MUDGEE'S ONLY DIVE CENTRE

QUEENSLAND

 
NOTE: Much of the content for Lady Elliot Island and Heron Island is sourced from and copyright of Dive Adventures Australia. Much of the content for Townsville is sourced from and copyright of Prodive Townsville.

• Lady Elliot Island
• Heron Island
• Wreck of SS Yongala
• Wreck of Ex - HMAS Brisbane

Lady Elliot Island

- one of Grant's favourite dive destinations in Queensland

Click on the map to go to the Lady Elliot website

One of the top dive and snorkelling sites in the world, Lady Elliot Island is the southern most coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. Step off the beach and snorkel, swim or scuba dive in the world's richest marine eco-system. A true island paradise, Lady Elliot Island is a popular destination for families and leisure groups keen to explore this rich marine eco-system

Lady Elliot Island lies 80 kilometres north east of Bundaberg, and is easily accessible by daily flights that land at the island’s own airstrip. A limited number of guests are allowed on the island at any one time.

The moment you step onto the island, you know you've arrived somewhere special. Formed over 3000 years this beautiful coral cay is home to 57 species of birds, nesting sea turtles and a stunning underwater world of coral formations and diverse marine life.

On Lady Elliot Island, you set the pace. You can bury your nose in a good book on a stretch of deserted beach, go diving with one of our qualified dive instructors, or explore the island and visit the main landmark, the Lady Elliot Island Lighthouse, one of the first built in Australia using a timber framed substructure and cast iron external cladding.

How to get to Bundaberg

At the centre of the sugar cane country is Bundaberg or Bundy as it is more fondly known. Lady Elliot Island is just a short 25 minute flight from this township, famous for its 110+ year old rum distillery.

By Air: Qantas link operate daily flights connecting Bundaberg to Brisbane.

Scuba Diving on Lady Elliot Island

Lady Elliot Island offers a great diversity of uncrowded, easily accessible dive locations to experience the biggest coral reef system in the world.

At Lady Elliot Island, our dive staff personally escort all dives. Two dives per day are scheduled per day with optional night dives also available. The best part is that we cater for divers of all abilities.

Here is a taste of what you will find diving Lady Elliot Island, on the Great Barrier Reef:

THE BLOW HOLE - DEPTH 25M: This popular site is on the eastern side of the island. It has two entrances. One on the top of the reef at 14-16 metres, just a short distance from the mooring. The main entrance however is on the reef wall and is a large opening at 20-25 metres. The main cavern is around 20 metres in length. This is a superb dive site with Lion Fish, Manta Shrimp, Wobbegongs and the unique Gnome Fish seen in the area.

LIGHTHOUSE BOMMIE - DEPTH 14-15M: Lighthouse Bommie is a set of coral heads approximately 100 metres off shore and is conducted as either a Boat or Shore dive. A rope trail has been laid from an easy shore entry to the bommies. It is a favourite haunt all year round for Manta Rays; some four metres from tip to tip. The site also plays host to a variety of marine life such as Moray Eels, Bull Rays, Schooling Barracuda, Coral Trout, Small White Tip Reef Sharks and others too numerous to mention.

THREE PYRAMIDS - DEPTH 18M: The Three Pyramids is a short boat ride from the western side of the island. An easy decent can be made down a permanent mooring and puts the diver almost on top of the first of three large coral heads (bommies). At this site you will find schools of Cardinals, Anemone Fish, Turtles and Eagle Rays. The Three Pyramids is a great starting point for a drift dive to the Anchor Bommies or the Outer Scatters depending on the direction of the current.

ANCHOR BOMMIES - DEPTH 21M: This site is one of Lady Elliot Island's premium dive locations. Two ancient Admiralty anchors lie at the bottom of the site. Marine life that can be seen here include Manta Rays, Purple Leafy Scorpion Fish, Cleaner Shrimp and a large Shovelled Nosed Ray. This Bommie is covered with both soft and hard corals.

CORAL GARDENS - DEPTH 12M: This is an extremely good night dive site. All types of marine life can be observed as they slumber, while night dwellers such as the Painted Cray can be found out of their day time hiding place.

