Choose Region Port Douglas Cairns Far North Southern Clearly, to cover the entire gamut of possible locations, or all the precise particulars of even one reef, is way beyond our scope. However we have selected a number of reef sites with good diving, from well south of Cairns to way north of Cooktown and far out into the Coral Sea. Port Douglas Region AGINCOURT REEFS Number one on many people’s list of dive destinations. From most ports of embarkation, these are some of the first of the ‘ribbon reefs’, elongated reefs perched directly on the edge of the continental shelf, over 45 km from the mainland. Water visibility averages 15-25m, and better than that is far from uncommon. At Agincourt there are over a dozen excellent established dive sites, and the profusion of diverse corals, fishes and general marine life is justifiably famous. Drift dives, drop-off dives, wreck dives, day dives, night dives, pontoon dives, boat dives (and even access by helicopter) are all regular occurrences at the Agincourt Reefs. The internationally renowned Quicksilver Connections operating out of Pt. Douglas, with boat and bus connections to Cairns, have two pontoons at Agincourt. Several dive boats offer day tours to these reefs from Pt. Douglas, and many Cairns boats on 2-12 day trips call in here as well. The Nursery Bommie is the most popular dive site, a towering pillar of coral seething with life and circled by schools of mackerel, barracuda etc. A 30m drop-off dive on one of Agincourt’s outer edges, especially in 40m vis on a sunny day, is truly awe inspiring and mind bogglingly beautiful. VIS - good to superb. SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Aristocat, Mike Ball (standby), Poseidon, Quicksilver, Silverblue, Undersea explorer ST. CRISPINS A classic example of a large, outer reef, St. Crispins pristine environment is also a favoured destination for dive operators based in Port Douglas. From a 40 metre drop-off dive, or an hour long drift dive, or exploration of a coral pinnacle, or a tranquil dive through coral gardens, it’s all possible here; and too highly recommended. There are clams and crayfish, reef sharks and rays, hard and soft corals, big fish and little, and any photographer will enjoy excellent micro and macro photographic opportunities. Whales do occasionally pass by as well. VIS - good to great SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Haba, Poseidon, Wavelength UNDINE Steaming NE of Port Douglas, this will be the first of two sand cays you will pass on your way through the inner reefs. Visibility is usually not so hot (10 - 20m), underwater nagivation may be difficult and you may find yourself getting easily lost. However you can expect to see ‘big’ things that you wouldn’t usually see, like giant rays cruising around. A very pretty reef, well protected from any lively south easterlies. Makes for great snorkelling. VIS - poor to great SKILL - novice to advanced. Dive operators Aristocat , Jungle Diver OPAL REEF The closest outer reef to Pt. Douglas, and one with numerous, long established, dive boat moorings. Drift dives also regularly happen out here. Many operators traditionally head to Opal for the annual coral spawning (usually Nov), a truly sensational night dive experience. There’s at least a little of almost everything to be found here, and often considerable numbers of this and that. Pillars of coral, coral gardens, isolated outcrops on a sandy floor, reef sharks, clams and fishes of all sizes and much, much more make this dive destination deservedly popular. VIS - fair to great SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Haba, Poseidon, Wavelength TONGUE REEF Some locals will consider this a contentious statement, but Tongue Reef is a good example of an inner Outer Reef off Port Douglas being as good to dive as some of the true Outer Reefs to be found closer to Cairns. The visibility here also ranges from poor to quite splendid, there is an enormous variety of both soft and hard corals, turtles, sharks, rays, fishes, crustaceans, and lots of the other weird and wonderful marine amazements in abundance. With its close proximity to Port Douglas, numerous dive sites and often calm conditions, Tongue Reef has a well earned popularity and many day trips head here. VIS - poor to great SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Haba, Poseidon, Wavelength LOW ISLES These two sandy cays have long been much visited from nearby Pt. Douglas, an easy hour’s sailing away. The fringing reef here is very much an inner reef, masses of predominant soft corals, scattered coral outcrops in quite shallow water, and regularly poor visibility. One of the isles is thickly mangroved, the other has had a lighthouse for 120 years and even has mango trees. It is not allowed to camp anywhere on Low Isles, but there is plenty of sheltered water for parking the boat. A placid place for SCUBA diving. VIS - poor SKILL - novice Dive operators Wavedancer, Sailaway, Wavelength   Choose Region Port Douglas Cairns Far North Southern Cairns Region NORMAN REEF North of Cairns, this is the furthest outer reef visited by Cairns based day trips. Even the occasional Pt. Douglas day tour gets here, and several extended charter operators also regularly bring