The Cardwell Coast sits along the Hinchinbrook Channel in tropical North Queensland, within reach of both Hinchinbrook Island National Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Sites here mix fringing reef, artificial reef, and estuarine environments, from the shallow Brook Islands, accessible by boat around thirty kilometres offshore, to the jetty pylons at Cardwell Jetty, diveable from shore. Depths are generally shallow, and the species list includes green sea turtles, painted frogfish, potato bass, day octopus, and common blacktip sharks. Boat traffic in the active sugar-loading shipping channel near Lucinda is a notable hazard, as is jellyfish presence and the possibility of crocodile encounters in estuarine areas.
3 areas
3Coastal Queensland diving from jetty to bay, ranging from beginner-friendly pylons to expert-only reef conditions.
1Beginner-friendly artificial reef off the Cardwell Coast, dived by boat near an active shipping channel.
1Shallow fringing reef off the Cardwell Coast with mild conditions, turtles, reef sharks, and frogfish for beginner divers and snorkellers.
Monthly water temperature across Cardwell Coast's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures are warmest from December through March, reaching around twenty-nine degrees, and coolest in July and August at around twenty-three degrees. Visibility and current conditions vary significantly by site; the dry season generally brings more settled conditions and better visibility at the outer reef locations.
3 operators
Water temperature around Cardwell Coast ranges from about 23°C in July to 29°C in January, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 29°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Cardwell Coast; in the coldest months (about 23°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 5 sites in Cardwell Coast (5 scuba diving sites and 2 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both), organised into 3 areas.
Across Cardwell Coast's dive sites, May, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
4 more sites to explore
