Scuba Diving in Great Barrier Reef
The Ultimate Guide
The Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 2,300 km along Australia’s Queensland coast and is Earth’s largest coral ecosystem. With over 2,900 individual reefs, hundreds of islands, and a staggering diversity of marine life, it’s a bucket‑list destination for divers. Outer reef walls, coral gardens and pinnacles support potato cod, giant trevallies, reef sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and even visiting dwarf minke and humpback whales. Divers can explore historic wrecks like the SS Yongala, drift along the coral‑clad walls of Osprey Reef or mingle with friendly cod at Cod Hole. Whether you’re a beginner on a day trip from Cairns or an experienced diver on a remote liveaboard, the Great Barrier Reef offers unforgettable underwater adventures.
Difficulty
Moderate
Temperature
22–29 °C
Visibility
10–30 m
Diving Highlights
Best Months to Dive
Getting to Great Barrier Reef for Diving
✈️Transportation
The reef lies off Queensland’s northeastern coast.
Most divers fly into Cairns Airport (CNS), which has direct flights from Auckland, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and other regional hubs and is reachable from Europe via connections through Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne.
From Cairns, dozens of day boats depart to nearby reefs in 30–90 minutes; more remote sites such as the Ribbon Reefs and Osprey Reef are accessed by liveaboard trips leaving from Cairns or Port Douglas.
You can also access the central and southern reef from Townsville (for the SS Yongala), Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays, with dive operators offering day trips and multi‑day itineraries.
Within the reef region, transfers are usually arranged by the dive resort or liveaboard operator.
Country
Australia
Currency
Australian Dollar
Electricity
230 V, 50 Hz, Type I plug
Cost of a Dive Trip in Great Barrier Reef
Day Trip
Dive Resort
Liveaboard
Meal
Accommodation
Best Dive Sites in Great Barrier Reef
🐠Cod Hole
Situated near Ribbon Reef 10, Cod Hole is famed for its resident potato cod – large, inquisitive fish that have grown accustomed to divers. On a typical dive you descend to a white‑sand slope at 15 m and kneel while potato cod and giant trevallies glide past, accompanied by sweetlips, coral trout and bright anthias. The surrounding reef is covered in colourful corals and offers excellent macro life between cod encounters.
🐢Ribbon Reefs (Steve’s Bommie)
The Ribbon Reefs are a chain of slender outer reefs north of Cairns known for their healthy coral and pelagic action. Steve’s Bommie on Ribbon Reef 3 is a pinnacle rising from 30 m to within 5 m of the surface. Currents here attract schooling trevallies, barracuda and sharks, while the bommie’s sides are cloaked in soft corals, gorgonians and swarms of glassfish.
🦈SS Yongala
Lying off Cape Bowling Green near Townsville, the SS Yongala is one of the world’s most celebrated wreck dives. The 110‑metre passenger ship sank in 1911 and now rests in 30 m of water on an open sandy plain. Its intact hull and superstructure harbour massive groupers, sea snakes, eagle rays, bull rays and swirling schools of trevally, batfish and barracuda; visibility is often excellent during the dry season.
🐙Osprey Reef (North Horn)
Located in the Coral Sea some 350 km offshore, Osprey Reef is accessible only by liveaboard. North Horn is its signature site: a precipitous wall where strong currents bring in grey reef, whitetip and occasionally hammerhead sharks. On many trips dive operators conduct shark feeds here, offering thrilling close‑up encounters in exceptionally clear blue water.
🐚Agincourt Reef
Off Port Douglas, Agincourt Reef is a series of outer reef walls and bommies known for clear water and abundant marine life. Sites like “Blue Wonder” and “The Canyons” feature steep drop‑offs, colourful soft corals, schooling reef fish and occasional manta rays and turtles. This area is ideal for day‑trippers and snorkellers seeking a taste of the outer reef without committing to a liveaboard.
What Divers Say About Diving in Great Barrier Reef
Marcus Rodriguez
DivemasterIf there’s a place that embodies the term “world‑class diving,” the Great Barrier Reef is it. Imagine plunging into bathtub‑warm water and being instantly surrounded by clouds of damsels, parrotfish and fusiliers weaving through fluorescent corals. One day you’re finning along a sheer wall covered in soft corals and watching grey reef sharks cruise the blue, the next you’re kneeling in the sand as potato cod the size of Labradors mug for your camera at Cod Hole. Drift dives at Osprey Reef deliver heart‑pounding action with sharks circling in clear blue water, while the century‑old wreck of the SS Yongala teems with giant groupers, sea snakes and swirling schools of trevally. Add sightings of minke whales in June–July and manta rays in the warmer months and it’s easy to see why divers keep coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diving in Great Barrier Reef
When is the best time to dive the Great Barrier Reef?
June–October offers the clearest water and cooler conditions, along with humpback and minke whale encounters. November–March has warmer water and manta rays but also brings jellyfish in the far north, so stinger suits are recommended.
What marine life can I see on the Great Barrier Reef?
Expect a kaleidoscope of reef fish, reef sharks, turtles, potato cod and giant trevallies. Manta rays are common from October–April, while dwarf minke whales and humpbacks migrate past between June and October.
Is the Great Barrier Reef suitable for beginners?
Yes. Many outer reef day boats cater to first‑time divers and snorkellers with shallow, sheltered sites. More remote pinnacles and drift dives (e.g., Osprey Reef) suit intermediate and advanced divers.
How many dive sites are there on the Great Barrier Reef?
With thousands of reefs and bommies, the exact number is hard to count, but the main regions (Cairns/Reef Fleet, Ribbon Reefs, Townsville, Whitsundays) collectively offer dozens of regularly visited sites for every skill level.
Can I dive with manta rays or whales here?
Yes. Manta rays frequent sites like Lady Elliot Island and Osprey Reef from October to April, while dwarf minke whales and humpback whales can be seen around the Ribbon Reefs between June and August.
What are the water temperatures and visibility like?
Water temperatures range from 22 °C in winter to 29 °C in summer. Visibility generally falls between 10 and 30 metres, improving during the dry season.
Should I choose a liveaboard or day trip?
If you want to explore remote reefs and maximise dive time, liveaboards are ideal. For a taster or if you’re short on time, day trips from Cairns, Port Douglas or Airlie Beach offer excellent diving on the inner and outer reefs. Many divers combine both to experience the reef’s full range.
Can I do other activities besides diving?
Absolutely. Snorkelling, scenic reef flights, sailing the Whitsundays, island hopping and rainforest tours in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area are popular add‑ons to any reef trip.