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If you have dived in Townsville before, please share your experiences: Dive spots you would recommend, which Dive Center you used, Fishes & Diving, Visibility, Currents, etc. Please post your comments in the section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next trip
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Townsville.
Table of contents
Best Dive Review
Yongala Wreck
Townsville is famous not only for its local dive sites but also because it’s the closest city to the mighty famous Yongala Wreck. This dive site is ranked not only among the top 10 dive sites in the World and considered by some as the best spot in all of Australia, but also could well be one of the best wreck dives in the whole World!
However this wreck is reserved for experienced divers only as the conditions can be very rough with fierce current!
The shipwreck is located 89 km East of Townsville and it takes 3 hours to get there. An overnight trip is also possible as well as short liveaboards. However, sea conditions can be rough in the area and it is possible that once you arrive on the spot, bad conditions may forbid any scuba diving. I usually use this website to book in advance my Liveaboards in Australia as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because they have an easy booking system.
The S.S Yongala can also be accessed via Ayr (1 hr drive south of Townsville) and it is only a 30 min boat ride rather than 3 hours to the wreck as from Townsville. The shorter trip means that it can be accessed quicker and is less likely to cancel due to weather conditions. This is also a day trip.
Watch this fantastic video to see what is lurking under the water in Townsville!
Great Barrier Reef tour
From Townsville, it is also possible to go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef and many dive centers offer Reef tours with all-inclusive packages.
It is important to note though that Townsville is actually further away from the Great Barrier Reef than for example Cairns or Port Douglas. One of the best reefs around Townsville is called the Wheeler Reef. This dive site features superb canyons and small caves with a teeming marine life. Moreover this spot is suitable for all levels of divers and is a great snorkelling spot too.
Magnetic Island
It is also possible to dive around the nearby Magnetic Island. Diving there is good but the visibility is usually limited and you can expect from 5 m to 15 m depending on the weather. Many people also come to Magnetic Island to get their Padi Open Water certification.
If possible, try to dive in Townsville in winter during the Whale Season! If you are lucky you may even spot them while diving in the deep blue!
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/loloieg/3492514163/
How to dive Townsville?
Scuba diving in Townsville is famous for the Yongala Wreck but there are plenty of other dive sites worth exploring in the nearby Great Barrier Reef on a day trip or on a short liveaboard. The best spots near Townsville are:
- SS Yongala
- Kelso Reef
- Keeper Reef
- Wheeler Reef
- Flinders Reef
- Davies Reef
- China Wall
If you want to dive the more remote areas of the Great Barrier Reef, you will have to take a Liveaboard cruise for at least 3 or 4 days and up to 2 weeks if you want to explore the Coral Sea in the magnificent Osprey Reef!
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Townsville as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
Best time to dive in Townsville
The sun is shining about 320 days a year in Townsville! The climate is tropical but drier than for example in Cairns. The weather is mostly warm with blue skies and low humidity. It is possible to dive all year round around Townsville.
- Wet season runs from November to April with short but heavy thunderstorms. Rainy days are rare.
- Dry season is from May to October
- Tropical Cyclones are possible from November to May.
- December is the hottest month with air temperature ranging from 24°C to 32°C.
- July is the coolest month with temperatures between 14°C and 25°C.
The best diving time runs during Summer from November to February.
Hot Tip:
- If you want to have the chance to see Whales, the best season is during the Winter months!
Top liveaboards in Australia & Townsville according to divers reviews
Scuba Diving conditions
If you dive around Magnetic Island and on the Great Barrier Reef, conditions are generally pretty good. The water temperature ranges from between 22°C (July) and 28°C (December and January).
Visibility is not as good around Magnetic Island (about 10 m) but on the Reef it can be up to 60 meters!
From April to July, there is a lot of wind and the sea can become rough! The best conditions are from August to December.
The Yongala Wreck is located in Open Water, and the current depends a lot on the tide. It can sometimes be fierce and can sometimes make the wreck impossible and too dangerous to dive. The depth of the wreck ranges from 15m to 33m and the spot is reserved to experienced divers.
The S.S Yongala can be also accessed via Ayr (1 hr drive south of Townsville) and it is only a 30 min boat ride rather than 3 hour to the wreck as is from Townsville. The shorter trip means that it can be accessed quicker and is less likely to cancel due to weather conditions. This is also a day trip.
Snorkelling in Townsville
Many dive shops in Townsville offer barrier reef snorkelling trips on a day tour. Snorkelling is excellent on the famous Wheeler Reef and on the Davies Reef with great marine life and coral.
Snorkelling is also possible on Magnetic Island but the visibility can be quite low depending on the tide.
Warning:
- Salt water crocodiles live around Townsville beaches, so always swim in dedicated areas which are protected by lifeguards.
- During Summer time is the box jellyfish season, so be careful as above. A box jellyfish sting can be fatal!
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwbenwell/2966855060/
Diving Safety
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Townsville, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Photos Townsville
Travel Guide
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Townsville Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
Diving Reviews for this region
Cairns
Excellent Place for scuba diving courses and to get your Padi Open Water. Main gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Liveaboard starting point.
Great Barrier Reef
Excellent Diving and liveaboard destination. Amazing spot for Big fishes, Sharks, superb coral and underwater photography. Most popular place in the World to learn scuba diving in Cairns. One of the best dive sites in the World with the Yongala Wreck!
Ningaloo Reef
Excellent scuba diving with the chance to spot Whale Sharks or Manta Rays during the right season.
Port Douglas
Perfect gateway to the Great Barrier Reef with possibility of snorkelling tours and diving day trips. Many Liveaboard cruises start from Port Douglas.
Australia
Australia is the most amazing Scuba Diving Destination in the World! It is very popular for the Great Barrier Reef, Great White Shark cage diving and the Ningaloo Reef where you can swim with Whale Sharks.
Whitsunday Islands
Good Diving on the local reef dive sites and easy access to excellent diving on the Great Barrier Reef!
The SS yongala is the best dive you will do in Australia. Go from Ayr, it’s an hours drive south but only 30 minutes in the boat. So much to see, it is worth the effort.
Yongala is amazing! But save time and money (and sea-sickness) by going from Ayr, not Townsville.
Hello,
I’m interested in seeing the Museum of Underwater Art but not doing that all day. I’m looking for a day trip out of Townsville that will include the MOUA and another cool dive site. Any suggestions? I’m having a hard time finding stuff online to meet this desire.