Heron Island - Blue Pools

★★★★☆ (55)

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.

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.

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
33 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
1
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
6
S
5
O
3
N
3
D
2
iStock-crisod

Reef Manta Ray
14 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
1
iStock-ShaneGross

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
9 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
7 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
3
S
0
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 approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
4 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0
Alamy-National Geographic Creative

Leatherback Turtle
3 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov

Hawksbill Turtle
3 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock/Divepic

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
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 approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
Show More
iStock-June Jacobsen

Whitetip Reef Shark
20 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
1
A
3
M
2
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
1
O
1
N
4
D
2
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
17 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
1
A
4
M
2
J
0
J
1
A
2
S
1
O
1
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 approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
12 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
1
O
1
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 approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
9 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
1
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 approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
9 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
2

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
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 approx.: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
5 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
5 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
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 approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 22

Shutterstock-andrzej_67

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

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
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 approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
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 approx.: 15

Shutterstock-Hans Gert Broeder

Garfish
3 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
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 approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
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 approx.: 80

iStock-bearacreative

Emperor
3 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2
iStock-FionaAyerst

Lemon Shark
2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-Nigel Marsh

Wobbegong
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
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 approx.: 20

Shutterstock-Lewis Burnett

Guitarfish
2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
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 approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

Dive Sites Nearby

Keith D. (#2415073)

Heron Island (★4.3)

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
Aqualung

Heron Island - Pams (★4.5)

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.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Heron Island - Gorgonia Hole (★4.4)

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.
Aqualung

Heron Island - North Bombie (★4.2)

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.