The Sunshine Coast is best known for its beautiful beaches and beach resorts, lush rainforests and mountain retreats with scuba diving being a relatively recent addition. There are three large subtropical reefs off Mooloolaba which are of interest to scuba divers: Inner Gneering Reef, Outer Gneering Reef, and Murphy’s Reef. These reefs offer exceptional diving and a variety of underwater topographies from sloping reefs through to ledges, caves, and stunning pinnacles. Divers can expect to see an abundance of reef fish and the region holds the record for the largest variety of species of nudibranch. There is no shortage of dive sites to explore and divers come back to the Sunshine Coast time and time again.
The Sunshine Coast offers a balmy climate (as the name suggests), and diving here is possible all year round. Divers should expect water emperatures of around 26 degrees during the summer months (November to February). During the winter months, water temperatures are around 19 deegers and a decent 7mm wetsuit and hood is recommended. Those who feel the cold, may prefer to opt for a dry suit during these times. If you are hoping to catch the humpback whale migration, the best months to go are from July to November. During these winter months, there are also more frequest sightings of larger marine species including nurse sharks.
Sunshine Coast Airport is an Australian international airport located at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast and approximately 90 km north of centre of Brisbane, this is the closest airport but the majority of international arrivals, arrive through Brisbance International Airport which has more connections and arrivals.
This page wouldn't be possible without contributions from the following PADI members: Kai Steinbeck (PADI pro), Sunreef Mooloolaba. Disclaimer
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