Townsville to Brisbane dives

[Doug.Fitz]

Hi everyone,

I have my family coming out in several weeks and would like to show them some great dive sites from Townsville to Brisbane. Unfortunately I have only dove in Townsville and Cairns and one of the only places I have been repeatedly told about is Byron bay, so I am looking for some more insight. Also I was curious about what others thought about Pelorus/Orpheus island in Townsville?

 

[nadwidny]

For me if someone is coming to the area then the Yongala wreck is a don't miss.

I did Pelorus (or Orpheus I can't remember which) many years ago. As it was one of my first dives in the area after moving there I thought it was pretty good but that was before I dove the GBR. I remember the dives we did being on the shallow side.

 

[Tbar]

From another post http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/australia/500547-australia-diving-2.html

I wont go into the Townville local dives - you know those.

I wont raise the reefs of Whitsundays - okay if you want to look at the islands and go to Whitehaven beach, much of the diving is developed around back-packers "party boats".

Heron Island - Great Barrier Reef Accommodation | Heron Island Resort

The Bunker Group of islands - Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands - http://www.ladyelliot.com.au/ Big Cat Reality are doing more trips in that area but not shown on their site Brisbane Liveaboard Diving & Moreton Bay Cruises - Big Cat Reality

Rainbow Beach - Wolf Rock for the Grey Nurse https://www.facebook.com/wolfrockdive

Around Brisbane
- Sunshine Coast (Mooloolaba) just north of Brisbane, if you feel like a wreck dive (sunk navy ship), on the ex-HMAS Brisbane. http://www.sunreef.com.au/dive-the-e...ne-wreck-dive/ or http://scubaworld.com.au/dive-sites/dive-hmas-brisbane/.
- Flinders Reef, many commercial operators go here
- East side of Moreton Island, to see Grey Nurse shark Cherubs Cave, Henderson Rock also see Whales at this time of year - saw the on Monday. Go Dive run trip weather permitting.
- Stradbroke Island - Flat Rock see coral and sharks, Shag Rock coral, Manta Bommie see Manta's maybe not this time of year - Go Dive go here (weather and bar dependent), or stay on the island and use Manta Dive. Stradie is a great place to stay, at Pt Lookout see the whales pass by.

Further south (2 hours from Brisbane) Julian Rocks off Byron Bay, a unique site where the cool southern current meet the warm north currents, coral, grey Nurse - I dive this with Blue Bay Divers a nice relaxed day out leaving from Brunswick Heads 15 minutes north of Byron.

PS I have no affiliation to any of the companies mentioned.

 

[Wingy]

Another vote for the Yongala.

 

[WetPup]

I do a bit of work up at Orpheus. The diving isn't bad, fairly shallow though. If you get out in the channel between Orpheus and Pelorus there can be a bit of current ripping through, but that being said, I've never seen a whole lot of pelagic life there. Ok for a day trip, or overnight if you go up with Remote Area Dive (based in Townsville). Otherwise I'd be on the Yongala bandwagon with everyone else. Strongly recommend driving down to Alva Beach and diving with Yongala Dive rather than risking it with the day trip boat with Adrenalin Dive in Townsville. Not that there's anything wrong with Adrenalin, but they do regularly have to cancel trips due to weather and passenger numbers, whereas Yongala Dive is more conveniently located and doesn't have the same level of weather related issues as a result.