Diving on the Sunshine Coast

Diving in the Sunshine Coast region is really easy with most sites being onlly a short distance off the Coast.

Many of the best dives sites are a short boat ride off the coast, and can be accessed with your own boat or by booking dives with one of the many professional dive companies across the coast.  (see below) 

There are numerous dive sites, both natural and man-made, such as wreck sites like the HMAS Brisbane

 
Comfortable diving conditions
 
Depths of 8 - 35 m, water temps between 18 - 26 degrees, visibility of 10 to 30 m, and average air temps of between 7 - 30 degrees makes the Sunshine Coast one of the most comfortable diving locations in Australia.

Abundant marine life
 
 An amazing variety of marine life can be observed in the waters off the Sunshine Coast including, soft and hard corals, nudibranch, reef and pelagic fish, grey nurse and white tipped reef sharks, rays, turtles, whales  and countless other species.
 
Abundant underwater terrain options
 
A diverse range of underwater terrain ensures there is great diving for both experienced and beginner divers and everything in between.  Reefs, rock shelves, rock pinnacles, ledges, swim throughs, and crevices, bommies and deep gutters can be found depending on the dive site.

 

A few meters below the sharp summit, the rock spreads out and down to form a large group of rocks and boulders covered with coral growth and a profusion of associated life.

Resident fish include morwong, and smaller species such as wrasse leatherjackets, baitfish, bullseyes, catfish, butterfly and angels.

There are numerous urchins and wobbygongs. Pelagic fish are found circling the pinnacle during the winter months.

Just North of Noosa Wolf Rock is one of the most amazing dive sites in South East Queensland.

Huge granite pinnacles rise from 40 metres to the surface. 

You won't see a large amount of coral but it's a wonderful site to see large sharks, manta rays, groper, cod and pelagic fish. 

Recommended for advanced divers only.

Old Woman Island is a great bad weather, gentle dive location with a profusion of small tropical fish, turtles, nudibranchs, rocky ledges surrounded by soft coral and encrusting sponges.

It is located just out the front of our beachfront Resort in Marcoola so is naturally one of our favourites.

Sitting upright on the ocean floor, 2.9 nautical miles east of Mudjimba Island, the HMAS Brisbane has 15 metres of water over her forward decks and 18 metres over her stern.

With excellent water clarity much of the time and minimal swell the wreck now serves as a world-class artificial reef and diving site.

Underwater wildlife include angler fish, large bull & eagle rays, lion fish, nudibranchs, sea hares, squid, juvenile red emperor and snapper, shovelled nose rays, greasy cod and eagle rays, Queensland Grouper and turtles.

For those who don't have the experience or confidence to dive in open water, the option to dive in the oceanarium within inches of the sharks, giant rays and tropical fish.

The Sunshine Coast is a long and differing Coastline. There are some fabulous crew offering dives on the Coast.

We haven't tried these all, but we've heard good things about them:

Sunreef Scuba Diving, Mooloolaba - www.sunreef.com.au/
Wildcat Watersports & Diving, Caloundra - www.wildcatdive.com
Dive Noosa, Noosa - www.divenoosa.com
Scuba World, Mooloolaba - www.scubaworld.com.au

Or get in contact with us for more information +61 7 5450 9800 email: info(at)atlantismarcoola.com.au