded by a rich array of algae, colourful soft corals, sponge gardens, and a variety of other unusual growths. Visiting this wreck gives you a view into the world of shipwrecks and an opportunity to spot marine life among its fascinating remains.

There’s even rumoured to be gold coins lying amongst the wreckage. So who doesn’t want to find their own version of pirate treasure?

➡ Compare prices for Diving Tours HERE with Get Your Guide, Or HERE with Viator.

11. The Seaway

Location: Gold Coast
Depth: up to 10 metres

Everyone like somewhere free to dive, right? Well, the Seaway area on the Gold Coast is just one of those places. In fact, you’ll see plenty of divers there on the weekend jumping in, but the visibility can be bad sometime.

Offering free shore diving, you can explore a variety of marine life, from seahorses to stingrays and puffer fish or porcupine fish. On the downside, it can be noisy due to jet boats and other swimmers in the area, so make sure to look out for fishermen and swimmers while there.

12. Palm Beach Reef

Location: Gold Coast
Depth: up to 10 metres

Palm Beach Reef on the Gold Coast is a unique ecosystem and largest coral reef system in the area. It can only be accessed by your own boat, which makes it even more exclusive.

The stunning reefs are full of vibrant marine life, as well as huts, swim-throughs, tunnels, and walls. Plus, you can get up close to tropical fish like anemone fish and leopard sharks and macro lovers will enjoy the small critters.

How to get around?

The public transport system makes exploring Brisbane as a tourist a lot easier. You can take the train, bus, or ferry to get around the most popular attractions and destinations in the city. And, you can check out this YouTube Clip for more in-depth instructions on how to use it.

➡Find your favourite brand & compare prices for your Rental Car HERE

Personally, If you don’t have your own transport, then I would always recommend hiring a car to get around. Some of these dive trips would leave really early or come back late, and it’s probably your safest and most convenient option.

Can you visit the Great Barrier Reef from Brisbane?

The Great Barrier Reef stretches from Bundaberg all the way up the Queensland Coast, and unfortunately, doesn’t include Brisbane. However, You can access the southern area of the Great Barrier Reef from Redcliffe with a flight and get to Lady Elliot Island.

Apart from that, you can drive to other diving or snorkel sites in Queensland but might need a little extra time to organise. I’ve snorkelled and dived in many Great Barrier Reef dive sites, including the Whitsundays, Great Keppel Island, Magnetic Island, Cairns and Port Douglas.

Wrap up!

Thanks for reading this blog post today on the Best Scuba Diving sites near Brisbane, and I hope you found what you were looking for. If you’re still researching, then please check out other Brisbane based blog posts for inspiration.

12 Best Scuba Diving Sites Near Brisbane & Map

Map of Brisbane Scuba Diving Sites!