Magnetic Island lies a short ferry ride from Townsville and offers accessible diving and snorkelling across a mix of site types. The database includes a wreck, boulder reefs, a seagrass snorkel trail, and shore entries, all sitting within shallow water. Species recorded include green sea turtles, spotted wobbegong, bluespotted fantail rays, blacktip reef sharks, painted sweetlips, and a variety of nudibranchs. The SS Moltke wreck provides structure for wrasse, angelfish, and rays close to shore. Visibility varies by site and conditions, reaching up to around eight metres at better sites. Marine stingers are a known seasonal hazard from November through April, and full-length suits are recommended during that period.
Monthly water temperature across Magnetic Island's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water is warmest from late spring through summer and coolest in mid-winter, though temperatures remain moderate year-round. The marine stinger season from November to April means full-length exposure protection is advised during those months. Cooler, calmer winter conditions often bring improved visibility at some sites.
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Water temperature around Magnetic Island ranges from about 22°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 Magnetic Island; in the coldest months (about 22°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 5 sites in Magnetic Island (4 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
4 more sites to explore
