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Whether you are a beginner or experienced diver, the GBR has something to offer for everyone. However, you'll find that you can only get to many of these areas by extended liveaboard cruises.
Far Northern Barrier Reef : These untouched reefs are located in the area between Lizard Island and the northern tip of Australia, Cape York & Thursday Island. Due to weather conditions, these reefs are only visited between September and January each year. Even during those few months, there are only 3 to 4 live aboard vessels operating in the area. The Far North is so remote and pristine, it is truly an unspoilt area which offers the very best diving on the Barrier Reef!
Northern Coral Sea : Beyond the Continental Shelf to the east/north-east of Cairns in mid ocean are some isolated reef systems. Here you find crystal clear water, steep drop offs, and pelagic fish in the open Pacific Ocean! Large soft corals and gorgonians are also typical for this area. The Coral Sea is a must for divers who like to see sharks. Reefs: Osprey, Holmes, Bougainville.
Ribbon Reefs : Here you have a chain of 10 Reefs, which from the air look like ribbons. They are accessed all year round by liveaboard vessels from Cairns. The Ribbon Reefs offer a great variety of diving. There are beautiful coral gardens with rich tropical fish life everywhere on the Ribbon Reefs. At the Northern tip of those reefs you find the Cod Hole, one of the most famous dive sites in Australia.
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The Great Barrier Reef Near Cairns and Port Douglas : This is the area of the reef that is closest to the Queensland coast. Because of easy access and closeness to tourist centres you find bigger numbers of divers here than anywhere else. There are a couple of sites to avoid but there is still good diving particularly for beginners and people on a small budget who haven't experienced a lot of tropical diving. For experienced divers with little time there are also some interesting options. Reefs visited from Cairns: Milne, Flynn, Norman, Saxon and |
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Hastings Reefs. Reefs visited from Port Douglas: Opal, Agincourt, Tongue Reef, St Crispin Reef & The Sisters.
The Great Barrier Reef Near Cairns and Port Douglas : This is the area of the reef that is closest to the Queensland coast. Because of easy access and closeness to tourist centres you find bigger numbers of divers here than anywhere else. There are a couple of sites to avoid but there is still good diving particularly for beginners and people on a small budget who haven't experienced a lot of tropical diving. For experienced divers with little time there are also some interesting options. Reefs visited from Cairns: Milne, Flynn, Norman, Saxon and Hastings Reefs. Reefs visited from Port Douglas: Opal, Agincourt, Tongue Reef, St Crispin Reef & The Sisters.
Southern Coral Sea : This area is very similar to the Northern Coral Sea. However, it is even less visited than the northern part. You have crystal clear water, steep drop offs, and pelagic fish in the open Pacific Ocean! Large soft corals and gorgonians are also typical for this area. The Coral Sea is a must for divers who like to see sharks. Reefs visited from Townsville: Flinders Reef and North & South Boomerang Reefs, Dart & Abington Reefs, Myrmidon Reef.
Southern Great Barrier Reef : This is the largest section of the Great Barrier Reef. It is further away from the mainland and good dive sites are fewer and more difficult to access. Here Heron Island (via Gladstone) and Lady Elliot Island (via Bundaberg) offer the best accessible dive sites in this area. The Whitsunday Islands are a very popular tourist destination. Diving is offered but compared to the diving further north we'd rather recommend the fantastic sailing cruises around the islands. Sometimes extended cruises and special charters can be organised in this part of the GBR. Reefs: Swain, Lady Elliot Reefs and Heron Island Reefs.
Osprey Reef : Osprey reef is the most northern coral reef at the Queensland plateau, oval in shape, with a length of 25 km and width of 12 km. In the middleof Osprey Reef is a deep water lagoon, where boats can safely anchor. In less than a kilometer, depths have dropped to 1000 meters and more. The fact that it is the only shallow part in miles and that shark feeds are done here for over 15 years makes this reef one of the best in Australia. It definitely is the place to see large pelagic action.
Osprey Reef, North Horn : Dive site North Horn is the northern most post of Osprey Reef. This part of the reef looks like a horn of a unicornfish, which explains its name. Currents, rich sea life, feedings and the solitude of this dive site make it perfect for sharks. Some of the species often seen are whitetips and silver reef sharks. But also hammerheads and tiger sharks occasionally come in to take a look.
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The reef drops from 5 meters almost vertical to 20 and then continuing to 40 meters from where it drops almost vertically to over 400 meters. Go down to about 30 meters and gradually swim west, look around to see all the action around you, between the different species. Controlled spectacular shark feeds are sometimes organized to prevent the natural reaction of sharks to make it safer for divers. If you can, try to see one, it's a mind blowing thrill. |
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The reef drops from 5 meters almost vertical to 20 and then continuing to 40 meters from where it drops almost vertically to over 400 meters. Go down to about 30 meters and gradually swim west, look around to see all the action around you, between the different species. Controlled spectacular shark feeds are sometimes organized to prevent the natural reaction of sharks to make it safer for divers. If you can, try to see one, it's a mind blowing thrill.
The Cod Hole : The Cod Hole is one of the best known dives in the world. It is famous because here you can dive with huge cods. The famous giant potato cod is still fed by divemasters these days. But here you can also see leopard morays and maori wrasse. Dive down to the sandy floors area between the bommies, where you will see the fish feeding from beneath.
Ribbon reef is with 90 kilometers one of the longest reef chains at the Great Barrier Reef. They stretch out from Lizard Island all the way down to Cooktown. Lying there at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, creating many spectacular dive sites.
Snake Pit : Halfway between Lizard Island and Ribbon Reef nr 10 lies a great dive site named snake pit. It lives up to its names as almost all divers encounter more than just one sea snake. The site is made up of 8 bommies roughly aligned in two lines that are surrounded by a white sandy ocean floor.
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Many species of soft coral can be found, such as leather and palm corals. But there is also some hard coral, sea fans and sponges as well as invertebrates such as clams, sea stars, nudibranches and sea cucumbers. Many larger fish inhabit the area. Trevally, mackerel, groupers and barracuda, but also smaller species such as batfish, parrotfish, stingrays and hawksbill turtles can be seen. This dive site is interesting mainly due to the sea snake encounters, but don't forget the encounters with large game fish, sharks and rays. |
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Opal Reef : The reason dive operators choose to go to Opal Reef is without doubt the numerous different dive sites that can be found at this 8 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide reef.
Barracuda Pass : Baracuda Pass consists of a series of small bommies, which are connected by sandy floors and nice coral gardens. This dive site has many small fish and tides bring in rich planktonic life, which in its turn bring in bigger fish again. To name a few sights: giant clams, titan triggerfish, blacktip reef sharks and off course the many barracuda's that gave this site its name.
The reason dive operators choose to go to Opal Reef is without doubt the numerous different dive sites that can be found at this 8 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide reef.
Pixie's Pinnacle : As its name tells us, this dive site is nothing more than a pinnacle. And a small one in fact which rises from 40 meters to the surface and is only 15 meters across. Diving is done by spiraling down around the pinnacle, until you are ready to spiral up again. It is not a big site, so take it easy and enjoy all the colors and life. There are many potato cods resting at 30 meter, stonefish, rays and white-tip sharks. Above the 30 meter line are many caves and overhangs, which are ideal for lionfish and moray eels. But there is also plenty of hard and soft coral as well as invertebrate life such as nudibranches. |
