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Great Barrier Reef Day Trip from Cairns

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Spend the night on the Great Barrier Reef! Snorkel, intro dive and cert dive options available

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Try scuba diving for the first time in our pool and enjoy fun underwater games!

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Learn to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef! Our conveniently located Cairns Dive Centre has PADI 5 Star Instructor Development and PADI 5 Star Career Development status. Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’re thinking of making diving your career, we have a dive course to suit you. Our friendly, expert instructors will ensure you have a safe and fun experience.

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World class scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea on Australia's most awarded liveaboard, Spoilsport.

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Combines the best of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, Australia

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Leading the way in the Australian dive industry since 1969

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions operates exciting liveaboard scuba diving expeditions departing from Cairns to some of the best dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Enjoy spectacular biodiversity on the northern Great Barrier Reef including the world famous Cod Hole, or venture out into the remote Coral Sea for exciting big fish action, shark encounters and excellent visibility.

Spoilsport is Australia’s most awarded dive liveaboard, custom built for diving and with a twin-hull design that maximises space, stability, and comfort. Plus our procedures allow greater freedom for divers with an ‘open dive deck’ policy resulting in no restrictions on bottom time.

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SCUBA DIVING THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA

GREAT BARRIER REEF DIVING HIGHLIGHTS

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, this spectacular reef system stretches 1,400 miles down the east coast of Australia , from Cape York Peninsula in northeastern Queensland, to Bundaberg in the south. Comprising 600 islands and close to 2,900 individual reefs, choosing where to dive and what to see can be overwhelming. But don’t let this worry you. There are so many amazing facts about The Great Barrier Reef such as how it and the Coral Sea boast over 600 types of coral, which in turn provide a home to 1,625 fish species and 133 species of sharks and rays. Wherever you choose to dive, this huge and glorious reef system won’t fail to disappoint, and could likely be one of the best scuba diving trips you’ll ever make.

Interested in diving the Great Barrier Reef? View the live availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Great Barrier Reef and book online at the best price or check out our sidebar for specials and workshops!

Our thanks to Mike Ball Dive Expeditions for images on this page.

Marine Life - Best Dive Sites - Best Time to Dive

Diving Conditions - How to Get There - How to Dive Galapagos

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GREAT BARRIER REEF DIVE RESORTS AND LIVEABOARDS

Shore diving the Great Barrier Reef is concentrated around the town of Cairns , where day boats take divers and snorkelers out to the nearby reefs. This world-famous spot is popular with tourists and backpackers so it can get quite busy during peak season. For those willing to venture further north, Port Douglas offers some upmarket resort options as an alternative to the Cairns hostel scene.

The quality of diving improves as you venture further from the mainland, and some of the best sites are only accessible via liveaboard. They offer a range of trips to the outer reefs and into the Coral Sea to dive some breathtaking spots.

Find the best Great Barrier Reef liveaboard for your next dive vacation.

INtro to the Great Barrier Reef

As the largest living structure on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world, offering a variety and abundance of marine life seldom found elsewhere. Much of the reef falls within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park , and so many of the dive sites enjoy protected status. Beyond the barrier reef itself, the Coral Sea is a hidden gem of scattered reefs and atolls boasting rarely visited dive sites and some of the best diving in Australia.

Images courtesy of the Coral Sea Dreaming Liveaboard

Chromodoris annae Nudibranch (LEFT) & Pink Anemonefish (RIGHT)

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The diving season in the Great Barrier Reef is year-round, but the best time to go would highly depend on what you want to see.

More on the best time to dive the Great Barrier Reef .

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Great barrier reef diving information.

great barrier reef MARINE LIFE & PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIES

The Great Barrier Reef is teeming with life, and while some notable macro can be found, it’s the big stuff that really stands out here. The best of the pelagic species tend to gather at the northernmost reefs and atolls where, in the winter months of June and July, large numbers of migratory dwarf minke whales gather. Beaked whales, sperm whales, and bottlenose dolphins also congregate here to feed along the edge of the deep ocean shelf.

Many shark species reside in the outer reefs, and you may find silky, silvertip, whitetip, and grey reef sharks joining you on your dive. The occasional whale shark or hammerhead passes through, and eagle rays, mantas, loggerheads, and green turtles are all common sights.

A grey reef shark swims overhead during the shark dive at Osprey Reef.

