Rose Bay Dive Site, nestled on the rugged Bowen coastline in the Central Great Barrier Reef, is a delightfully shallow, sandy-bottomed bay where the reef comes right up to shore. With depths of just 3–7 metres, this protected nook offers easygoing snorkeling over bommies of mixed soft and hard corals. The bay's calm, clear waters make it ideal for slow, extended explorations — perfect for spotting reef fish, sea turtles, and the region's famous giant clams. Being off the beaten tourist track, Rose Bay delivers a peaceful, uncrowded slice of the Great Barrier Reef experience.
Rose Bay Dive Site
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 0.0 sWind Speed 4.4 knPrecipitation 0.7 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Submerged rocks near shore
Rocks just below the surface at the entry point require careful navigation when entering the water.
Low risk: Tidal current
Tidal movement can affect water depth and create mild currents, especially around the bommies.
Low risk: Extreme shallows at low tide
At low tide the water becomes very shallow (less than 1 m near shore), which can make entry and exit difficult.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Rose Bay is located on the northern side of Bowen, Queensland. From the Bruce Highway, follow signs to Bowen town centre, then head north toward the coast. Rose Bay is accessible via Rose Bay Road off the main coastal road. The site is a short drive from Bowen's town centre.
Parking & facilities
Street parking available near the beach along Rose Bay Road.
parkingtoilets
Free public access
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports