Diving Guide > Australia > Great Barrier Reef (Mackay/Capricorn Section) - Gladstone, Queensland , Australia Scuba Diving Guide

Great Barrier Reef is divided into four sections by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Act. These four sections are Far Northern Section, Cairns Section, Central Section and Mackay/Capricorn Section. Our coverage of Great Barrier Reef is also divided into four pages for each of these sections. A detail description of Great Barrier Reef is covered in the Great Barrier Reef scuba diving guide. Here our focus is on the dive sites and reefs in Mackay/Capricorn Section of Great Barrier Reef.

Away from the crowded Cairns and Central Sections of Great Barrier Reef, Mackay/Capricorn section offers a wonderful alternative to those who hate the crowds. Unlike the remote Far Northern Section, Mackay/Capricorn are well served by diving and chartered boat operators based in Gladstone, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.

Dive Sites In Mackay/Capricorn Section

Swain Reefs Swain Reefs were the most popular live-aboard trip on the Great Barrier Reef until the dive operators discovered Coral Sea Reefs. Today, Swain Reefs are visited mainly by fishermen, divings are still possible here as operators do make occasional visits to the reefs system when there is a demand. Swain Reefs are made up hundred of small reefs, most only identified by a number. The whole system covers an area of about 15,000 sq km. Some of the sites in Swain Reefs worth mentioning here are Hixson Cay and Horseshoe Reef. Hixson Cay has beautiful Coral gardens in shallow water. At its southern end, there is a reef wall that drops beyong 60m. The wall is filled with sea whips, gorgonians and soft corals. Horseshoe Reef has a large lagoon and several favourite dive sites. The best diving here is found on the reef wall on the southern side. Divers can chance upon nurse sharks, lobster and wobbegongs along this wall.

Capricorn and Bunker Groups These group of islands lie near the southern of of Mackay/Capricorn Sections of Great Barrier Reef. Lying near the Tropic of Capricorn, this group of islands has many fanastic dive sites. Each summer, turtles with visit these islands to lay their eggs in the warm sands. Some of the interesting dive sites found here are North Reef (Manta Rays, whitetip reef sharks, wobbegong sharks and moray eels are quite common here) and Polmaise Reef (shallow water with barracuda, wobbegong sharks, colorful shrimp and rock lobsters). Two of the most popular islands of this groups are Heron Islands and Lady Elliot Island. Both are described below.

Heron Island (Capricorn and Bunker Groups) Thousands of Green and Loggerhead turtles come here every summer to lay their eggs. There are a number of dive sites that are worth mentioning here. The Bommie, located at the eastern side of the island island. While there may not be much coral growth here, the marine life is otherwise very good. barracuda, lionfish, estuary cod, Wobbegong sharks, Eagle Rays, and Manta Rays are commonly seen. Gorgonia Hole, located north of the island. This area is excellent for macro photography, beautiful gorgonian fans with shrimps and crabs, sea stars, feather stars and flatworms are readily available for photography sessions. Pams Point, just next to the Bommie, is the best place to see Manta Ray in Heron Island.

Lady Elliot Island (Capricorn and Bunker Groups) Visitors coming to Lady Elliot Island arrive in plane. The first look of this island is very captivating from air. The island itself is blessed with clear water and year around, resident Manta Rays can be seen feeding off its water. The island itself is bordered by a reef that drop-off to the ocean floor. The reef on the western side of the island is assessible from shore and has numerous pinnacles that offers the best diving here. Blow Hole is a dive site on the western reef. This is a large tube-like cave that cut through the reef wall and exit on the top of the reef. Wobbegongs, stingray, turtles and nurse sharks can be sighted here. At Anchor Bommie, located on the east side of the island, diver will see leopard shark, eagle rays, shovelnose rays and colonies of garden eels on the sandy bottom. Manta Rays, schools barracuda and trevally patrol the bommie to check out divers.

• Bundaberg and Hervey Bay
  Roy Rufus Artificial Reef is the largest artificial reef in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the most popular dive site of Bundaberg and Harvey Bay. Old ships, car bodies, tires and concrete blocks are sink here to create a haven for fish and marine life. The effort has been richly rewarded with masses of fish that gathered here. Coral trout, rock cod, kingfish, sweetlips and surgeonfish are residents here. Wobbegongs, stingrays, turtles and even dugongs are sighted at this site. During winter, hundreds of humpback whales rest in the bay after breeding in the northern reefs.
  
  

Best Time to Dive in Great Barrier Reef (Mackay/Capricorn Section)

Where to Stay in Gladstone, Bundaberg or Hervey Bay

• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Gladstone - Rydges Gladstone
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Bundaberg - Best Western Reef Gateway Motor Inn Bundaberg
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Hervey Bay - Mantra Hervey Bay

• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Gladstone - Rydges Gladstone
• Our favourite 3 stars or budget accommodation in Gladstone - Sundowner Gladstone
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Bundaberg - Best Western Boulevard Lodge Bundaberg
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Hervey Bay - Comfort Inn Fraser Gateway Hervey Bay

How to get to Gladstone, Bundaberg or Hervey Bay

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