All along the Great Barrier Reef, an abundance of smaller reef species can be found in the healthy corals. Clownfish darting in and out of their anemones, electric purple anthias, schools of yellow snapper, parrotfish, the list is endless. Larger species such as grouper, cod, and bream share the reef with schooling pelagics, making for a breathtaking array of color and motion.

Read Christine Shepard’s Bluewater trip report from her wonderful experience with dwarf minke whales on the Coral Sea reefs.

If you love the idea of reef diving but don't want to travel too far, check out scuba diving in the Red Sea .

BEST TIME TO DIVE

Queensland’s tropical climate makes the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea superb for diving year-round, but conditions and species do vary between the seasons. The summer months from December through to February enjoy warmer water and great visibility, while the cooler winter months of March to November are the best time to spot large marine mammals such as humpback and minke whales.

Interested in diving with whales? Check out our list of the Best Places to Dive with Whales .

Dwarf Minke Whale

DIVING CONDITIONS

Water temperature: Ranges from 73 to 84 o F (23 to 29 o C)

Visibility: Inshore day trip dives between 50ft and 100ft, while liveaboard sites in the Coral Sea can reach 150ft.

Depth Range: Mostly between 30ft and 100ft.

Diving Difficulty: Many people learn to dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and there are hundreds of sites suitable for beginners. More remote reefs such as Osprey require some experience, and the Ribbon Reefs are best for advanced divers.

BEST DIVE SITES in the great barrier reef

Based on our numerous visits to the area, we've rounded up some of the best dive sites in the Great Barrier Reef:

Osprey Reef: One of the best locations in the Coral Sea, Osprey Reef sits in the very north of the system and has a range of sites including drift diving at North Horn Wall, and the shark feeding amphitheater at North Horn. Large pelagics gather here to feed throughout the year, and whale sharks , rays, and turtles will often make an appearance.

Ribbon Reefs: This 75-mile chain of ten individual reefs is home to a fantastic array of coral and fish life, and boasts some really special dive sites. The world-famous Cod Hole is home to dozens of huge potato cod and some very friendly giant Napoleon wrasse, known locally as Maori wrasse. Steve’s Bommie , an extraordinary isolated pinnacle, is bursting with colorful life, and Lighthouse Bommie is known for its population of golden sea snakes.

Heron Island: Further south, Heron Island is a notable nesting site for green and loggerhead turtles, so divers are likely to enjoy the company of several of these creatures on each dive. The reefs also feature various cleaning stations, such as the one at North Bommie, which attracts manta rays and turtles in to shallower waters. Heron Bommie, the island’s signature dive site, is home to manta and eagle rays, reef sharks, and flowery cod.

Lady Elliot Island: This world-class dive destination is a coral cay surrounded by pristine fringing reef, home to a large and diverse fish population. Like Heron Reef, it is well known as a hotspot for turtles and manta rays, and the island’s location next to the continental shelf drop-off means there is a chance to swim with visiting humpback whales between May and October.

SS Yongala: Probably the best-known wreck in Australia , the Yongala lies in open water, its deepest point at 100ft. This 360ft wreck is largely intact, and provides an isolated artificial reef sanctuary for all number of species including barracuda, rays, trevally, and even bull sharks.

great barrier reef TRAVEL INFORMATION

HOW TO GET TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

There are direct international flights from the US to several Australian airports such as Sydney Airport (SYD) , or from Europe via most major Asia hubs. Then transfer on to Cairns Airport (CNS) where most of the liveaboards depart from. Local flights are also available out to the reef islands.

Check out our list of the Best Liveaboard Destinations, here .

HOW TO DIVE THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

By far the best way to experience the Great Barrier Reef is by liveaboard, most of which depart from Cairns for 3-night, 4-night, or 7-night trips. For keen divers we would suggest arranging a minimum of 3 nights at sea. This will allow you to reach some lovely unspoiled spots that the day boats can't get to.

For day trips, the Great Barrier Reef is easiest accessed from Cairns. Dozens of boats of all sizes depart daily out to the local reefs, and the journey normally takes between 30 and 90 minutes. Although there is plenty to see, and it provides an affordable introduction for new divers, the sheer number of visitors to this popular spot has had an impact on the health of the reef. Cairns has a huge number of hotels and hostels to suit all budgets, as well as a busy downtown full of restaurants and bars.

