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Where to dive in Australia

Explore the best places to dive in Australia. 89 dive sites with real reviews and ratings from divers.

Dive sites in Australia

Max depth20 m
Visibility25 m
LevelIntermediate
Acropolis
Top-30 hard coral site near Lizard Island with staghorn hills, giant clams and reef sharks at 10-20 m, premium northern Ribbon Reefs liveaboard stop.
Max depth35 m
Visibility28 m
LevelAdvanced
Advanced (Agincourt Reef 1)
Advanced wall dive at Agincourt Reef 1 with gorgonians, silvertips and barracudas, drift diving in moderate to strong current from Port Douglas.

LevelIntermediate

Anybodies (Dark Reef Agincourt Reef))

Shaded Agincourt Reef site with black coral passages, morays and scorpionfish at 10-20 m, ideal for intermediate divers from Port Douglas.

LevelIntermediate

Barracuda Bommie

Agincourt Reefs bommie with swirling barracuda spirals, reef sharks and snapper schools at 10-20 m, accessible from Port Douglas.

LevelIntermediate

Big Buoy

Central Ribbon Reefs mooring with bommies and walls to 25 m, snapper schools and whitetip sharks, popular with mid-route liveaboards.

Boulders

Granite boulder fringing reef at Fitzroy Island with epaulette sharks, lobsters and morays in coral-covered caves at 5-15 m.

Breaking Patches

Outer Cairns patch reef with coral micro-habitats at 10-18 m, parrotfish and small reef sharks, ideal for beginners and certification courses.

LevelIntermediate

Castle Rock

Agincourt Reefs coral pinnacle from 24 m to near the surface with friendly groupers, snappers and trevally, accessible from Port Douglas.

LevelIntermediate

Castle Rock (Agincourt Reef 1)

Southern Agincourt Reef 1 coral pinnacle from 24 m to 5 m below surface, with trevally, sweetlips and a resident Malabar grouper, day-trip from Port Douglas.

LevelIntermediate

Cathedral

Cathedral-shaped Flynn Reef formation with arches, swim-throughs and dramatic light, hosting morays, nudibranchs and trumpetfish.

LevelIntermediate

Caves

Norman Reef cave network and swim-throughs to 20 m with giant morays, lobsters and 25 m visibility, favorite of underwater photographers.

LevelIntermediate

Challenger Bay

Amphitheater bay between Ribbon Reefs 9 and 10 with walls to 20 m, garden eels, day-time trevally schools and rich night diving.

LevelIntermediate

Challenger Bay Ribbon Reefs

Sheltered Ribbon Reefs 9-10 bay with hard coral plains, garden eels and giant trevally schools at 20 m, with strong night-dive potential.

LevelIntermediate

Christmas Tree Bommie

Ribbon Reefs pinnacle covered in red, blue and orange Christmas tree worms, with clownfish and pipefish, rising from 20 m to the surface.

Cigar Bommie

Cylindrical Milln Reef bommie from 5 to 20 m on white sand with giant morays and nudibranchs, regular Pro Dive Cairns liveaboard stop.

Clowns Bommie

Beginner-friendly Flynn Reef bommie from 5 to 18 m with abundant clownfish, nudibranchs and macro photo subjects in mild currents.

LevelIntermediate

Cod Hole

Liveaboard-only Ribbon Reefs 9-10 mooring with resident potato cod at 10-25 m, sharks, turtles and exceptional visibility.

LevelIntermediate

Codhole, Ribbonreef

Central Ribbon Reefs mooring akin to Cod Hole with potato cod and Maori wrasse at 10-25 m, 20-25 m visibility, liveaboard-accessed.

Coral Garden

Saxon Reef patch coral garden with staghorn, brain and plate corals at 5-18 m, turtles and parrotfish, suitable for all levels.

Coral Garden (Saxon Reef)

Vibrant Saxon Reef coral garden 55 km NE of Cairns with staghorn bommies, plate coral, whitetips and lagoon rays at 5-20 m.

Coral Gardens

Northern outer Cairns reef coral gardens at 10-20 m with rich hard/soft coral diversity, turtles and whitetips in mild currents.

Corner Beach 1

Lizard Island sand-cay reef (Banks Bank) at 7-25 m with anemonefish, morays, reef sharks and blue-spotted rays, calm-water day trips.

