Adventure Travel Travel
Townsville is home to some of the most amazing dive sites in Australia. Here are a few sites to consider on your next diving excursion to the beautiful coastal town.
Keeper Reef is a great choice for those who love beautiful, pristine coral reefs. In fact, Keeper Reef is one of the most pristine coral reefs located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Divers can enjoy an amazing diving experience at Keeper Reef regardless of their level of skill. The site presents an interesting selection of intriguing caves and gullies to explore. Located at depths that range from 0 – 229 feet, Keeper Reef is highly popular for its canyons and swim throughs. Townsville is home to some truly amazing dive sites. If you are looking for top notch Townsville holiday apartments, consider staying at the Oaks Gateway on Palmer to enjoy a comfortable stay.
SS Yongala is the most well-known diving location in Townsville. The SS Yongala is a 360-foot steel freight and passenger steam vessel, owned by the Adelaide Steamship Company which sank at the site. The ship was named after a South Australian town of the same name. Located at depths ranging from 49 – 108 feet, the SS Yongala is a site that is best reserved for advanced divers. The wreck provides a home to a wide range of coral species and attracts a range of marine creatures such as giant gropers, turtles, eagle rays, sea snakes and large schools of barracuda. The site is located at around 90 kilometres to the east from Townsville. It is best to check the conditions as they can get rough.
Wheeler Reef is located at depths of 6 – 59 feet. It is an excellent diving spot for both beginners and expert snorkelers. The site features great natural formations such as canyons, lovely caves and swim throughs to explore. There is also some great marine life at Wheeler Reef.
If you love corals and beautiful marine life, Flinders Reef is a great choice. Located at depths of up to 229 feet, this is a great dive site with ample visibility of around 32 – 190+ feet.
Kelso Reef is another great dive site for coral lovers. Located at a depth of up to 70 feet, Kelso Reef is home to beautiful honeycomb corals, plate corals, hedge corals and brain corals. These beautiful corals provide a home to a range of small fish as well as large fish species such as cods.
Magnetic Island is a lovely little island located nearby. Visitors may dive around the island to enjoy some beautiful underwater scenery. However, it is best to make sure that you check the weather conditions as the visibility can get limited during bad weather. Depending on the weather conditions, visibility can range from 5m – 15m. Some people arrive at Magnetic Island to obtain their PADI Open Water Certification.
Davies Reef is an absolutely beautiful dive site located at depths of 20 – 82 feet. Featuring amazing formations such as large pinnacles, drop offs, small caves and beautiful gardens of corals, Davies Reef is definitely a must- visit for any diving and snorkeling enthusiast.
