 |
BAIT REEF
Dive Locations
Stepping Stones
The depth of this site ranges from 4 metres - 30 metres. The entire area is a series
of numerous "stepping stone like" bommies ("coral mounts") forming
many interesting channels and caves to explore. Large areas of plate coral cover the
bommies, with fields of blue staghorn coral gardens between the "stones" and
main reef. Large schools of Bat fish are often seen here. Giant moray eels, fish
cleaning stations, and millions of tropical fish inhabit this area.
|
Manta Ray Drop Off
One of the most popular sites. Depth ranges from 5 metres - 35 metres, with
spectacular underwater cliffs and plunging walls. Growing off these steep drop off
are forests of sea fans, soft corals and giant branches of black coral. But one of
the main attractions is its ability to produce many large manta rays and schools of
pelagic fish. When this happens it is a sight never forgotten. Some currents
do run past this site from time to time.
Gary's Lagoon
An easy dive location for beginners. The lagoon is protected on all sides except at
its entrance. There are no currents in the area, and the lagoon houses a large fish
cleaning station, often attracting creatures from deeper water. Good Coral
formations surround the lagoon, and make for easy diving before venturing into deeper
water just outside the inlet.
Anemoneville
Water depth in this area is between 5 metres - 14 metres, visibility most times nearly 30
metres. This site is covered with giant anemones, full of clown fish. An
excellent area for macro photography to medium angle close up and portraits of clown fish.
|
|
WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS
Dive Locations
@
@
Blue Pearl Bay
A protected bay which is a very popular anchorage for medium to large yachts. Depth
is to 5 metres - 10 metres, slowly sloping down to more than 30 metres further seaward.
Many coral bommies litter the bay, and make for good individual small dive
locations. Towards the western tip of the bay there are small valleys, drop offs and
tunnels that make exploring just a little bit more adventurous.
|
 |
- Maureen's Cove
An excellent area for underwater scenery. With a maximum depth of about 15 metres
there's just about everything you can imagine. Either side of a small sandy beach
are numerous coral heads, and it's along this area that the diving and snorkeling is done.
Just below the surface soft coral gardens display a wonderful mixture of
colour. On the western side are many caves, swim throughs, small valleys and
crevices, with some small drop offs. Most interesting are the large number of
fluorescent corals decorating the reef. Almost anywhere in Maureen's Cove is
excellent for snorkeling.
- Manta Ray Bay
One of the most popular sites in the Whitsunday Islands. Water visibility can range
from 5 metres to in excess of 30 metres. The bay consists of coral heads, small
valleys, caves and swim throughs, dropping to a sea floor of about 25 metres.
Scattered out across the sand are numerous gorgonian bushes, black coral trees, spiraling
sea whips and clumps of strange shaped sponges. Closer to the surface the whole area
is smothered with an array of soft corals, hard corals, of staghorn, brain, plate, and
encrusting corals. Many small and medium sized fish in this area are extremely tame
and follow divers around as soon as they enter the water. Large barracuda and other
schooling fish are sometimes seen cruising in from the outer reaches of open water.
Be very careful of strong currents on the north-eastern point of the bay.
|