Corner Beach 2

Second Lizard Island corner beach with fringing reef at 7-20 m, anemonefish, reef-fish schools and morays — calm guided day trip.

Crack A' Jack

Tall pinnacle between Ribbon Reefs 4-5 to 30 m with gorgonians, red whips, fusiliers, jacks and barracuda — advanced liveaboard site.

Dungeons And Dragons

Remote Bougainville Reef tunnel maze with mantas, whitetips, 1,000 m wall and pelagic sharks in strong currents — liveaboard exclusive.

Fish Bowl

Aquarium-like Hastings Reef natural pool at 5 m with giant clams, anemonefish and parrotfish, ideal for snorkelers and beginners.

Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island fringing reef under 30 km SE of Cairns, beach-access to 15 m, with epaulette sharks, turtles and rays for beginners.

LevelIntermediate

Flynn Reef Boulders

Flynn Reef boulder field at 10-20 m with morays, lobsters and groupers, 18-22 m visibility, popular Cairns liveaboard night-dive spot.

Flynn Reef Tennis Court

Flynn Reef "tennis court" hard-coral plateau at 10-18 m with surgeonfish, parrotfish, turtles and an edge drop-off with morays and whitetips.

LevelIntermediate

G Bay (Ribbon Reef)

Central Ribbon Reefs sheltered bay at 15-20 m with garden eels, soft-coral bommies and rich night diving, regular liveaboard stop.

LevelIntermediate

Gordon's Mooring

Popular Flynn Reef mooring with swim-throughs and overhangs to 25 m, green turtles and nudibranchs, 56 km from Cairns.

LevelIntermediate

Gordons Mooring

Second Gordon's Flynn Reef mooring at 22 m with sandy-bottom bommies, shaded swim-throughs, blue-spotted rays — strong night dive.

Gorgonian Wall

Northern Ribbon Reefs vertical wall at 15-35 m with giant gorgonians, red whips and fusiliers — top wide-angle liveaboard site.

Gotham City

Northern Ribbon Reefs night-dive Gotham City at 10-25 m with giant morays, trevally and grey/whitetip reef sharks emerging at night.

Green Island Reef

Green Island fringing reef 27 km NE of Cairns with bommies at 10-15 m, blacktips, turtles and octopus — ideal for beginners and snorkelers.

Halfway Osprey Reef,

Remote Osprey Reef Coral Sea wall from 5 m to hundreds, gorgonians, jacks, barracuda and grey/silvertip sharks in 30-50 m visibility.

LevelIntermediate

Harrys Bommie

Northern Cairns outer-reef isolated bommie from 22 m to 5 m with turtles, nudibranchs and morays, on Agincourt-Ribbon liveaboard routes.

Hastings Reef

Horseshoe Outer-Reef patch 50 km from Cairns at avg 13 m with swim-throughs, caves, bumphead parrotfish and turtles — all levels.

LevelIntermediate

King's Cross

Green Island current crossing at 10-18 m with converging pelagic schools, trevally and occasional sharks — intermediate-level dive.

LevelIntermediate

Lighthouse Bommie

Ribbon Reef 10 coral tower from 25 m to surface, turtle cleaning station with snapper, trevally and dwarf minke whales in austral winter.

Little Tracy's Bommie

Smaller Flynn Reef Tracy's Bommie sister site at 5-18 m with clownfish, nudibranchs and small reef sharks — great beginner second dive.

LevelIntermediate

Magic Mushroom

Mushroom-shaped Flynn Reef bommie at 15 m with sea fans, blue sponges, parrotfish and small reef sharks — 3-day liveaboard photo highlight.

Michaelmas Cay

Sand-cay seabird sanctuary 45 km NE of Cairns with coral gardens to 15 m, blue-spotted rays, batfish and turtles for beginners and snorkelers.

LevelIntermediate

Mickey Mouse & Maze

Flynn Reef 3D coral labyrinth at 10-20 m with arches, morays, nudibranchs and scorpionfish — intermediate macro-photography favorite.

LevelIntermediate

Milln Reef The Whale

Milln Reef whale-shaped Bommie from 5 to 20+ m with whitetips under ledges and grazing green turtles — Pro Dive Cairns 3-day favorite.

Moore Reef

Horseshoe Outer-Reef 47 km E of Cairns with 30+ m walls, hard/soft coral, jack schools, Maori wrasse and blue-spotted rays, all levels.

