Explore Heron Island

Located on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island is a coral cay reached by a short flight from Gladstone in Queensland, Australia. Heron Island was declared an Australian National Park in 1943 and now has multiple layers of long-term protection within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The guardianship means that Heron Reef is home to around 60% of the 1,500 species of fish and around 72% of the coral species found on the Great Barrier Reef.

Scuba diving in Heron Island is only possible from the 109-room dive resort, where quiet dive sites and abundant marine life are guaranteed. Heron Island Resort has a bar, restaurant, and a dive centre which offers dive courses from Discover Scuba to the Advanced Open Water.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Heron Island

Heron Island is a coral cay located near the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern Great Barrier Reef, 80 kilometres north-east of Gladstone Park, Queensland, Australia, and 460 km north-north-west of the state capital Brisbane

784
Logs
264
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★★ Heron Island - Pams

Dropping down the mooring line you will be surrounded by colourful reef fish. A big field of staghorn coral will lead you to a bommie with healthy coral.

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Logs
94
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★☆ Heron Island - Gorgonia Hole

It is not uncommon to see turtles hiding among the cracks and crevices at this site. Lots of little holes to stick your head in, and lots of interesting little (and big) creatures to find. Expect to see painted crayfish, green, loggerhead and hawksbill (if you’re lucky) turtles and lion fish.

83
Logs
69
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Heron Island - Blue Pools

The Blue Pools is a popular snorkelling spot at Heron Island, but is also a wonderful place to dive. While snorkellers generally limited themselves to the sheltered cove in the reef, divers are free to explore the sloping coral reef and numerous gutters, ledges and caves.

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Logs
102
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Heron Island - North Bombie

Named after the large bommie that is the main feature of this dive. North bommie is covered in glass and cardinal fish that are harassed all day by dozens of coral trout, coral cod and barramundi cod.

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96
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Heron Island

Heron Island diving happens at Heron Reef, a fringing platform reef, and the adjacent Wistari Reef. There are 30 dive sites to be explored that are all within a 15-minute boat ride from the island’s wooden jetty. The myriad of dive sites includes coral bommies, like at North Bommie, grottos, canyons, such as Coral Canyons, and extensive coral gardens. With depths ranging from 10-25 metres, divers can complete up to three dives per day with plenty of bottom time. This means Heron Island is an ideal location for first-time divers to earn certifications in dive courses.

The best Months to dive in Heron Island

Heron Island has a sub-tropical climate so diving is possible all-year-round. In winter, around July and August, the water is its coldest at 18℃ but the visibility is at it’s best. The visibility is at its worse in November due to coral spawning. In January and February, divers can watch in awe as female turtles lay their eggs on the beach and hatchlings take their first dip into the sea. July and August see the most frequent humpback whale sightings.

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