North Stradbroke Island — Point Lookout, the area around Flat Rock - Blue Corner

North Stradbroke Island · Australia · Reef

Flat Rock - Blue Corner

Deep reef at 28 to 45 m with resident bull sharks

Area photo: Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BY 3.0

Blue Corner is a section of deep reef a short swim due north of the Shark Alley mooring, on the ocean side of Flat Rock. It ranges from 28 m to 45 m and the dive centre grades it Master Diver or technical. The corner is known for its population of bull and sandbar whaler sharks, and the reef itself is worked into nooks and crannies that hold varied marine life.

Also known as Blue Corner.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Flat Rock - Blue Corner: typical dive 28–45 m (92–148 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit28 m45 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 60 m (197 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

27.3871° S, 153.5637° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

The dive starts at the Shark Alley mooring: a short swim north of it is the section of deep reef known as Blue Corner, on the ocean side of Flat Rock. The reef here ranges in depth from 28 m to 45 m, so it is a short, deep dive with the profile settled before anyone gets in the water, and the dive centre grades it Master Diver or technical rather than an ordinary advanced dive.

Depth is only half of the grading. This area can be prone to current, and divers need to be confident and capable of a free ascent from the reef to the surface. Large bull sharks frequent the corner and it is well known for its population of bull and sandbar whaler sharks, while the reef between them is a cornucopia of varied marine life weaving in and out of its many nooks and crannies.

Marine life and season

  • Bull sharks
Month-by-month season rating for Flat Rock - Blue Corner
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodFairPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodGood

Season follows North Stradbroke Island: Mantas work the Manta Bommie cleaning stations Oct–Apr; grey nurse sharks and humpbacks arrive Jun–Oct, when visibility is also at its best. Boats run Friday to Tuesday.

Know before you go

  • This area can be prone to current, and the dive centre expects divers confident and capable of a free ascent from the reef to the surface.
  • The reef starts at 28 m and drops to 45 m, so bottom time is short and the dive has to be planned as a deep one from the outset.

Sources

  1. Dive Sites — Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre — Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre
  2. Flat Rock - Blue Corner — Scubago

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