divers this way. For a relatively small reef this is a real gem. Plenty of coral diversity, moray eels, giant clams, fishes and even occasional whales are to be found hereabouts. There are a number of swim-throughs and some caves, though the latter do require the company of a guide for safe exploration. VIS - fair to excellent SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Deep Sea Divers Den, Down Under Dive, Great Diving Adventures, Reef Encounter, Super Cat Reef Cruises, Tusa SAXON REEF Though by no means the closest ‘inner outer reef’ to Cairns, Saxon is very popular as a dive destination and several dive operators often make the effort to travel the extra distance for the fine diving possible here. There is a tremendous assortment of corals in uncountable different combinations, all the reef fishes from the tiny and settled to the large and migratory can be found, and everything commingles in an intensity that is not easily forgotten. There are probably more night dives here than anywhere else on the GBR. VIS - fair to fabulous SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Deep Sea Divers Den, Down Under Dive, Reef Encounter, Super Cat Reef Cruises, Tusa HOLMES REEF Way, way out in the Coral Sea, east of Cairns, Holmes Reef is visited by dive operators offering extended tours for experienced divers. The visibility is usually superb, but 60m drop-offs and elaborate coral caves and tunnels require skill and proficiency to navigate safely. Schools of pelagics such as Barracuda, Mackerel, and Big-eyed,Bluespot and even Giant Trevally add to the secluded awe of this far-flung dive site, and oft hand-fed reef sharks are also common dive companions. VIS - great to exceptional SKILL - advanced Dive operators Rum Runner, Tusa HASTINGS REEF Several dive operators visit Hastings daily from Cairns, and it would have to be one of the most popular destinations in terms of number of visitors. A stop-off for those extended tours which pass this way, and for day tours, Hastings is tucked away only a few kilometres behind the true outer reefs. It’s relatively sheltered position and often fine visibility, combined with it’s close proximity to Cairns, make it a good destination (especially during intemperate weather), for those operators with a choice of destinations. Many people completing a dive certification course in Cairns will find themselves diving at Hastings, and for sure there’re few better certification dive destinations in Australia. VIS - okay to wonderful SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Compass, Deep Sea Divers Den, Down Under Dive, Reef Encounter, Super Cat Reef Cruises, Tusa MICHAELMAS REEF & CAY An inner reef, within 90 minutes motoring from Cairns, with a sandy coral cay world-renowned for it’s nesting migratory birds. Introductory dives from the beach are a very easy and gentle way to blow your first bubbles. There are many operators who use moorings at Michaelmas Reef, but serious divers new to the GBR are better off heading to the outer reefs not far away. There is a large population of giant clams, a wealth of soft corals and too a delectable diversity of other abundant reef life to be found here. VIS - poor to decent SKILL - novice Dive operators Down Under Dive, Ocean Spirit, Tusa PARADISE REEF Even though this is very much an inner reef, it has not undeservedly received its monniker. There really is much more than a little of most things here, and also a fine variety of coral formations to navigate while you check it all out. Paradise Reef is also quite close to Cairns, and it is one of the better destinations for those with only the one day to spare. Being an inner reef, (part of the Michaelmas Reefs), the visibility is rarely as good as the outer reefs, yet this is probably the best inner reef, close to Cairns, to dive. VIS - poor to excellent SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Compass, Passions of Paradise, Reef Encounter, Rum Runner UPOLU REEF One of the nearest dive sites to Cairns, and an excellent destination for those looking for calm, easy conditions. Lugger’s Lagoon, situated within the reef itself, contains enough to enthrall the average diver for at least a day or two, without ever getting deeper than 10 metres. Again this is very much an inner reef and the visibility can get rather ghastly at times, but then travel time is minimal and the seas generally calmer than further out. There is a sand cay at Upolu, but only a few operators have access, and it is only sand. VIS - bad to okay SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Ecstasea, Falla, Ocean Spirit II, Sail & Snorkel, Seahorse Sail & Dive, Passions of Paradise FLYNN REEF One of the true outer reefs also accessed by Cairns based day tours, and well worth the extra travelling time needed to get there. It’s all here, drop-offs and swim-throughs, moorings and drifts, day dives and night dives, good visibility and astonishing diversity. There’s also plenty of pelagic activity in the deeper waters, and as with dives on other outer reef walls, gazing into the Pacific Ocean as it shades profoundly bluer and bluer and bluer in the direction of California, while the ocean floor drops gradually away to a depth of 2,000m, can be a very