Day trips to the reef are also available from Port Douglas, and boats from here tend to travel further out to the more remote reefs such as Agincourt and Opel. This provides a far better experience for qualified divers, where the reefs are in great health and full of life. Despite the additional travel time, we would definitley reccomend a trip that takes you several hours offshore and away from the busiest reefs. Port Douglas itself is much quieter than Cairns, with mostly resort-style hotels.

OTHER THINGS TO DO

Queensland has a vibrant tourism industry and there is all manner of attractions and activities available top-side. Popular trips include hiking through the Tropical Rainforests of Daintree and Cape Tribulation, or to the spectacular waterfalls at Atherton Tablelands . Visiting one of the many wildlife parks that specialize in indigenous species is a great day out, or for the more adventurous travelers, enjoy white water rafting on the Barron River, or take part in a cultural tour to visit Aboriginal rock art deep in the outback.

liveaboards in the great barrier reef

See the availability of liveaboards in the great barrier reef and book online. best price guaranteed. no credit card fees., the rates shown below are per person in usd. some operators may quote in a different currency and the final pricing may vary depending on the latest exchange rates., other useful information.

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Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef (Complete Guide)

The Great Barrier Reef was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, and for good reason.

This incredible coral reef stretches 1,400 miles of East coast of Australia, from Cape York Peninsula in northeastern Queensland, to Bundaberg in the south – and it can be seen from space! It’s comprised of 600 islands and approximately 2,900 individual reefs.

Not only this, but the Great Barrier Reef boasts over 600 types of coral, which provide homes to 1,625 fish species and 133 species of sharks and rays.

The Great Barrier Reef is also one of the seven wonders of the natural world , alongside Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon, and other natural marvels.

Needless to say, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef is a top bucket list item for all divers and is a must-dive in your lifetime.

You likely have some questions, so let’s get into it!

My Experience

Southern great barrier reef, is the great barrier reef for beginner divers.

The short answer – yes! Many liveaboards and day trip charters are perfect for those who have just obtained their Open Water certification, and a few offer the option to earn your certification on site.

As popular as this site is, it’s also one of the most beginner friendly destinations in the world.

It’s also important to note that most charters are nearly full service, meaning after you set up your gear the first time, they’ll swap tanks for you while you chill on the deck with a pineapple slice in your hand.

You’ll also get a ton of professional photos to choose from!

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What Type of Marine Life Will I See?

As you’d expect, the Great Barrier Reef is teeming with marine life! If you’re a lover of macro (small) creatures, or you’re fascinated with larger species, you’ll find it all here and you won’t be disappointed!

In the winter months of Australian June and July, migratory dwarf minke whales gather – a rare sight!

dwarf minke whale on the great barrier reef

Some other unique larger pelagic species in this area include beaked whales, sperm whales and bottlenose dolphins. You’ll also spot grouper, cod, and bream fish.

Shark lovers rejoice! There are many shark species that call the GBR home, including the silky, silvertip, whitetip, and grey reef sharks.

You may also run into a whale shark or hammerhead.

Common sightings include the graceful eagle and manta rays, and playful loggerhead and green turtles.

Smaller species can be found in abundance around the corals, making this experience a delight for macro photographers.

Keep your eyes out for clownfish darting around their anemone friends, electric purple anthias, schools of yellow snapper, and of course, colorful parrotfish.

Is the Great Barrier Reef dying?

A 2021 study , reports indicate that region-wide, hard coral cover on reefs was high and had increased to 39% in 2021.

In 2020, most of the surveyed reefs experienced heat stress accumulation that produced widespread coral bleaching, but many reefs affected seem to be recovering this year .

A win for our oceans, however, I’d recommend making your way to the Great Barrier Reef sooner than later, as we can’t predict environmental factors and there’s no guarantee it will be there in 20 years when you’ve finally made time to go!

What’s the Best Time to Visit?

You can scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef with great conditionals all year long! Keeping that in mind, it’s important to note that the kind of experience you’ll have will vary depending on time of year.

This is because seasonal marine life activity and water conditions vary throughout the year.

When is the best time to visit the great barrier reef?

Most divers consider August to December to be the absolute best time to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

This is likely because these months have the greatest water visibility and the least wind and rain.

Looking for specific marine life on your trip? Manta rays and hammerheads visit the Coral Sea from April to September and Minke Whales make an appearance during June and July.

What Are Diving Conditions Like?

