The Museum of Underwater Art at John Brewer Reef combines contemporary sculpture with living coral in an experience unlike any other dive site in Australia. Installed between 4 and 18 metres, the large-scale installations provide structure for marine life while creating an otherworldly landscape. You'll find the artworks colonised by coral and surrounded by schools of parrotfish and barracuda. Visibility ranges from 10 to 25 metres, making the sculptures easy to spot and photograph. The mild current suits newer divers perfectly, and the sandy patches between coral formations provide comfortable spots to adjust your buoyancy. Sea turtles often glide past the installations, while wobbegong sharks rest beneath ledges. White-tipped reef sharks patrol the drop-off, and if you're lucky during winter months, you might hear humpback whales singing in the distance. All visits require a boat charter, with most departing from Townsville or Magnetic Island. Guides accompany every dive, explaining both the artwork and the marine environment. The combination of artificial and natural reef means there's always something to see, whether you're focused on the sculptures or the maori wrasse investigating the installations. Between May and October, conditions are typically at their best.

Lodestone Reef offers beginner divers a lot to explore across a surprisingly varied underwater landscape. The site combines a reef, wall, canyon and pinnacle, so even a single dive can take you through noticeably different terrain. Depths run from a shallow 3 metres down to 45 metres, though beginners will be most comfortable staying in the shallower sections. Visibility ranges from 5 to 20 metres depending on conditions. Currents are generally mild, but can strengthen, so stay close to your guide. Keep your eyes open for sea turtles, cow tail rays, anemonefish, butterflyfish and angelfish, with white tip reef sharks making occasional appearances along the wall.

The Maze is a boat-access dive site off Queensland that sits in a comfortable depth range of 3 to 12 metres, making it a good choice for beginner divers still building confidence. Visibility can reach up to 30 metres in good conditions, though it varies. Currents are unpredictable, so check conditions before you enter. The site hosts a solid cast of Queensland marine life including turtles, reef sharks, gropers, barramundi cod, batfish, stingrays, and giant clams. Be aware that jellyfish and crocodiles are recorded hazards here, so ask your boat operator about current risk levels before getting in the water.

Brittomart Reef sits off Queensland and offers beginner divers a manageable range of depths, from the shallows down to 25 metres in deeper areas. Visibility typically runs between 10 and 25 metres, so you can see clearly across the reef without much experience reading conditions. Currents are variable, so check with your boat operator before jumping in. The reef attracts a good mix of marine life including triggerfish, angelfish, sweetlips, parrotfish, wrasse, and giant clams. Sea turtles and reef sharks make regular appearances, and trevallies patrol the water column. Between July and November, humpback whales pass through the area. Watch out for sharp coral, jellyfish, and boat traffic on the surface.

Keeper Reef sits off the Queensland coast and offers a mix of reef and wall diving at depths from 1 to 20 metres, making it a comfortable choice for beginners. Visibility commonly runs between 10 and 30 metres, so you get a clear view of what is around you. Mild currents keep conditions manageable. The reef attracts a solid cast of marine life including turtles, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, stingrays, and large Maori wrasse. Clownfish, angelfish, batfish, coral trout, and fusiliers round out the mix. Stay alert to boat traffic, as this is a boat-access site.