

Best for beginner divers, 5-15m, boat entry, mild current.
Butterfly Bay on Hook Island is a reef site suitable for beginners, offering depths between 5 and 15 metres with an average of 10 metres. Access is by boat only, and divers should be aware of mild currents and potential jellyfish and sharks. Visibility ranges from 2 to 10 metres, with morning dives often providing the best conditions. Marine life recorded here includes wrasses, sixbanded angelfish, Rainford's butterflyfish, maroon clownfish, copperband butterflyfish, coral trout, foxface rabbitfish, Pacific bullethead parrotfish, and rock cod. Napoleon wrasse, barramundi cod, and Chromodoris nudibranch are occasionally sighted, while reef manta rays are rare.
-20.07000, 148.92778
Plan the dive on a rising tide for the cleanest water and time it for midday when the sun clears the western ridge of Hook Island.
Boat dive only, accessed by charter day boat, bareboat yacht, or liveaboard. Entry is by giant stride or back roll from the dive boat, or by tender to the coral beach for a shore-style entry.
Recorded at this site
Depth
5-15m
Visibility
2-10m
Skill Level
Beginner
Entry
Boat
Boat required
Water Temp
22-29°C
Current
Mild
Best Time
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Divers regularly encounter wrasses, sixbanded angelfish, and various butterflyfish species. Less common sightings include Napoleon wrasse, barramundi cod, and coral trout.
Yes, Butterfly Bay is well-suited to beginners due to its manageable depths and mild currents.
The depth ranges from 5 to 15 metres, with an average depth of 10 metres.
Yes, the site is accessible for both divers and snorkellers.
The best months to visit are January through May and September through December. Diving in the morning is recommended for the best visibility.
Access to Butterfly Bay is by boat only.
Diving at Butterfly Bay in Whitsundays requires the following certifications: Open Water. Always dive within your training limits.
A 3mm wetsuit is recommended for diving at Butterfly Bay in Whitsundays. Water temperatures range from 22°C to 29°C.
Divers at Butterfly Bay in Whitsundays should be aware of jellyfish, lionfish, sharks, stonefish. These encounters are generally rare and avoidable with proper awareness. Follow local safety guidance and maintain a respectful distance from all marine life.
Butterfly Bay in Whitsundays typically has mild currents that most divers can handle comfortably.
Visibility at Butterfly Bay in Whitsundays typically ranges from 2 metres to 10 metres. Conditions vary with weather, tides, and seasons.