Magnetic Island dive sites

Magnetic Island, a short ferry ride from Townsville, has fringing reef you can snorkel straight from the beach, including marked snorkel trails at Geoffrey Bay and Nelly Bay. Most sites are shallow and best on calm days. The SS Yongala wreck is a day trip from the island.

Shore dives

Shore dive · Arcadia, Magnetic Island Alma BayAlma Bay is a small, often sheltered beach at Arcadia on Magnetic Island, patrolled by lifeguards and closed to boats. Its coral gardens are on the right-hand headland.
Shore dive · North-east Magnetic Island Arthur Bay and Florence BayArthur Bay and Florence Bay are two quiet neighbouring bays on Magnetic Island’s north-east coast. Both are usually sheltered from the prevailing winds, with fringing reef you can reach straight from the beach.
Shore dive · Arcadia, Magnetic Island Geoffrey Bay snorkel trailGeoffrey Bay, off Arcadia on Magnetic Island, has one of the island’s two marked snorkel trails. It crosses fringing reef with giant clams and ends near the wreck of the Moltke.
Shore dive · Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island Nelly Bay snorkel trailNelly Bay has Magnetic Island’s easiest snorkel trail, starting about 100 m off the beach and a 20-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Divers also log shallow shore dives here.

Boat dives

Boat dive · Off Cape Bowling Green SS Yongala wreckThe SS Yongala sank in a cyclone in March 1911 and now lies on open sand off Cape Bowling Green, south-east of Townsville. It is a protected historic shipwreck, the resting place of the 122 people lost with her, and one of the best-known wreck dives in Australia.