Turtle Bay lives up to its name, with loggerhead turtles a reliable presence across the site's depth range of 5 to 22 metres. Visibility runs from 10 to 30 metres in the clearer conditions, giving you plenty of time to watch grey reef sharks and white-tip reef sharks working the deeper water. Moderate current pulls through regularly, which draws in schools of yellow tail fusiliers, trevally, and mackerel, so position yourself accordingly and let the fish come to you. Giant clams and sea fans mark the reef structure, while parrotfish and red bass fill out the mid-water. Check for jellyfish before entering, particularly in the shallower sections.

Harrys Bommie sits at a consistent 16 metres, making it a straightforward dive for beginners who are comfortable descending to moderate depths with a guide. Visibility ranges from 10 to 30 metres, so on a clear day you can take in the whole structure from a distance. The current is generally mild, which lets you hover and watch without fighting to hold position. Manta rays and grey reef sharks are among the more striking visitors here, while coral trout, groupers, fusiliers, and mackerel fill out the water column. Keep an eye out for jellyfish, particularly during certain seasons.

Crack a Jack earns its name from the dense schools of jacks that sweep through the water column here, often accompanied by fusiliers and clouds of glass fish that part around you as you descend. The reef runs from a snorkeller-friendly 5 metres down to 36 metres, putting serious depth on the table for those who want it. Visibility typically ranges from 15 to 30 metres, so you can watch the action from a distance before committing. Current stays mild, which helps. Look carefully into the gorgonian fans for pygmy seahorses, and keep an eye on the sandy margins for marbled stingray and sea snakes. Whitetip and gray reef sharks work the deeper sections regularly. Watch for jellyfish throughout the water column and stay aware of boat traffic on ascent.

Big Buoy offers a proper drift dive along a reef wall studded with pinnacles, where moderate currents carry you past some of Queensland's most reliable marine encounters. The wall drops from 5 to 40 metres, and you'll cover serious ground as the current sweeps you along the structure. Visibility ranges from 15 to 30 metres, giving you excellent sightlines to spot the site's standout residents. Manta rays cruise the blue water off the wall, whilst reef sharks patrol the deeper sections. You'll find giant clams embedded in the reef face, their mantles creating vivid splashes of colour against the coral. Maori wrasse appear surprisingly unperturbed by divers, often approaching close enough for proper observation. The pinnacles harbour cod in the shadows and schools of barracuda in mid-water. Sea turtles graze the reef top, and you'll spot clownfish amongst the anemones, parrotfish working the coral, and sweetlips sheltering in the overhangs. This is a boat-only site with active marine traffic, so surface awareness matters. The current dictates your dive plan here, so you'll need solid buoyancy control and the confidence to work with the flow rather than fight it. The variety of depth and structure means you can tailor your profile, but the real reward comes from letting the current show you the reef.

Barracuda Bommie is a boat-access site in Queensland where you're likely to encounter the school of barracuda that gives the site its name. Shallower areas sit around 6 metres, making them comfortable for newer divers, though the site extends into deeper water at 26 metres. Visibility ranges from 12 to 30 metres, so conditions are generally good for spotting marine life. Alongside the barracuda, look for turtles, coral trout, trevally, and sweetlips, with smaller species like cardinalfish and blue-lined snapper filling in the gaps. Be aware that currents can run moderate to strong, so stay close to your guide.

Tokyo Drift offers an unusual combination for beginner divers: a gentle introduction to drift diving along a reef system that drops down a dramatic wall. Starting in the shallows at 5 metres, you'll glide along with moderate current past pinnacles decorated with giant clams and gardens of anemones hosting clownfish. The wall itself provides natural protection from stronger currents, making this an ideal spot to learn drift techniques without feeling overwhelmed. Visibility ranges from 10 to 30 metres, giving you plenty of warning as you approach schools of barracuda or spot a Maori wrasse cruising past. Sea turtles are regular visitors here, often seen resting on ledges or swimming along the wall. Keep an eye out into the blue for eagle rays and manta rays, particularly during the cooler months. Reef sharks patrol the deeper sections, while cuttlefish hunt around the pinnacles. Your dive operator will brief you on current conditions and marine life interaction protocols before entering the water. The boat-based access means no difficult shore entries, and full facilities including equipment rental and guided tours make this straightforward for newer divers. Just be aware that jellyfish can appear seasonally, so check conditions with your operator.

Agincourt sits at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, where the ribbon reefs form long, narrow structures with walls, pinnacles, and shallow reef tops starting at just 2 metres. Visibility regularly reaches 15 to 30 metres in these waters, so even first-time divers get a clear view of what's around them. You can drift gently along the reef with the current rather than fighting it, which makes exploring easier. Keep an eye out for turtles, clownfish, honeycomb grouper, and blue barred parrotfish on the reef. Reef sharks and nurse sharks patrol the area too, which sounds intimidating but is perfectly normal on a healthy reef.

Barracuda Bommie is a pinnacle site rising through Queensland waters where depths run from 10 to 29 metres and visibility regularly reaches 30 metres in good conditions. Mild current keeps the diving comfortable while supporting a solid variety of reef life. Barracuda and jackfish are the main draw around the structure, with reef sharks and nurse sharks adding weight to the experience. Honeycomb grouper and blue barred parrotfish work the hard coral, sea turtles pass through regularly, and the soft gingerbread hem star appears on closer inspection of the reef. Be aware of jellyfish and sharks throughout your dive.