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Group of scuba divers underwater in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, exploring the ocean depths.
📷 Harvey Clements · Pexels

Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon

3.5 — based on 16 community signals
4.2 12 especies 20 colaboradores

Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon offers year-round diving in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area with healthy coral and diverse marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Great Barrier Reef World Herit… updated 4 months ago
Dificultad
Principiante
Visibilidad
25 m
Temp. del agua
22–28°C
MPAFamily-friendlyShore entryPhotoFriendly

De un vistazo

Actividad
dive
Dificultad
beginner
Visibilidad
25 m
Temp. del agua
22–28 °C
Mejores meses
Todo el año

Mapa

Este spot POIs Aeropuerto Spots cercanos
Mapa de ubicación de Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon © Google · Datos del mapa © Google, colaboradores
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Condiciones hoy

Condiciones

Open-Meteo
Viento
16.6 kn
Olas
0.72 m
Agua
22.1°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ESE (78%)
Now: ESE (118°)
Marea (7 días)
amplitud: 2.02m

Hoy: Alta 05:00 (+0.56m), Baja 10:00 (+0.11m)

+1.7 m0 m-0.3 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.56m ▼ 10:00 · +0.11m ▲ 17:00 · +1.34m ▼ 00:00 · +0.06m Ahora +0.3m
Sáb 19Dom 20Lun 21Mar 22Mié 23Jue 24Vie 25
UV8.05 · very high Aire PM2.515 · moderate 05:55 17:58
Día Viento Olas UV Lluvia
09-19 19.2 0.94 8 0mm
09-20 13.9 0.6 8 0mm
09-21 12.1 0.42 8 0mm
09-22 17.2 0.7 6 0mm
09-23 19.6 0.86 8 2mm
09-24 20.9 0.9 8 4mm
09-25 21.9 0.98 9 6mm
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (22–28°C)

About this spot

Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon is a dive site within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, one of the world's most protected and biodiverse marine environments. The pontoon-based setup provides stable access to the reef, making it a practical choice for divers exploring the Whitsundays region. The site benefits from healthy coral conditions with no stress indicators, supporting a thriving ecosystem. Divers here encounter a variety of marine species typical of the reef system. The site has generated 12 documented species observations, reflecting the biodiversity that draws visitors year-round. Community videos from the location provide real-world views of conditions and wildlife encounters, helping divers prepare for their visit. Being situated within a World Heritage Area means the site operates under strict marine protection protocols. These regulations preserve the reef's health and ensure sustainable diving practices. Access is via the Cruise Whitsundays operator infrastructure, which manages pontoon-based diving experiences in this region. The year-round availability makes this a flexible destination for planning. Divers should confirm current access requirements and any permit conditions directly with local operators, as conditions and regulations can change.

📖 Guía: Buceo en Australia: 61 sitios desde arrecifes de coral hasta pecios en aguas frías

Mejores meses

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Tipos de buceo

ArrecifeBarco

Esenciales del viaje

Todo lo que necesitas antes de hacer la maleta — checklist, sol, logística.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm shorty
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type I · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 48%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm shorty
  • GPS
Información de sostenibilidad
🌍 CO2 footprint MAD ↔ 16543km · ~3805kg · €68

Desde tu país de salida

Estados Unidos
Puntuación de origen: 53/100
  • Visado: e-Visa · 90 días máx.
  • Vuelo: 16h · directo
  • Jet-lag: 9h este · 6 días de recuperación

Preguntas frecuentes

Can I dive here year-round?

Yes, Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon is open for diving year-round. However, seasonal conditions vary across the Whitsundays region, so check with the operator for current water and weather conditions before booking.

What marine life will I see?

The site has recorded 12 different species observations. As part of the Great Barrier Reef system, expect to encounter typical reef fish, corals, and other marine organisms. Check community videos for specific recent sightings.

What permits or certifications do I need?

The site is within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which has marine protection regulations. Confirm access requirements and any necessary permits with Cruise Whitsundays or local management authorities before your dive.

How do I access the dive site?

Access is via Cruise Whitsundays pontoon operations. Contact the operator directly for booking details, departure points, and what's included in their dive packages for this location.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Observaciones verificadas de especies marinas

80 registros · 50 especies · fuentes: OBIS, GBIF

Tridacna derasa

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×8registros

Aetobatus ocellatus

Elasmobranchii · Myliobatidae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×5registros

Stichopus herrmanni

Holothuroidea · Stichopodidae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×3registros

Tridacna gigas

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×3registros

Tridacna squamosa

Bivalvia · Cardiidae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×2registros

Vir philippinensis

Malacostraca · Palaemonidae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×2registros

Trapezia cymodoce

Malacostraca · Trapeziidae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×1registros

Cenometra bella

Crinoidea · Colobometridae
GBIF
Última observación:
4 mar 2026
×1registros

Pteraeolidia semperi

Gastropoda · Facelinidae
GBIF
Última observación:
25 feb 2026
×2registros

Fromia monilis

Asteroidea · Goniasteridae
GBIF
Última observación:
23 feb 2026
×1registros

Hemiscyllium ocellatum

Elasmobranchii · Hemiscylliidae
GBIF
Última observación:
22 feb 2026
×1registros

Rochia nilotica

Gastropoda · Tegulidae
GBIF
Última observación:
22 feb 2026
×1registros

Datos: 187.991 observaciones de OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) y GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

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📍 Atracción · 0 km
Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon
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See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

CRUISE WHITSUNDAYS | Great Barrier Reef | SCUBA DIVING | Snorkel | AUSTRALIA | Queensland | 2023

Sheridan Lewis

Introductory Scuba Dive at Great Barrier Reef with Cruise Whitsundays

Travel 'n' Tips
💬 2 top comments
  • I scuba dove whitsundays 25 years ago and it was the clearest water I’ve ever seen that seems quite murky 😢

    @brocky819 · 👍 0
  • Was it worth it instead of snorkeling?

    @XIPUFFIX · 👍 0

Airlie Beach to Great Barrier Reef with Cruise Whitsundays

Travel 'n' Tips
💬 2 top comments
  • Beautiful😍

    @amitprajapati3020 · 👍 1
  • hi,was the cruise stable? saw the weather was cloudy,any huge wave or sth would make people very dizzy. Thx!

    @ziyisu4849 · 👍 0
wind peaks Apr-May-Mar, calmest Dec-Oct-Nov, dry Mar-Dec, water 22-28°C.

Clima mensual de 5 años

60 muestras
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
rango p25–p75 Mediana Viento (nudos) Aire (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Aug (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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