Australia Dive Destinations

The Diving Sites of the North Coral Sea

Lying to the north of Cairns at a distance of at least 350km, Australian dive sites come into their own in the North Coral Sea, which contains isolated reef systems in clear blue waters best dived from a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard.

The underwater landscapes are vast and varied with mountain pinnacles and sheer walls that disappear in the depths below, covered with enchanting coral gardens.

As a region that is attractive to an abundance of marine life, the Coral Sea is home to large schools of pelagics, big eye trevally, whale sharks and barracuda, not to mention starry morays, exotic cuttlefish and sea hares.

Crystal clear waters are the perfect setting for a proliferation of gorgonian fans, sea whips and beautiful bright yellow soft corals that will leave you spellbound.

Highlights

The remoteness of the Coral Sea is a highlight in itself, where you will often find yourself far removed from anything that isn't wet and colourful.

Osprey Reef is the most northerly of the reefs in the Coral Sea. Considered one of the prime sites for both visibility and big fish action, Osprey Reef is not to be missed. On a typical dive you will marvel at the gigantic gorgonian fans and experience an adrenalin filled wall dive with the huge shark populations. You can also look forward to sightings of green turtles, loggerhead turtles, manta rays and eagle rays.

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How to Dive the North Coral Sea

Due to its remoteness, access to the North Coral Sea is by liveaboard only. To cut down journey time to the reefs, some operators do also leave from Lizard Island, which feature resorts or basic accommodation and is accessible by flight. The flight departs Cairns and flies to Lizard Island over the reef, providing you a scenic trip with an overview of what you'll be diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Diving Season

Thanks to North Queensland's tropical climate, the northern Great Barrier Reef is a year round diving destination. The average water temperature never dips below 22°C in winter, with an average of a toasty 29°C during summer.

From June to November it's humpback whale season, with the coral spawning taking place around October / November, but a dizzying array of marine animals are on display all year round.

Visibility is great throughout the year, with exceptional visibility around September to November.

As the Australian summer is the wet season, the likelihood for rain increases around December to February, with showers usually confined to mornings and late afternoons. During the winter months, the dry season, rainfall is pretty low.

Surface conditions through the year are calm, with June to August experiencing moderate conditions.

Reef Summary

Great for: Visibility, underwater photography, large animals, walls, reef life and health
Not so great for: Small animals, wreck dives
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 10 - 60m
Currents: Moderate
Surface Conditions: Generally calm but can be choppy
Water Temperature: 25 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: ~15
Access: Australian Liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 1 week

Dive Site Descriptions

More detailed information on the Great Barrier Reef's North Coral Sea dive sites:

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