Scuba Diving in Queensland.

Scuba diving in Queensland is an experience you'll never forget.

Where else would you find the anything as spectacular as the The Great Barrier Reef?

Add to that all the other great dive locations along the coast of “The Sunshine State” and Queensland stands out as the scuba divers heaven.

In Brisbane, scuba diving junkies will find the China Wall, Curtin Wrecks, Manta Ray Bommie, Tangaloona Wrecks, Comboyuro Drop Off, Henderson’s Rock, and Spot X.

Each diving spot has its own attraction to boast. China Wall and Spot X are the perfect diving locations for those adventure-seekers who are looking for advanced dives.

Both diving spots have 16 to 30-metre depths and feature fascinating sea life.

Meanwhile, Cairns boast the Milln Reef, Moore Reef, Osprey Reef, and Thetford Reef.

If exploring the water of the Pacific Ocean is your thing the assortment of reefs that can be found in the Cairns area proves that this truly is the gateway to Great Barrier Reef’s northernmost edge.

North Rockhampton will undoubtedly add to your scuba diving in Queensland experience.

In this part of Australia, divers will find the Barren and Child Islands, Egg Rock, Great Keppel Island, Man and Wife Rocks, and Outer Rock.

As a suggestion, you should try the Egg Rock, a marine national park, which houses some of the most beautiful sea creatures ever to swim the seas.

Some other great spots for scuba diving in Queensland are:

• Port Douglas: Among the fabulous dive sites off Port Douglas, north of Cairns, are Split-Bommie, with its delicate fan corals and schools of fusiliers; Barracuda Pass, with its coral gardens and giant clams; and the swim-through coral spires of the Cathedrals. Snorkelers can glide over the coral and reef fish life of Agincourt Reef.

  

• Lizard Island: Snorkel over 150-year-old giant clams -- as well as gorgeous underwater coral -- in the Clam Garden, off this exclusive resort island northeast of Cairns.

  Nearby is the famous Cod Hole, where divers can hand-feed giant potato cod.

• Cairns: Moore, Norman, Hardy, Saxon, and Arlington reefs and Michaelmas and Upolu cays -- all about 90 minutes off Cairns -- offer great snorkeling and endless dive sites.

  Explore on a day trip from Cairns or join a live-aboard adventure.

• Coral Sea: In this sea east of the Great Barrier Reef off north Queensland, you'll see sharks feeding at Predator's Playground; 1,000m (3,280-ft.) drop-offs in the Abyss; reefs covering hundreds of square miles; and tropical species not found on the Great Barrier Reef.

  This is not a day-trip destination; many dive operators run multiday trips on live-aboard vessels. Visibility is excellent -- up to 100m (328 ft.).

• Yongala wreck: Sunk by a cyclone in 1911, the 120m (394-ft.) SS Yongala lies in the Coral Sea off Townsville. Schools of trevally, kingfish, barracuda, and batfish surround the wreckage; giant Queensland grouper live under the bow, lionfish hide under the stern, turtles graze on the hull, and hard and soft corals make their home on it.

  It's too far for a day trip; live-aboard trips run from Townsville and Cairns.

• The Whitsunday islands: As well as Blue Pearl Bay, these 74 breathtaking islands offer countless dive sites both among the islands and on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, 90 minutes away.

  Bait Reef on the Outer Reef is popular for its drop-offs.

  Snorkelers can explore not just the Outer Reef, but also patch reefs among the islands and rarely visited fringing reefs around many islands.

  

• Heron Island: Easily the number-one snorkel and scuba diving site in Australia. If you stayed in the water for a week, you couldn't snorkel all the acres of coral stretching from shore.

  Take your pick of 22 dive sites: the Coral Cascades, with football trout and anemones; the Blue Pools, favored by octopus, turtles, and sharks; Heron Bommie, with its rays, eels, and Spanish dancers; and more.

  Absolute magic.

• Lady Elliot Island: Gorgeous coral lagoons, perfect for snorkeling, line this coral cay island off the town of Bundaberg.

  Boats take you farther out to snorkel above manta rays, plate coral, and big fish. Divers can swim through the blowhole, 16m (52 ft.) down, and see gorgonian fans, soft and hard corals, sharks, barracudas, and reef fish.

As I said at the start, Scuba diving in Queensland is an experience you'll never forget.

John.

Visit here for a comprehensive list of wonderful sites for scuba diving in Queensland.

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