LevelIntermediate

Mv Antonio Tarabocchia Wreck

1961 Italian cargo wreck MV Antonio Tarabocchia on Bougainville Reef at 6-18 m with engine block, giant prop and coral boiler — liveaboard only.

LevelIntermediate

New Stonehenge

Stonehenge-like upright coral columns at Agincourt Reef, 10-18 m, with sponges, sea fans, morays and groupers, from Port Douglas.

Norman Reef

Cairns day-trip Outer Reef 80 km NE with coral gardens, caves, swim-throughs, mantas, turtles and austral-winter dwarf minkes, up to 30 m vis.

Nursery

Sheltered Agincourt Reefs juvenile-fish nursery at 8-15 m with giant clams, anemonefish and nudibranchs — popular Port Douglas day-trip.

Nursery Bommie (Agincourt Reef 2)

Nursery bommie at Agincourt Reef 2 (8-18 m) with dense coral sheltering juvenile parrotfish, groupers and wrasse; moderate currents, 20-25 m visibility.

Ospery Island

Fringing-reef islet near Lizard Island (5-20 m) with turtles, morays and small reef sharks; calm snorkel and dive site for Lizard Island Resort guests.

Petag

Milln Reef mooring with coral bommies on sand at 20 m; green turtles and whitetip reef sharks. Visited by 3-day Cairns liveaboards, suitable for beginners.

Petaj

Milln Reef mooring near Whale Bommie with soft-coral passages to 20 m; whitetip sharks, turtles and parrotfish; regular on 3-day Cairns liveaboards.

Phils Reef

Outer Agincourt reef NE of Port Douglas (10-20 m) with lush coral gardens, whitetip sharks, parrotfish and giant clams; suits beginners to certified divers.

LevelIntermediate

Pinnacle Reef

Pinnacle north of Green Island rising from 20 m to near the surface; gorgonians, blacktip sharks, blue-spotted rays and lionfish; intermediate day-trip from Cairns.

Pixie Gardens

Shallow bommies at SW Ribbon Reef 10 (15 m) covered with fan corals, sponges and feather stars; macro paradise with shrimp, pipefish, nudibranchs and turtles.

Pixie Pinnacle

30 m pinnacle between Ribbon Reefs 9-10, top at 2 m, covered in soft corals and gorgonians; whitetips, rays, nudibranchs and pelagics in strong currents — advanced.

Pixie Wall

Vertical wall at Ribbon Reef 10 next to Pixie Pinnacle, dropping 2-5 m to 25-30 m; fan corals, sponges and gorgonians; great for wide-angle photography.

Plate Top (Norman Reef)

Flat-topped Norman Reef plateau (10-18 m) with large plate corals; morays, octopuses and scorpionfish under plates, fusiliers and wrasse above.

Playground (Norman Reef)

Norman Reef bommies on white sand at 18 m; staghorn corals, turtles, parrotfish and giant Maori wrasse; suits both certified divers and beginners.

LevelIntermediate

Point, The (Agincourt Reef 4)

Tip of Agincourt Reef 4 (10-25 m) where currents draw barracudas, snappers and trevally; 25-30 m visibility; intermediate to advanced from Port Douglas.

LevelIntermediate

Princess Bommie

Central Ribbon Reefs pinnacle covered in pink and purple soft corals, rising from 22 m to near the surface; nudibranchs, pipefish and gorgonian walls.

LevelIntermediate

Ribbon Reefs

Mooring in the northern Ribbon Reefs with 1,000 m walls, monolithic corals and exceptional visibility; base for liveaboards between Lizard Island and Cod Hole.

LevelIntermediate

Rouge (Ribbon Reef)

Central Ribbon Reefs wall (12-25 m) with vibrant red and orange soft corals, gorgonians and barrel sponges; reef sharks and fusiliers in moderate currents.

Snake Pit

Dramatic canyon in northern Ribbon Reefs near Lizard Island; strong currents bring pelagics, reef sharks and the docile olive sea snake — advanced, liveaboard-only.

St. Crispin Reef

Outer reef east of Undine and south of Agincourt, the "flower garden" with soft corals at 9 m; sergeant majors, sweetlips, reef sharks and bumphead parrotfish.

