Sunshine Coast Holidays - Experiences - Diving

Whether you are a seasoned diver or trying on a wetsuit for the first time, the Sunshine Coast offers some of the best diving experiences in Queensland. One major drawcard of diving the Sunshine Coast is that it offers variety, ranging from the newly created shipwreck of the ex-HMAS Brisbane to the shallow waters of Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island to the more adventurous dive of Wolf Rock, there are plenty of dive sites to explore.

With water temperatures that range from 18 degrees C to 27 degrees C and beautiful sunny weather most days of the year, the Sunshine Coast offers divers a safe and spectacular environment to explore while holidaying and enjoying the stylish and relaxed atmosphere.

Marine life is in abundance with the perfect sub-tropical waters being a haven for soft and hard corals to flourish. A variety of tropical fish, pelagic fish, giant Queensland gropers, marine reptiles (including green turtles, loggerhead turtles and hawksbill turtles), rays and sharks are regularly encountered at many dive sites.

Here is the pick of some of the best dive sites on the coast:

Ex-HMAS Brisbane

On July 31 2005, explosive charges saw the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane warship sunk off the Sunshine Coast to create a world-class dive destination and artificial reef. The vessel was scuttled about 2.8 nautical miles due east of Mudjimba Island. This puts the ship in 28 metres of water and approx. 9km from the mouth of the Mooloolah River, which has one of the safest bars on the east coast. This should mean that the ship is only 20 minutes run from the mouth of the harbour.

One of the great aspects of this new wreck dive, and this is where careful preparation has paid dividends, is that it is almost impossible to get lost on the wreck. There is nowhere that you can dive inside this wreck where you can't see an exit point, whether a natural opening or a hole carefully blasted in the hull. Open water divers will be able to descend to tour around the top deck of the ship in around 15-16 metres, with advanced open water divers qualified to go deeper to the base of the wreck. Already there is plenty of marine life making their home in the wreck, with baitfish plentiful as well as good growths of algae and a few wobbegong sharks.

The site is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and access is strictly controlled through licensing arrangements with three local operators.

Mudjimba (Old Woman) Island

A popular shallow-water dive site and close to shore, Mudjimba Island offers safe, easy and interesting diving. The island is only a few minutes boat ride north of Mooloolaba and offers a variety of marine life including lots of soft corals, sea sponges, sea anemones, Nudibranchs and a variety of tropical fish. This site is also great for snorkelling.

UnderWater World

Perhaps one of the best known dives on the Sunshine Coast is the shark dive at UnderWater World at The Wharf in Mooloolaba. Both certified and non-certified divers can experience the adrenalin rush daily when they are submerged in the 2.5 million litre Oceanarium with sharks, giant rays and tropical fish. After your dive, hop out of the Oceanarium and explore the rest of UnderWater World above the water.

Sunshine Reef

This is an extensive shoal stretching north-south off Sunshine Beach, south of Noosa Headland. The site hosts a diverse population of marine life including Coral Trout, Parrot, Tusk Fish, Coral Crayfish, Mantis Shrimps, Banded Coral Shrimps, Spanish Dancers and even the occasional Grey Nurse Shark. As this site is deeper (averaging 32-33m at the southern section) the hard and soft corals flourish. The site offers excellent diving for experienced and advanced divers.

The Pinnacles

This site is located near Laguna Bay at Noosa and is an amazing site of 3 pinnacles standing upright from the sea bed. The highest reaches 10 metres from the sea bed and the tops of the pinnacles are submerged in 16 metres of water, making the bottom dive 26 metres. This site is a photographers dream with a variety of marine life including schooling pelagics in summer, a range of rays, Loggerhead and Green Turtles, Moray Eeels, Wobbegong Sharks and over summer Leopard (Zebra) Sharks.

The Caves

Also located near Laguna Bay at Noosa, The Caves is a 10-12 metre dive incorporating interesting ledges, gutters and swim throughs. This site is renowned for its colourful array of soft and hard corals, ascidians and tropical fish.

Darcy's Reef

Darcy's reef site is a series of ridges and sand gutters 500 metres due East of The Pinnacle. The reef is adorned with many beautifully coloured Soft Corals, Black Coral Trees and White Coral Whips with Fairy Basslets and Saphire Damsels darting in and out of cover. Numerous Wobbegongs inhabit this area, laying in wait for their staple diet, the Spiny Rock Lobster.

Castaways

'Castaways' is an isolated reef half way between Noosa and Coolum and is home to many residential fish including Maori and Barramundi Cod, Coral Trout, Grouper and Lion Fish. Coral life here is quite abundant with a beautiful garden of Coral Whips and Black Coral Trees. This location is also home to the Bullseye Lobster, a very rare species in these waters.

Wolf Rock

The most northerly of the Sunshine Coast dive sites, Wolf Rock is found off Double Island Point. It is considered to be one of Australia's top ten scuba diving destinations and is perhaps one of the most adventurous dives. Wolf Rock is a formation of four volcanic pinnacles that provides some exciting diving with plenty of swim throughs, vertical gutters and overhanging ledges. Marine life is in abundance with fish varieties including trevally, cod, coral trout, perch, mackerel, baitfish, leopard shark, wobbegong shark and Grey Nurse Shark. There are also several giant Queensland Groper, manta ray and a variety of turtles.

Important Information

Water Temperatures
Minimum 18 degrees Celsius in winter
Maximum 27 degrees Celsius in summer

Visibility
15-25 metres in winter
10-15 metres in summer

Weather

All diving is done in open sea conditions. This means we depend very much on good boating weather for your safety and comfort. Always check with your operator prior to departing for your rendezvous.

Who Can Dive?
Learners need to be over 14 years of age, in good physical condition and have reasonable swimming skills. You also require a medical certificate from a doctor with knowledge of diving (AS 4005.1).