Water temperature: Ranges from 73 to 84 o F (23 to 29 o C)
Visibility: Inshore day trip dives between 50ft and 100ft, while liveaboard dive trip sites in the Coral Sea can reach 150ft.
Depth Range: Mostly between 30ft and 100ft.
Diving Difficulty: Many people learn to dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and there are hundreds of sites that are perfect for beginners and to do day trips. More remote reefs such as the Ribbon Reefs and Osprey Reef are best for advanced divers.

Best Areas & Dive Sites of the Great Barrier Reef

With world-class coral reefs, visibility up to 60m, one of the top-rated shipwrecks in the world and a mix of beginner friendly and challenging dive sites – there’s something for everyone at the Great Barrier Reef!

Because of the expansiveness of this coral reef, it can be quite difficult to categorize the major diving areas and break down what you can expect in each region.

Some regions are harder to access than others, making the dive sites more untouched and worth the trek and some are perfect for a one-day adventure to knock the GBR off of your diving bucket list.

Because of the complexity of this expansive area, I’ll be breaking down the Great Barrier Reef into four major dive regions and giving you the 411 on what to expect on your epic adventure.

Let’s explore!

The Outer Great Barrier Reef

The most frequently visited area of the Great Barrier Reef
Closest to shore and easiest to reach by day trip charter
Accessible to dive resorts and liveaboards
Beginner-friendly dive sites

The Outer Great Barrier Reef is located in the central region of the entire Great Barrier Reef, approximately 60km offshore from Cairns.

It can be reached within 90 minutes by most high-speed boats.

For this reason, it’s accessible by liveaboards, dive resorts, and day charters. More divers head here than any other region of the Great Barrier Reef.

This area tends to be shallow and sans-currents, which makes it perfect for beginner divers.

You can expect to see a ton of different hard corals, caverns, ledges, reef fish and sharks, turtles, and more in the outer reef.

During the cooler months, you may be lucky enough to spot whale sharks and manta rays in the outer reefs. Be on the lookout for Maori Wrasse, Jacks, Barracuda, and Trevally.

Some of the top-rated dive sites in this area include: Thetford Reef , Moore Reef , Flynn Reef , Hastings Reef , Norman Reef and at the far outskirts, Pellowe Reef.

rum runner liveaboard sailboat in australia

There are liveaboards that explore these sites, including Rum Runner , which offers short and action-packed trips, lasting just 1 – 2 days, and Ocean Quest , which offers fluro night dives and is the cheapest option around.

You can always opt to go with a day trip, like I did.

With this option, each morning of your choice, you’ll be taken out to dive the sites and then brought back to land for the night by the dive operators.

Budget Stay: Asylum Hostel
Luxury Stay: Cairns Aquarius

I had an absolutely incredible experience on a day trip to the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

We dove three sites: Coral Gardens; Gordon’s; Tracy’s and embarked with The Quicksilver Group.

The surface temperature was around 27 degrees Celsius and there was so much marine life to be seen!

My personal favorites were watching my Dad swim with a Hawks Bill Turtle (age 5-10yrs) and the Divemaster tricking us into thinking that Black Sea Cucumber was ‘Whale Poo.’

Other marine life we encountered included: Clown Fish (Nemo!), Titan Trigger Fish (They will attack & follow you), Coral Trout, White Tip Reef Shark, Bumphead Parrot Fish, Mantas Shrimp; Red Bass (Under the boat), Green Turtle, Giant (color-changing) Clam, Black Sea Cucumber (The “Whale Poop”), Lion Fish, Chevron Barracuda, Great Barracuda, Kuhl Ray, Nudi Branch, Feather Stars, and Boxer Shrimp.

Check out my video of the experience here:

Ribbon Reefs

Liveaboard is the only option for this area.
Sites for more experienced divers
Less visited and more rewarding!

The Ribbon Reefs are a 75-mile chain of ten individual reefs, about 50-100km further north than the Outer Great Barrier Reef.

This area boats some extremely special dive sites and is home to an array of coral and fish species, including Sweetlips, Coral Trout, and Triggerfish.

Generally speaking, the ribbon reefs are no more than 450m wide and tend to be fairly shallow, reaching as high as to 5m below the water’s surface.

Due to their greater distance from the city of Cairns, these reefs are both more pristine, meaning they are very healthy and relatively untouched.

You will see turtles, reef sharks, manta rays and whale sharks during the colder months and cetaceans, including minke whales!

