Mooloolaba · Australia · Reef
Pyramids
Eighty metres of coral-covered boulders on open sand
Area photo: Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BY 3.0
A pile of boulders spanning 80 metres by 80, encrusted in coral and standing on a sandy seabed on Murphys Reef in 19 to 31 metres. Swim more than about 60 metres in any direction and you are on flat sand, so the dive is a circuit of the rock. The bommies hold crabs, lobsters, crayfish, bugs and wobbegongs, and schools of pelagic fish hang over the site.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Mooloolaba and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The site is a pile of boulders spanning 80 metres by 80, encrusted in coral on top of a sandy seabed, in 19 to 31 metres of water. Scuba World's own rule of thumb is the useful one for navigation: swim in any direction for more than 60 metres and you will reach sand. So the dive is a circuit worked around and over the pile rather than a line run across it.
Look into the bommies. They are filled with crabs, lobsters, crayfish, bugs and wobbegongs, along with old boat anchors, and there are always large schools of pelagic fish hanging around above the rock. The depth and the Advanced or Deep certification Scuba World requires keep this a short dive, so it is better to pick one section of the pile and cover it properly.
Marine life and season
- Wobbegongs
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Mooloolaba: Grey nurse sharks hold at Nurse Rock July–October, the months operators also rate clearest; summer is murkier and falls inside the November–April cyclone season.
Know before you go
- Old anchors, chain and discarded fishing line collect on the boulders; the operator lifts what it can, but stay clear of monofilament and carry a cutting tool.
Sources
- Mooloolaba Reef Diving — Scuba World
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