ENCOUNTERS - DEPTH 6-14M: This is an amazing coral dive with large plate and staghorn sections, and explosive fish action. A fantastic drift dive for late in the afternoon. At times a large number of Manta Rays can be seen in this area. It is also populated with schools of Rabbit fish, Red throat and Spangled Emperor. It is also not uncommon to be accompanied on this dive by a pair of sizeable Blue Angelfish or Moorish Idols.

The island offers four unique styles of accommodation - all exhibits a casual atmosphere - free of the usual distractions of working life - no TVs, radios or telephones.

Accommodation:
ISLAND SUITES x (5)
One (1) and Two Bedroom (4) Beachfront accommodation.

These units accommodate up to
Four adults in 2 bedroom suites & 2 adults in 1 bedroom suite (rollaway for a child is available). Separate bedroom and lounge area.

Amenities:
Facilities include tea/coffee making facilities. Mini-fridge, air conditioning and private bathroom.

REEF ROOMS x (21)
Most Reef Rooms are furnished with a double bed and two bunk beds, making them ideal for families. The majority of reef Units are less than 10 metres from the beach. All linen supplied and changed every third day.

Amenities:
Facilities include tea/coffee making facilities, veranda, mini-fridge and private bathroom.

SHEARWATER ROOMS x (3)

Suitable for large families and groups of friends, Shearwater rooms can sleep up to six people in bunk-style single beds. Rooms are set in the gardens, located approximately 30 metres from the beach. All linen supplied and changed every third day.

Amenities:
All Shearwater rooms have a private bathroom and wall fans.

TENT CABINS x (11)
Permanent safari-style tents offer all the comforts of home with four bunk beds, polished timber floors, full power and lighting. All linen supplied and changed every third day.

Amenities:
Communal bathrooms are located no more than 30 meters away.

Activities on Lady Elliot Island 

Lady Elliot Island facilities include:

• Lagoon Bar
• Dining Room
• Café Bistro
• Resort Shop
• PADI Resort Dive Shop
• Salt Water Pool
• Beach Volley Ball Court
• Conference Room (seating for 50)
• Hot/Cold Showers and Change Room for day guests
• Activities Centre (including library and marine creature displays).

Things to do on the island:

Reef Walking:
At low tide, you can venture all the way to the reef edge. You'll see a multitude of marine life as an experienced guide introduces you to the reef eco-system.

Nature Walks:
Guided walks around the island introduce you to natural wonders of the beach and lagoon, the bird rookery, the lighthouse and the historical artefacts left behind by the guano miners.

Fish Feeding:
A multitude of reef fish appear at the "fish pool" everyday and our activities officer will show you how to hand feed them.

Slide Shows & Evening Lectures:
Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef and Lady Elliot Island during our evening presentations in the Reef Education Centre.

Seasonal Events:
Turtle Nesting
November to February
Every year, green and loggerhead turtles return to the island to start a new life cycle. At sunset, they clamber up the beach around the Resort to dig deep pits where they lay between 80 and 180 eggs.

Turtle Hatching
February to April
At the end of the nesting season, we watch again as hundreds of baby turtles make their way to the water.

Whale Migration
June to October
Lady Elliot Island is just to the north of Hervey Bay which has become a popular breeding ground for humpbacks. In the past two years, killer and Minke whales have been sighted in the waters off Lady Elliot Island.

Bird Nesting
October to April
The island is a breeding and nesting ground for many species of tropical seabirds and wading birds.

Coral Spawning
November to December
Coral spawning is a spectacular, mass-synchronised event not known in any other part of the animal kingdom. In late spring and early summer, the coral polyps release their eggs and sperm which float to the surface in a dense cloud of pink, red, orange and sometimes purple micro-organisms.

All Year Round
Our star attractions visit all year round: The manta rays, the turtles, the resident seabirds, the huge variety of tropical fish, the anemones, the starfish, the clams and the moray eels

 Heron Island

Click on the map below to got to the Heron Island website.

Heron Island is a true coral cay right on the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef. Here you can swim straight off the beach to an endless garden of coral where the waters are literally teeming with beautifully coloured fish and marine life.

There's a relaxed island lifestyle that sets Heron apart, a sophisticated yet casual resort atmosphere. Here the emphasis is on exploring and discovering the natural attractions that have made Heron famous around the world.

You'll enjoy some of the world's best reef diving. There's a choice of spectacular sites just minutes from the beach, and its a fantastic place to learn to dive.