Generally, divers characterize the ribbon reef into 10 separate reefs, which not too surprisingly are numbered ribbon reefs #1 through to #10 – there are many fantastic dive sites around each. Some of the most popular sites include:

Code Hole: Home to dozens of huge potato cod and some very friendly giant Napoleon wrasse, known locally as Maori wrasse. These Potato Cod reach truly vast proportions due to having been fed by divers for over two decades.
Steve’s Bommie: An isolated pinnacle with colorful marine life
Lighthouse Bommie: Known for its population of golden sea snakes

best way to fully explore the best dive sites around all ten of the ribbon reefs is undoubtedly with liveaboard .

Spoi l sport great barrier reef liveaboard actually offers special minke whale themed diving expeditions!

Far North Great Barrier Reef

The most unexplored area of the Great Barrier Reef underwater world
Regarded as the best diving in Australia
Deep water sites and wrecks for more experienced divers
Must visit by liveaboard

This area is generally regarded as one of the very best diving destinations in Australia due to both the superb visibility, pristine coral reef and many large pelagic species found here.

The most common sharks here are silver tip and grey sharks, but all of the previously mentioned species can also be seen and its common practice to organize special shark feeding dives for those prepared to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush.

It’s important to note that this is one of the few Great Barrier Reef dive sites that’s mainly suited for more certified divers and experienced divers because of poor visibility and strong.

Some of the most popular sites include:

Osprey Reef: the most northerly of the Coral Sea Reefs. It is a submerged atoll, separated from the continental shelf by a deep-water trough. Most dive sites here are defined by vertical walls rising from the deep, covered in a mish mash of many soft coral species that comprise a dazzling array of colors. The marine biodiversity here is genuinely incredible, with sailfish, marlin, whale sharks, grey reef, silky, silver tip and even hammerhead sharks. There are also green and loggerhead turtles as well as a good chance of spotting eagle rays and even manta rays in the local reefs.
SS Yongala : a 110m long former freight steamer that sank in 1911 along with all 124 of its passengers during a tropical cyclone. Only discovered in 1958, the Yongala Wreck is now widely considered to be one of the hands down best wreck dives in the world. Large pelagic fish gather here to feed throughout the year, and whale sharks, rays, and turtles will often make an appearance.

More about the Yongala wreck:

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Only discovered in 1958, the Yongala Wreck is now widely considered to be one of the hands down best wreck dives in the world. Lying on a 33-meter-deep sandy bottom; this mighty shipwreck is in excellent condition, although it’s illegal to actually swim inside due to the fact that all of its passengers perished, making it a gravesite. Can you say, spooky?

Although the wreck is cool, the main reason for diving here is because of the huge variety of marine life that comes around the wreck.

You’ll spot giant groupers the size of a small car, huge schools of barracuda, manta and eagle rays, several sea turtles, sea snakes, reef sharks and maybe even bull sharks and tiger sharks.

Osprey Reef is without a doubt among the all-time most off the beaten track dive destinations of the Great Barrier Reef. Generally speaking, you can only visit the Yongala Wreck with those same liveaboards that venture to Osprey Reef.

Only a few liveaboards venture this far, and we recommend going with Spoilsport .

This area is a little different than the rest, because it isn’t accessible from Cairns, rather further South, but we couldn’t leave out this incredible area!

The Southern Great Barrier Reef is a mecca for mesmerizing marine life. You can expect to see turtles, manta rays and humpbacks whales here.

There are 21 different dive and snorkel sites here. The two top sites are:

Stay here in Heron Island: Heron Island Resort
You can also book tours of Heron Island Research Station , the largest and longest established coral reef study facility on Great Barrier Reef.
Stay here in Lady Elliot Island: Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

How to Get There

For the first three areas mentioned, the Outer Great Barrier Reef, the Ribbon Reefs, and the Far North Great Barrier Reef, all you have to do is get to Cairns , which has its own international airport.

If you’re already in Australia, you can also reach Cairns via Queensland Rail or drive there.

To get to the last area mentioned, the Southern Great Barrier Reef, it’s a little more remote.

To get to Heron Island, you’ll need to hear to the nearest commercial airport, located 72kms from Heron Island, in Gladstone via Brisbane with either Qantas or Virgin Australia.

Once in Gladstone, you have a choice of two transfer options to get to Heron Island itself: boat, or the pricier option of the two, helicopter.

Access to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is on small aircraft chartered from Seair Pacific to transport our guests to and from the Island.

As Lady Elliot Island is the most remote Great Barrier Reef island regularly accessed, boat access is impractical.