deep and meaningful event. VIS - good to excellent SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Pro-Dive, Tusa MILLN REEF Another popular outer reef close enough to Cairns for day trips, and also a popular stop for dive boats on extended trips. There are moorings situated near both shallow and deep dive sites, and the abundant diversity of reef life and often delightful diving conditions make this a favourite destination for many locals. VIS - fair to fantastic SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Cairns Dive Centre, Pro-dive, Reeftel, Tusa THETFORD REEF An extensive reef perched behind the true Outer Reefs, and another of the closest reefs to Cairns, Thetford is inundated with a great many dive sites visited by several dive operators. Though occasional poor visibility will frustrate the serious diver who can only get to the Great Barrier Reef once during their holiday, there is plenty of most things to be found here. The coral gardens on the west side of the reef offer some wonderful exploration, and many learner divers end up here during their course. On the east side there are drop-off dives to 50m+, but there are better reefs for that sort of thing. VIS - fair to mighty fine SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Cairns Dive Centre, Pro-dive, Tusa, Vagabond MOORE REEF One of the better inner reefs, well off-shore but an easy voyage to and from Cairns. Several operators visit here daily, even more visit Moore when weather conditions are excellent. There is a profusion of hard corals, soft corals, turtles, rays, and pelagic, reef and coral fishes, and lots of varied reef landscape to explore. Night dives are common here. VIS - poor to fairly good SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Cairns Dive Centre, Great Diving Adventures, Vagabond, Sunlover BRIGGS REEF The diving possibilities here are a good example of much that’s available in the way of day trips from Cairns. Briggs Reef is one of the inner reefs, so the vis is rarely astonishing, yet everything from Manta Rays to Nudibranchs can be found here, and the patient explorer will find a constant supply of different and fascinating reef life. The more fragile Soft Corals are more abundant here, away from the rather rigorous ‘true outer reef’ environment. There are also regular night dives, an experience we can’t recommend enough to the uninitiated. VIS - fair to middling SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Cairns Dive Centre, Reeftel , Rum Runner Choose Region Port Douglas Cairns Far North Southern Far North Region LIZARD ISLAND (RIBBON REEFS) Many of the reefs way further north than those we’ve already mentioned are delightful diving utopias, but visited only by a handful of charter operators, usually depending on bookings. Anyone happy to spend two days steaming north, to do some serious exploration under largely unchartered waters, or those who would like more information, or who have any questions at all, please do contact us LIZARD ISLAND Well to the north of Cooktown, and almost 30 km east of the mainland, Lizard Island offers one of the choicest SCUBA diving bases on the planet. It is, however, sadly reliable for being rather expensive, for both accommodation and dive services. Nevertheless, a few dive tours out of Cairns or Pt. Douglas can be just as expensive. Excellent diving can be had both around and from the island. The nearby outer reefs are among the very best the GBR has to offer, yet the reefs fringing the island and some of the closer inner reefs are also superb. Lizard Island can be reached by boat or plane from Cooktown or Cairns. VIS - good to fantastic SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Floreat Reef Charters, Lizard Island Charters, Rainbow Princess SNAKE PIT Located half way between Lizard Island and the outer Ribbon Reefs, this isolated group of well submerged coral bommies is a popular stop-off with passing extended-dive-trippers. As its name suggests, sea snakes are a common sight here, though more often the olive green variety than the really vibrant and eye-catching breeds. There is a ‘Manta Ray cleaning station’, pelagic fishes, turtles and a suprising selection of hard and soft corals too. VIS - good to fantastic SKILL - intermediate to advanced Dive operators Mike Ball NO NAME REEF The northernmost reef we’ve listed here, and the most northerly of the ‘Ribbon Reefs’, which means it is a long way from Cairns, but the good water visibility and variety of reef life almost guarantee you an excellent dive. There are drop-off dives to 40m, shallow dives in calm water, drift dives in strong currents, and more than enough to keep you fascinated and distracted for many dives. Lizard Island is only 20 km or so away, and dive boats from there visit this area frequently. Many operators from the south also regularly pass this way. VIS - good to excellent SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Mike Ball, Lizard Island Charters, Taka RIBBON REEF - THE COD HOLE One of the most famous dive destinations in the world and also one of the first in our region to be given ‘protected status’. Divers plunge from boats into a group of up to 30 Potato Cod, each weighing up to 150kg, and all eager to be fed by