Explore the best places to dive in Australia. 89 dive sites with real reviews and ratings from divers.
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.
Advanced wall dive at Agincourt Reef 1 with gorgonians, silvertips and barracudas, drift diving in moderate to strong current from Port Douglas.
Port Douglas, Queensland
Shaded Agincourt Reef site with black coral passages, morays and scorpionfish at 10-20 m, ideal for intermediate divers from Port Douglas.
Agincourt Reefs bommie with swirling barracuda spirals, reef sharks and snapper schools at 10-20 m, accessible from Port Douglas.
Central Ribbon Reefs mooring with bommies and walls to 25 m, snapper schools and whitetip sharks, popular with mid-route liveaboards.
Granite boulder fringing reef at Fitzroy Island with epaulette sharks, lobsters and morays in coral-covered caves at 5-15 m.
Cairns, Queensland
Outer Cairns patch reef with coral micro-habitats at 10-18 m, parrotfish and small reef sharks, ideal for beginners and certification courses.
Agincourt Reefs coral pinnacle from 24 m to near the surface with friendly groupers, snappers and trevally, accessible from Port Douglas.
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.
Cathedral-shaped Flynn Reef formation with arches, swim-throughs and dramatic light, hosting morays, nudibranchs and trumpetfish.
Norman Reef cave network and swim-throughs to 20 m with giant morays, lobsters and 25 m visibility, favorite of underwater photographers.
Amphitheater bay between Ribbon Reefs 9 and 10 with walls to 20 m, garden eels, day-time trevally schools and rich night diving.
Sheltered Ribbon Reefs 9-10 bay with hard coral plains, garden eels and giant trevally schools at 20 m, with strong night-dive potential.
Ribbon Reefs pinnacle covered in red, blue and orange Christmas tree worms, with clownfish and pipefish, rising from 20 m to the surface.
Cairns, Queensland
Cylindrical Milln Reef bommie from 5 to 20 m on white sand with giant morays and nudibranchs, regular Pro Dive Cairns liveaboard stop.
Beginner-friendly Flynn Reef bommie from 5 to 18 m with abundant clownfish, nudibranchs and macro photo subjects in mild currents.
Queensland
Liveaboard-only Ribbon Reefs 9-10 mooring with resident potato cod at 10-25 m, sharks, turtles and exceptional visibility.
Central Ribbon Reefs mooring akin to Cod Hole with potato cod and Maori wrasse at 10-25 m, 20-25 m visibility, liveaboard-accessed.
Saxon Reef patch coral garden with staghorn, brain and plate corals at 5-18 m, turtles and parrotfish, suitable for all levels.
Vibrant Saxon Reef coral garden 55 km NE of Cairns with staghorn bommies, plate coral, whitetips and lagoon rays at 5-20 m.
Cairns, Queensland
Northern outer Cairns reef coral gardens at 10-20 m with rich hard/soft coral diversity, turtles and whitetips in mild currents.
Lizard Island sand-cay reef (Banks Bank) at 7-25 m with anemonefish, morays, reef sharks and blue-spotted rays, calm-water day trips.
Second Lizard Island corner beach with fringing reef at 7-20 m, anemonefish, reef-fish schools and morays — calm guided day trip.
Tall pinnacle between Ribbon Reefs 4-5 to 30 m with gorgonians, red whips, fusiliers, jacks and barracuda — advanced liveaboard site.
Remote Bougainville Reef tunnel maze with mantas, whitetips, 1,000 m wall and pelagic sharks in strong currents — liveaboard exclusive.
Cairns, Queensland
Aquarium-like Hastings Reef natural pool at 5 m with giant clams, anemonefish and parrotfish, ideal for snorkelers and beginners.
Fitzroy Island fringing reef under 30 km SE of Cairns, beach-access to 15 m, with epaulette sharks, turtles and rays for beginners.
Flynn Reef boulder field at 10-20 m with morays, lobsters and groupers, 18-22 m visibility, popular Cairns liveaboard night-dive spot.
Cairns, Queensland
Flynn Reef "tennis court" hard-coral plateau at 10-18 m with surgeonfish, parrotfish, turtles and an edge drop-off with morays and whitetips.
Central Ribbon Reefs sheltered bay at 15-20 m with garden eels, soft-coral bommies and rich night diving, regular liveaboard stop.
Popular Flynn Reef mooring with swim-throughs and overhangs to 25 m, green turtles and nudibranchs, 56 km from Cairns.
Second Gordon's Flynn Reef mooring at 22 m with sandy-bottom bommies, shaded swim-throughs, blue-spotted rays — strong night dive.
Northern Ribbon Reefs vertical wall at 15-35 m with giant gorgonians, red whips and fusiliers — top wide-angle liveaboard site.
