Diving Guide > Australia > Coral Sea (Flinders Reef and Boomerang Reefs) - Townsville, Queensland , Australia Scuba Diving Guide

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While Coral Sea Reefs maybe Great Barrier Reef closest neighbours, diving in these two areas are actually quite different. Reefs at Coral Sea are well known for their residents shark, pelagics action and gin clear water. To know more details on Coral Sea Reefs, please visit our Coral Sea Reefs scuba diving guide. In this page, our attention is on Flinders Reef of Coral Sea Reefs group. Flinders Reef is one of the larger reef systems in the Coral Sea. It is made up of a cluster of reefs some 220km East of Townville. This reef system covers an area of more than 1200 sq km and is closest to the Central Section of Great Barrier Reef. Many fanastic dive sites are discovered in the Flinder Reefs. Topography of Flinder Reefs range from array of pinnacles to shallow coral gardens, from a 1000m long wall to seamounts that raise from ocean depth. There are two islets among the reefs which are home to sea birds, turtles and hermit crabs. Flinders Reef is a very popular diving destination. Every week of the year, there will be at least one liveaboard boat that head out to Flinders Reef to start a new adventure. A few of the sites here are of world class standard and worth repeated visits by the serious diving enthusiastic. Boomerang Reefs are a group of reefs located just south of Flinders Reef. The biggest reef of this group is know as the South Boomerang Reef which is shape like a boomerang. The wall dive of this site is spectacular and these reefs are usually included in the same itinerary by operators visiting Flinders Reef.

Dive Sites around Coral Sea (Flinders Reef and Boomerang Reefs)

• Watanabe Bommie
  located in Flinders Reef, Watanabe Bommie is one of the best dive site in the Coral Sea. The giant pinnacle has plenty of healthy coral growth on it. However, it is the fish life here that attract most divers. There are large schools of barracuda, Bigeye Travallies, Leopard Coral Groupers, Dog-tooth tuna and fusiliers. Reef sharks and school jack fish can some time be seen chasing and feeding on the fusiliers. And diving in the mist of a huge school of barracuda will provide a wonderful experience for the divers.
  
  
• Anemone City
  This site consists of five large pinnacles located in a the shallow lagoon of Flinders Reef. Top of these pinnacles are covered with anemones while the walls are filled with gorgonians and soft corals. This site is filled with anemonefish and reef fish. There are a number of caves found on the pinnacles and pelagic fish and reef sharks commonly swim pass. But most divers with be too engrossed in photgraphing and playing with the anemone clown fish to take note.
  
  
  
  
  
• Scuba Zoo
  This site is located in the Boomerang Reefs. There is a large shark cage that is moored under water at a depth of 14m. The cage is used to house the divers coming here to see diving operators do shark feedings. In this adventure dive, divers enter the cage and when in position, the operators will release the shark baits through a remote control. The baits attract the resident reef sharks (including Whitetip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks and Silvertip Reef Sharks) and set them into a feeding frenzy. Divers will watch this visual spectacle in the safety of the cage. Plenty of photography actions can be expected of this dive.
  
  
• China Wall
  China Wall is located in the South Boomerang Reef. This reef wall is 1000m long and is filled with gorgonians, soft corals, black corals and sea whips. There are many small ledges on this wall which offer divers fanastic opportunity to observe small reef fish, cleaner shrimps, coral crabs and invertebrates. Reef sharks and pelagic fish cruise along the current of the wall here. There are also a number of beautiful coral gardens located at the top of the wall.
  
  
  
  

Best Time to Dive in Coral Sea (Flinders Reef and Boomerang Reefs)

Where to Stay in Cairns and Townsville

• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Townsville - City Oasis Inn Townsville
• Our favourite 3 stars accommodation in Townsville - Central City Motel Townsville

• Our favourite 5 stars accommodation in Townsville - Jupiters Townsville Hotel Casino
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Townsville - Flag Townsville Plaza Hotel
• Our favourite 3 stars or budget accommodation in Townsville - Holiday Inn Townsville

How to get to Cairns and Townsville

• Australian Airlines
• Qantas
• Cathay Pacific Airway

• Qantas
• Virgin Blue

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