Stone Island (also referred to as Stone Reef) sits 2 km off the coast of Bowen at the edge of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, surrounded by pristine fringing coral reefs teeming with marine life. This undeveloped 227-acre island is part of the Cumberland Islands group and offers some of the most accessible fringing reef snorkeling in the Whitsundays region. The shallow, sheltered waters around the island's shoreline are dotted with hard and soft corals, making it an ideal spot for both novice and experienced snorkelers to explore the vibrant underwater world of the southern Great Barrier Reef without venturing to the outer reef.
Stone Reef / Stone Island
BeginnerGO
GO
It's a go.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 3.0 sWind Speed 7.0 knPrecipitation 0.5 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Stinger Season (Marine Stingers)
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in tropical Queensland waters, particularly during the warmer months from October to May.
Low risk: Tidal Variations
Visibility and water depth over the fringing reef change significantly with the tide; snorkeling is best at high tide to avoid scraping corals.
Low risk: Outgoing Tide Current
Strong tidal currents can sweep around the island, especially near the reef channels.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
Be the first to share a photo
No photos yet — yours could be the first.
Photos are reviewed by moderators before they appear.
Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
Stone Island is located approximately 2 km off the coast of Bowen, Queensland. Access is currently limited to private boat or charter. A proposed over-water cable car from Bowen mainland will provide future access. Snorkel tours to the fringing reefs around Stone Island depart from Bowen and Airlie Beach.
Parking & facilities
Parking is available at the Bowen mainland departure points; check with local tour operators for specific arrangements (e.g., boat ramp and marina parking near Bowen town centre).
Spot Map
Community
Trust
Is this spot real, accurate, still loved?
Spots near Queensland
No nearby spots yet.
Needs verification
Quick verify
One tap helps the community keep this spot honest.
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