North Stradbroke Island — Point Lookout, the area around Flat Rock - Shark Alley

North Stradbroke Island · Australia · Reef · Channel & pass

Flat Rock - Shark Alley

Winter sand channel where grey nurse sharks gather

Area photo: Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BY 3.0

Shark Alley is the sand channel running between the two large sections of Flat Rock, several kilometres offshore from Point Lookout. The dive centre dives it predominantly in winter, when large numbers of grey nurse sharks — the species also called sand tiger — hold on the channel at 18 to 26 m. Humpback whales are common in the same water, along with the odd bull shark or sandbar whaler.

Also known as Shark Alley.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Flat Rock - Shark Alley: typical dive 18–26 m (60–85 ft), deepest point 28 m (92 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit18 m26 m28 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

27.3922° S, 153.5536° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

Flat Rock breaks into two large sections and Shark Alley is the sand channel between them. The graded profile is 18 to 26 m, with a maximum of 28 m and the reef rising to 12 m on either side of the alley, so there is rock on both hands to follow and a shallower shelf to move up onto when it is time to start the ascent. The site sits several kilometres offshore, a boat dive rather than anything reachable from the beach.

Winter is when this one is run. Large numbers of grey nurse sharks reside on the sand channel then, and the dive is a slow pass along the alley rather than a tour of the whole reef. Humpback whales are common in this area over the same months, and the odd bull shark or sandbar whaler comes through. Depth and the offshore position are why the dive centre grades it Advanced rather than an Open Water dive.

Marine life and season

  • Sand tiger sharks
  • Whales
  • Bull sharks
Month-by-month season rating for Flat Rock - Shark Alley
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.

Questions divers ask

When do grey nurse sharks gather at Shark Alley?+

In winter. The dive centre dives the site predominantly then, when large numbers of grey nurse sharks reside on the sand channel between the two large sections of Flat Rock. Humpback whales are common in the same area over those months.

Sources

  1. Dive Sites — Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre — Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre
  2. Flat Rock - Shark Alley — Scubago

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