Getting There:
Air Connections

Regular flights are available from all Australian capital cities to Gladstone (GLT) with Qantas (QF). Gladstone is a 1 hour and 20 minute flight from Brisbane (or a 6 hour drive from Brisbane).

Boat Transfers

Arrival: The boat transfer service departs Gladstone Marina at 11.00am daily, final check-in time is 10.30am if not arriving off a flight at the airport. The courtesy transfer to the Marina leaves the airport daily at 10.15am, after the arrival of the early morning flights into Gladstone. The coach arrives at the Marina 10-15 minutes later. The boat transfer arrives at Heron Island at approximately 2.00pm Heron Island time. Buffet lunch is served upon arrival at Heron Island.

Departure: The boat transfer departs Heron Island at approximately 2.00pm Island time or 1.00pm EST. Arrival time into Gladstone is approximately 3.45pm EST and a courtesy transfer is available for immediate transfer to the airport.

Diving on Heron Island

There are over twenty different dive sites around Heron Island, more than half of which are just fifteen minutes from the beach.

Some noteworthy dive sites around Heron include:

Walts Bommie:
Relatively flat sandy bottom surrounding a series of scattered bommies. The site attracts Green and Loggerhead turtles, Black and White Tip Reef Sharks and cradles a wealth of colourful Nudibranchs. 14 meters.

Coral Grotto:
Affectionately known as the Turtle Grotto. You can see turtles everywhere. Asleep, swimming, feeding or just being Turtles. 8-18 meters.

Gorgonian Hole: Gorgonian and fan corals abound on the spectacular reef edge. Discover Mantas, Reef Sharks and Turtles. 7-16 meters.

Accommodation:
Heron Beachside Suites
Offers absolute beach frontage with direct access to the water and views of the reef. Generous in size with villa-style inclusions. Double glass sliding doors fill the room with natural light and connect both the bedroom and living space to a large outdoor balcony. Also boasts a large bathroom and an in-room CD player.

Reef Suites
Positioned closer to the beach, Reef Suites offer reef and water views through a canopy of beachside trees. The living area extends outdoors to a balcony or garden setting; interiors are light-filled, modern and comfortable

Turtle Rooms
Located in a garden setting a short walk away from the beach. Built in duplex fashion with two rooms per block, all Turtle Rooms are at ground level and feature a large deck and outdoor area. Standard and Family Rooms are available. 
                             
                               Beachside Suite                    Reef Suite                            Turtle Room

The Beach House
Offers stylish accommodation with a high degree of privacy. Set within a grove of trees, a private boardwalk provides access to the beach. Air conditioned and offers a separate bedroom with spacious ensuite including a bath and shower. Contains an expansive living area including large sofa and a work desk with direct dial STD/IDD phone. The Beach House also offers its own private outdoor shower

Point Suite
Point Suites are spacious in design and include a large ensuite and separate dressing room. A generous living area extends through glass doors to an extensive outdoor terrace where sun lounges, for the exclusive use of Point Suite guests can be found.

Wistari Suites
An excellent alternative for guests seeking maximum privacy. Located on the point and situated within a garden setting with ocean views. Interiors are spacious with contemporary design elements including a 3 seater couch and armchair and King Size bed in an area separate to living. A private outdoor terrace features stylish wooden furniture and a two person hammock.

Amenities:
All suites are air-conditioned and have a fully stocked mini-bar with CD player and telephone in each room. Point Suites, Beach House and Wistari Suite guests receive a deluxe fruit basket on arrival and a sunset canapé platter and fresh ice each afternoon.

The Beach House                Point Suite                           Wistari Suite

With the magnificent reef surroundings, beautiful beaches and tropical island environment, there's no shortage of things to see and do on and around Heron Island. Including snorkelling and diving, reef and island walks and educational tours.

Complimentary Activities:

Interpretative reef walks (operate daily subject to tides)
Island ecology walks
Birdlife walks
Turtle viewing (peak nesting times)
Star Gazing
Wildlife presentations
Beach picnic hampers
Snorkelling lessons in swimming pool
Tennis (night & day)
Reef Creature interpretative workshops
Research station walks
Movies under the stars
Nightly entertainment

Townsville

Wreck of the Ex HMAS Brisbane