your divemaster, unless the previous dive group has already sated them. This is not the impeccable, glorious dive site it once was, sigh, as the cod have now developed skin diseases, the resident Moray Eels have been removed, (after a divemaster did pretty much the wrong thing and lost an arm), and even experienced divers can sometimes have problems recognising their own boat’s hull amidst the many waiting on the surface. The Cod Hole is a long way from anywhere, though day trips from Lizard Island are common. It is close by a great many other excellent dive sites, and even if it itself is no longer the optimum place to dive, it is still well worth checking out. VIS - good to marvelous SKILL - intermediate Dive operators Mike Ball, Floreat Reef Charters, Lizard Island Charters, Rum Runner, Taka, Tusa, Undersea Explorer OSPREY REEF - North Horn Ever dived into 1,000 metres of water before? Ever dived in 100m vis? Ever fed a shark? Osprey reef is perched on its own, way, way out in the Coral Sea, a very long way north east of Cairns. Relatively few divers make it out here, but those that do usually return with a far away look in their eyes, vaguely mumbling things like "you had to be there", or " like far-out, well gee, you know, yeah, like far-out". There are several moorings and many dive sites around Osprey, and some of the dives really do begin in 1,000m, with the reef rising close to the surface only 20-30 metres away. There is regular shark feeding at ‘North Horn’, usually involving schools of reef sharks, though hammerheads and others are also periodically involved. The reef itself has plenty of variety of both corals and fishes etc., and Osprey is also a superlative night dive location. Legends of improbable visibility abound. VIS - great to unbelievable SKILL - intermediate to advanced Dive operators Taka, Tusa, Undersea Explorer PIXIE’S PINNACLE At present our region’s most famous, most popular and most sought after dive destination, Pixie’s Pinnacle has an intense environment chock-full with extensive varieties of corals, fishes, starfish, crustaceans, clams, sharks etc etc, and being on the southern tip of the northernmost Ribbon Reef enjoys some of the best water visibility to be found in GBR waters. Other than special charters it is only extended dive tours that get this way, but almost all of these will stop here if they have the chance. This is one site it is most wise to be sure to book early, if you do want to be certain you’ll be checking it out. VIS - usually magnificent SKILL - novice to advanced Dive operators Taka, Tusa, Undersea Explorer BOUGAINVILLE REEF This is one of the smallest of our Coral Sea reefs. Perched in isolation over 120 km from the mainland, it is due east of Cooktown but normally visited by Cairns based boats. There are several mooring and drift dive sites here, one of the best being the mystical ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, a labyrinth of coral caves and tunnels. At ‘the Zoo’ the rare Flame Angelfish is an oft sought for resident. This is one reef you won’t be visiting on a day trip, but it is well worth the travel necessary to get there and explore all the amazements yourself. VIS - great to fantastic SKILL - intermediate to advanced Dive operators Mike Ball, Rum Runner, Tusa RIBBON REEF NO.3 - STEVE’S BOMMIE The Ribbon Reefs are renowned as being amongst the best diving destinations on the planet and, at Reef #3, Steve’s Bommie is one of the most popular Ribbon Reef dive sites. It is intense, it’s diverse, it’s one of those places where the boat crew will be trying to dive with you. A typical dive here begins with a descent to 20 or 30 metres, followed by a long, slow spiral up and around the coral pinnacle. From the micro to the macro to the mega (e.g. minke whales), this prolific little oasis really is a prime example of some of the best the GBR has to offer. Only extended dive trips visit here, but some do visit more than once. VIS - good to astonishing SKILL - intermediate to advanced Dive operators Undersea Explorer Choose Region Port Douglas Cairns Far North Southern Southern Reefs (Fitzroy Island to Mission Beach) COATES REEF A very good example of a more sheltered reef visited by Cairns based operators. Reasonable dive skills are desirable for the many tunnels and plate coral canyons, yet this is also a glorious snorkeling site, with lots of shimmering white sand scattered with abundantly busy coral outcrops. Visibility can be fairly atrocious during the rainy season. VIS - poor to great SKILL - intermediate to advanced Dive operators Coral Princess BEAVER The most southern reef we’ve included here, and a tad too far from Cairns for a day trip, though Beaver is a favourite with operators from both Mission Beach and Dunk Island, and day charters from Innisfail also visit. Another inner-outer reef, with visibility usually around 12 metres or better, Beaver Reef is itself about 40 km from the mainland. Home to an extensive range of reef life, and an excellent place to meet giant clams, there is also a sand cay here which makes an ideal entry site for novice divers. VIS - good to even better SKILL - novice to intermediate Dive operators Innisfail R.F. & Dive Charters, Quick Cat Cruises, Friendship Cruises