Explore Moreton Island

Moreton Island is a long sand island located in Moreton Bay, off the coast of south-east Queensland, Australia. The island forms the eastern boundary of the Moreton Bay Marine Park which has resulted in an abundance of marine life found in the surrounding wrecks and reefs, from turtles to wobbegong shark.

Lying just off the coast of Brisbane, Moreton Island diving is possible from dive centres in Brisbane or from the dive resort on Moreton Island, which is reached via a short ferry ride. Brisbane liveaboards give divers the opportunity to spend more time diving the popular Tangalooma Wrecks and Flinders Reef.

Dive Activity

Diving in Moreton Island

Moreton Island diving is a combination of impressive wreck and reef dive sites. Flinders Reef is the only true coral reef located directly in the Brisbane area where divers can descend onto walls, swim-throughs, ledges, gutters, caves, and pinnacles scattered in depths from 3-28 metres. Curtin Artificial Reef consists of 32 ships, concrete pipes, and tyres. Many of the wrecks have been cleared of obstructions and can be safely entered and explored. Perhaps the most famous dive site in Moreton Island is the Tangalooma Wrecks. Reef, wreck, and drift diving all take place here in around 12-metres of water, which is ideal for those wishing to take part in dive courses.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Moreton Island

While diving in Flinders Reef, admire abundant coral growths of staghorn, brain, plate and many other hard coral species. Sea turtles, stingrays, wobbegong shark, and the occasional manta ray can be encountered while exploring the reef. Finding refuge in the area’s wrecks are large groupers, schooling barracuda and trevally as well as wobbegong shark. An array of tropical fish adds colour to every dive site while on surface intervals, divers may witness migratory humpback whales - making a day diving in Moreton Island extra special!

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

119 Sightings
J
7
F
12
M
12
A
22
M
7
J
5
J
6
A
12
S
13
O
6
N
7
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

30 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
5
M
3
J
4
J
1
A
2
S
0
O
3
N
3
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

24 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
8
M
2
J
3
J
0
A
5
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

22 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
3
J
1
A
3
S
5
O
1
N
0
D
0

Loggerhead Turtle

18 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
9
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
1
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

14 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
0
A
2
M
1
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Sand Tiger Shark

12 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
3
O
2
N
2
D
0

Hawksbill Turtle

8 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
0
J
1
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0

Humpback Whale

8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Wobbegong

149 Sightings
J
14
F
5
M
11
A
20
M
8
J
12
J
5
A
13
S
15
O
12
N
14
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

80 Sightings
J
8
F
3
M
8
A
13
M
5
J
6
J
1
A
11
S
9
O
4
N
8
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

75 Sightings
J
11
F
3
M
11
A
6
M
5
J
2
J
0
A
10
S
7
O
5
N
11
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

73 Sightings
J
14
F
3
M
7
A
13
M
2
J
3
J
2
A
5
S
8
O
5
N
6
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

70 Sightings
J
11
F
2
M
9
A
15
M
4
J
5
J
1
A
6
S
5
O
8
N
3
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

69 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
20
A
16
M
3
J
6
J
0
A
4
S
3
O
2
N
6
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

59 Sightings
J
8
F
2
M
7
A
9
M
2
J
7
J
2
A
4
S
6
O
4
N
4
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

Nurse Shark

55 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
5
J
8
J
13
A
13
S
10
O
2
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

52 Sightings
J
10
F
2
M
5
A
6
M
3
J
2
J
1
A
3
S
6
O
4
N
4
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

47 Sightings
J
8
F
3
M
9
A
6
M
1
J
3
J
0
A
4
S
2
O
5
N
2
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

37 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
4
A
9
M
0
J
3
J
1
A
1
S
4
O
2
N
4
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

28 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
3
M
2
J
3
J
0
A
4
S
2
O
2
N
4
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

27 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
1
A
1
M
1
J
5
J
1
A
5
S
4
O
2
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

26 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
0
A
3
M
2
J
2
J
0
A
3
S
6
O
2
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

21 Sightings
J
5
F
1
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
2
S
3
O
2
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Guitarfish

21 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
7
M
2
J
1
J
1
A
0
S
2
O
4
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

20 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
2
J
0
A
6
S
4
O
1
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Garfish

18 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
3
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
4
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

17 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
1
A
5
S
6
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Stonefish

16 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
2
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

16 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
4
A
5
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

16 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
2
D
0

Grey Reef Shark

16 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
2
J
3
A
5
S
4
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

12 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
1
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

10 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

10 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 22

Cod

8 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Moreton Island

Scuba diving in Moreton Island is possible year-round yet the best visibility is found in the winter months, from June to August. From June through to October, humpback whales can be seen migrating along the coastline of Queensland and whale-watching cruises depart directly from Brisbane.

Dive Sites