LevelIntermediate

Steve's Bommie

Iconic Ribbon Reef 3 pinnacle (5-30 m) with gorgonians, soft corals and elephant-ear sponges; batfish, reef sharks and turtles; one of the most photogenic spots.

Swimming Pool

Sheltered Milln Reef lagoon (8-15 m) with calm water, giant clams, anemonefish and colorful corals; ideal for beginners and snorkelers on Pro Dive Cairns.

Tennis Court

Flat coral area at Flynn Reef (~20 m) with hard-coral gardens, low gorgonians, surgeonfish, large Maori wrasse and whitetip reef sharks; beginner to intermediate.

Tennis Courts

Variant of Tennis Court mooring at Flynn Reef with shallow hard-coral platforms; turtles, butterflyfish and small reef sharks; suits beginners from Cairns.

LevelIntermediate

The Fish Market

Site near Cod Hole at Ribbon Reef 10 (10-25 m); dense schools of sweetlips, snappers and trevally with crystal-clear visibility typical of the northern Ribbons.

The Pools

Sheltered Hastings Reef coral lagoons (5-15 m) packed with parrotfish, giant clams and butterflyfish; minimal currents, suits divers of all levels.

The Washing Machine

Turbulent drift near Lizard Island (15-25 m) with eddies and pelagics along gorgonian walls; advanced liveaboard destination for experienced divers.

LevelIntermediate

The Whale

Whale-shaped Milln Reef bommie (>20 m); whitetip sharks sleep at the base, green turtles use the top as a cleaning station; classic Pro Dive Cairns site.

LevelIntermediate

Three Sisters

Three connected bommies rising from 20 m on outer reef north of Cairns; morays, groupers, butterflyfish; popular second dive on liveaboards and day-trips.

Tn T (Ribbon Reef)

Northern Ribbon Reefs site with strong currents and massive schools of jacks, barracudas and sharks along walls to 30 m; advanced liveaboard only.

Top Plate

Norman Reef plateau (10-18 m) with 1-2 m plate corals sheltering morays, scorpionfish and octopuses; surgeonfish, butterflyfish and wrasse above; popular day-trip.

LevelIntermediate

Totem

Totem-shaped Agincourt bommie (5-18 m) with sponges and soft corals; wrasse, morays and nudibranchs in niches, cleaning station for turtles and fish.

LevelIntermediate

Tracey’S Bommie

Iconic Flynn Reef bommie rising from 20 m to 5 m of surface, with fan corals and tube sponges; whitetips at base, lionfish and barracuda — favorite of 3-day liveaboards.

LevelIntermediate

Tracy's Bommie

Main Flynn Reef bommie (5-22 m) with gorgonians and tube sponges; whitetip sharks at base, turtles, trevally schools and large Maori wrasse; top day-trip site.

LevelIntermediate

Troppo's

Informal mooring near Norman Reef (10-20 m) with diversified coral gardens, moderate currents and good reef-fish concentration; day-trip backup.

LevelIntermediate

Troppos

Outer-reef site near Norman Reef (10-20 m) with bommies, turtles, butterflyfish and whitetip reef sharks; light to moderate currents; popular day-trip choice.

Turtle Bay

Sheltered Cairns outer-reef bay (10-18 m) with concentrated green and hawksbill turtles grazing and resting on bommies; ideal for guaranteed turtle encounters.

LevelIntermediate

Twin Peaks

Twin Saxon Reef peaks rising from 20 m to near surface; gorgonians, soft corals, fusilier schools, whitetips and trevally; popular liveaboard and day-trip site.

Undine Reef

Outer reef accessible by yacht from Port Douglas (8-18 m); diversified soft-coral gardens, turtles, morays and parrotfish with exceptional visibility.

LevelIntermediate

Whale Bommie

Whale-shaped Milln Reef bommie to 22 m; whitetip sharks at base, green turtles using top as cleaning station; one of the most photographed Pro Dive sites.

Wild Side

Milln Reef's wild side exposed to Coral Sea currents; 20-25 m walls with soft corals, gorgonians, blacktip sharks and pelagics; advanced divers only.

LevelIntermediate

Yonge Reef.

Coral reef 55 min from Lizard Island; drift and snorkel over nudibranchs, morays, whitetips, rays and garden eels on sand at 15-20 m; vibrant soft and hard corals.

Where to dive in Australia — 89 dive sites