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 fringing reef 27 km NE of Cairns with bommies at 10-15 m, blacktips, turtles and octopus — ideal for beginners and snorkelers.
Queensland
Remote Osprey Reef Coral Sea wall from 5 m to hundreds, gorgonians, jacks, barracuda and grey/silvertip sharks in 30-50 m visibility.
Northern Cairns outer-reef isolated bommie from 22 m to 5 m with turtles, nudibranchs and morays, on Agincourt-Ribbon liveaboard routes.
Horseshoe Outer-Reef patch 50 km from Cairns at avg 13 m with swim-throughs, caves, bumphead parrotfish and turtles — all levels.
Green Island current crossing at 10-18 m with converging pelagic schools, trevally and occasional sharks — intermediate-level dive.
Queensland
Ribbon Reef 10 coral tower from 25 m to surface, turtle cleaning station with snapper, trevally and dwarf minke whales in austral winter.
Cairns, Queensland
Smaller Flynn Reef Tracy's Bommie sister site at 5-18 m with clownfish, nudibranchs and small reef sharks — great beginner second dive.
Mushroom-shaped Flynn Reef bommie at 15 m with sea fans, blue sponges, parrotfish and small reef sharks — 3-day liveaboard photo highlight.
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.
Flynn Reef 3D coral labyrinth at 10-20 m with arches, morays, nudibranchs and scorpionfish — intermediate macro-photography favorite.
Milln Reef whale-shaped Bommie from 5 to 20+ m with whitetips under ledges and grazing green turtles — Pro Dive Cairns 3-day favorite.
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.
1961 Italian cargo wreck MV Antonio Tarabocchia on Bougainville Reef at 6-18 m with engine block, giant prop and coral boiler — liveaboard only.
Stonehenge-like upright coral columns at Agincourt Reef, 10-18 m, with sponges, sea fans, morays and groupers, from Port Douglas.
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.
Port Douglas, Queensland
Sheltered Agincourt Reefs juvenile-fish nursery at 8-15 m with giant clams, anemonefish and nudibranchs — popular Port Douglas day-trip.
Nursery bommie at Agincourt Reef 2 (8-18 m) with dense coral sheltering juvenile parrotfish, groupers and wrasse; moderate currents, 20-25 m visibility.
Queensland
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.
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.
Milln Reef mooring near Whale Bommie with soft-coral passages to 20 m; whitetip sharks, turtles and parrotfish; regular on 3-day Cairns liveaboards.
Port Douglas, Queensland
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.
Cairns, Queensland
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.
Queensland
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.
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.
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.
Flat-topped Norman Reef plateau (10-18 m) with large plate corals; morays, octopuses and scorpionfish under plates, fusiliers and wrasse above.
Norman Reef bommies on white sand at 18 m; staghorn corals, turtles, parrotfish and giant Maori wrasse; suits both certified divers and beginners.
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.
Central Ribbon Reefs pinnacle covered in pink and purple soft corals, rising from 22 m to near the surface; nudibranchs, pipefish and gorgonian walls.
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.
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.
Dramatic canyon in northern Ribbon Reefs near Lizard Island; strong currents bring pelagics, reef sharks and the docile olive sea snake — advanced, liveaboard-only.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Variant of Tennis Court mooring at Flynn Reef with shallow hard-coral platforms; turtles, butterflyfish and small reef sharks; suits beginners from Cairns.
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.
Sheltered Hastings Reef coral lagoons (5-15 m) packed with parrotfish, giant clams and butterflyfish; minimal currents, suits divers of all levels.
Turbulent drift near Lizard Island (15-25 m) with eddies and pelagics along gorgonian walls; advanced liveaboard destination for experienced divers.
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.
Cairns, Queensland
Three connected bommies rising from 20 m on outer reef north of Cairns; morays, groupers, butterflyfish; popular second dive on liveaboards and day-trips.
Northern Ribbon Reefs site with strong currents and massive schools of jacks, barracudas and sharks along walls to 30 m; advanced liveaboard only.
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.
Totem-shaped Agincourt bommie (5-18 m) with sponges and soft corals; wrasse, morays and nudibranchs in niches, cleaning station for turtles and fish.
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.
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.
Informal mooring near Norman Reef (10-20 m) with diversified coral gardens, moderate currents and good reef-fish concentration; day-trip backup.
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.
Cairns, Queensland
Sheltered Cairns outer-reef bay (10-18 m) with concentrated green and hawksbill turtles grazing and resting on bommies; ideal for guaranteed turtle encounters.
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.
Outer reef accessible by yacht from Port Douglas (8-18 m); diversified soft-coral gardens, turtles, morays and parrotfish with exceptional visibility.
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.
Cairns, Queensland
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.
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.
