| Great Barrier Reef
Diving with ''Bargara Beach Dive'' a shore dive.
Comments
This site is very popular and highly regarded. Being in the heart of Bargara it is easily located and a favourite of many visiting diver. Inexperienced and student divers can help to preserve the beauty of this site by snorkeling a short distance until over a sandy bottom and then descending to fine tune their buoyancy.
Suitable For ...
Snorkelling, novice or experienced scuba divers.
Depths
0 - 9 metres
Entry and Exit Points
The site can be accessed from locations to either the North or South of the headland. During choppy sea conditions some protection can be attained on the leeward side of the point. During calmer conditions either side can be utilised and with a tidal current running, a drift dive around the headland can be both relaxing and enjoyable.
Bottom Topography
Basalt rock, extensive soft corals and some hard corals extend to both the North and South of the headland and out to about 50 metres from shore. Some scattered bombies (coral outcrops) extend further to seaward and the remaining bottom comprises mainly of flat sand. Shallow caves and ledges under the point of the headland are well worth investigating.
Cautions
Divers should use caution while walking over the shoreline boulders particularly nearer the water's edge where they can become extremely slippery.
Entries and exits during choppy sea conditions can become hazardous with slippery and/or barnacled rocks.
Being easily accessed, this site has in the past suffered some damage to fringing corals by inexperienced and student divers with poor buoyancy skills. Divers are asked to appreciate the fragile nature of the ecology and refrain from landing on, or finning close to, the corals.
Getting There
Situated approximately 4 kilometres South of the Bargara Shopping Centre and adjacent to the intersection with Wilfred Street on the right. Two privately owned blocks of land (at time of printing) adjoin the headland along with a small council park (Nudibranch Park).
Marine Park Status
Conservation Zone - Restrictions Apply
( Click here for information on zonings )
Marine Life
The caves and ledges under the point of the headland often feature resting turtles, wobbegong sharks and bull rays. The vast array of both soft corals such as gorgonia sea fans and ?trees' of ?pom poms' and scattered hard corals make this site a wonderland habitat for many smaller species of coral fish. The site is also home to many varieties of brightly coloured nudibranchs, some of which have only ever been recorded at this location and which have drawn the attention of many marine scientists. Other interesting sightings include schools of barracuda and trevally, lionfish and cuttlefish. Olive sea snakes are frequently seen and although highly venomous are extremely docile. However they should be left alone
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