Magnetic Island is a high continental island that lies approximately 8 kilometres north of the city of Townsville on the north-western side of Cleveland Bay. It is separated from the mainland by the shallow (<15 m) West Channel. Due to its location in Cleveland Bay, the marine habitats of Magnetic Island are diverse. They are characterised by gradients ranging from very wave-protected shallow muddy environments on the leeward sides to wave-exposed windward coastlines with clearer and deeper water. Associated with the high environmental diversity is a broad range of marine communities, ranging from those that are tolerant of muddy, low light conditions to those that are typically found in less turbid environments
