Flinders Reef

Flinders Reef is a large rock approximately 800m long that just breaks the sea surface.

It is a very colourful dive site with some of the largest corals in the Brisbane area. Flinders is suited to open water divers as it is usually quite calm and protected on the western side. In calm weather the eastern side is a better dive but in some areas more suited to advanced divers.

The visibility is usually very good at all the sites mentioned below averaging above 15m. The water temp varies from 18°C in winter to 26°C in summer.

The map below shows the main dive sites around the rock as a rough guide.

Coral Gardens

This site is probably the most dived site in Brisbane and many people get there open water dive ticket on this site.

The Gardens stretch quite a distance and the are about 4+ boat moorings that you can dive from (anchoring is prohibited). To cover the whole distance in one dive would be possible but you wouldn't get to appreciate it properly.

My favourite spot is the turtle cleaning station which is towards the southern end in about 3m of water. Here the turtles hover over a flat patch of rock surrounded by Stag Horn coral and let the tiny Wrasse clean them of parasites. You can get really close to the turtles as long as you approach calmly as they are fairly familiar with divers.

The next best option is to swim along the bottom in between 8 and 12 metres where you will find lots of Macro subjects like Nudibrachs, Manta Shrimp, Crabs, Crays, Morays, Anemone fish and over a hundred other fish species. Being a such a large protected area makes it a great habitat for anything small.

For photographers I would recommend a Macro lens however if you do find the turtle cleaning station you'd wish you had a wide angle lens.

Ratings:
Overall = Good
Diving = Open Water
Photography = Macro

The Mountain

This in my opinion is the best site around Flinders Reef as it has all the macro beauty of the Coral Gardens plus the added bonus of a great diving topology. This site is better suited to advanced divers as open water divers would be restricted to a small area and not be able to appreciate all it has to offer.

The site is formed by two ridges that meet at approx 90 degrees and at this point form a large pinnacle (aka The Mountain). At the bottom of each ridge at about 25m there is sand and along the ridges there are little over hangs to be explored. There is also a small swim through half way up the mountain.

This is a better summer dive as you will find lots of Nudibranchs here. I have spotted several Spanish Dancers at this site the best was 3 in one dive. Other attractions are the Cray Fish, Moray Eels and Anemone Fish.

The topology makes it easy to have a long but semi deep dive you start at the bottom around the sandy edges and wind your way up around the pinnacle checking out all the over hangs and little trenches.

Ratings:
Overall = Good
Diving = Advanced
Photography = Macro

The Bat Cave

This site is known more commonly after people's names (eg. Mary's Lair, John's Cave) depending on who you dive with, I prefer the name The Bat Cave purely because the small cave is usually surrounded by Bat Fish.

The site is well suited for open water divers as it is shallow and fairly easy to navigate. Apart from the small cave with the opening in the ceiling the area has a fairly mundane topology.

The marine life is mostly macro however it does host some fairly large Moray Eels and numerous Bat Fish. There are quite a few Cray Fish hidden in the crevices around the area and Wobbegongs everywhere.

For photography it is a moderately good macro site and also good for Morays and Wobbegongs.

Ratings:
Overall = Average
Diving = Open Water
Photography = Macro

Flinders Reef is located off the north coast of Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia.

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