Other Things to Do

Queensland has a ton of attractions and activities available topside as well besides your dive trip. It’s really an outdoor-lovers paradise all around.

I recommend hiking through the tropical rainforests of Daintree or Barron Gorge National Park. It was absolutely lush and beautiful there with so many colorful birds.

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You can also take a tour to visit Aboriginal Rock Art deep in the outback of Australia and get some cultural knowledge from your trip or take a trip to the spectacular waterfalls at Atherton Tablelands.

Top Tips for Diving the Great Barrier Reef

Even if you don’t want to dive, most dive trips will let you join and snorkel the reef.
If you don’t have a dive camera, most of the bigger boats have some for rent. They’ll also have a professional underwater photographer who will take photos of you, which you can choose from after the dive.
Consider a multi-day liveaboard trip if you’re a seasoned diver. You’ll get much more time on the reef and be able to visit different areas.
Don’t touch the coral. It’s a living organism and touching it can kill it. Do your part to preserve the reef and only touch areas your instructor says you can.

With reports of coral bleaching increasing and large parts of the reef dying off due to warmer ocean temperatures, it’s probably best to try to visit and dive the reef as soon as possible before it all disappears.

It’s worth the trip! Trust me!

Scuba Diving The Great Barrier Reef: Here’s our Ultimate Guide (2023)

Diving the great barrier reef is a memory you won’t forget..

Embark on an adventure of a lifetime by scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most sought-after diving destinations. Our definitive guide is packed with essential information and expert tips to ensure an unparalleled scuba diving experience that will etch indelible memories. So, let’s dive into what you need to know about scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

We keep this guide to scuba diving the great barrier reef updated-heres its contents:

Want to dive the best the Great Barrier Reef has to offer?
Where to Dive in the Great Barrier Reef? Here are the mainland access points;
Top Tours From Cairns;
What are the different options available for diving?
Is Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving worth it?
Never Dived Before?
Will I encounter sharks while diving on the reef
Best time of year for diving on the Barrier Reef?
Best Spots to Scuba Dive on the Great Barrier Reef?

Hang out scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef with a turtle in the 360 dive on Norman Reef below

Want to dive into the best the Great Barrier Reef has to offer? – Keep reading

Be an ocean steward.

As you dive into the vibrant underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, it’s imperative to remember the importance of conservation. The reef faces challenges such as coral bleaching and habitat destruction. As divers, we must tread lightly and become stewards of the ocean, advocating for sustainable practices to protect this fragile ecosystem.

There was the largest bleaching event recorded in 2016 & 2017 but many parts of the reef are alive and well

Diving in some parts of the Great Barrier Reef may not be the best experience due to coral bleaching and damage from tourism, which have diminished the vibrant colours and diversity of marine life in certain areas.

Scuba diving is not just about getting the best dive- it’s about understanding the need for conservation

Conservation is of the highest importance to us so we want to make the public aware by experiencing the magic of our marine life while taking absolute care to have no impact on the ecosystem.

We update this guide so you can have the best experience diving the GBR but we implore you to become an ambassador of the seas and the planet to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our ecosystems!

Here’s the coral bleaching effect on lizard island below

See this interactive map of updated coral bleaching locations on the GBR

Click here to view the map fullscreen

Why you should really consider taking the plunge?

Comprising nearly 3,000 individual reefs, the Great Barrier Reef offers diverse marine life and unique underwater landscapes. From tiny coral polyps to majestic sea turtles, diving here is an immersive experience into nature’s wonders.

Day Trips: Depart from cities like Cairns or Port Douglas for a full day of diving.
Liveaboard Trips: Stay overnight on a dive boat for extended diving experiences.
Dive Courses: From beginner to advanced courses, enhance your diving skills.
Speciality Dives: Experience drift diving, wreck diving, or dive with specific marine life.
Private Charters: Customize your diving itinerary for a personalized experience.

Absolutely! However, factors like weather, water visibility, and reef health can impact your experience. Proper planning and research can ensure a memorable dive.

Plan your trip and be aware that the following can impact your dive experience

water visibility
Instruction
Tour operator
Reef health of your dive spot

To ensure a top-notch dive, it’s crucial to plan ahead and conduct thorough research to tailor your trip accordingly, potentially exceeding your own expectations.

Never Dived before? Don’t worry there are plenty of options for all levels of experience!

Dont worry there are plenty of great places to either learn how to scuba dive and get your certification or have an introductory dive with one of the many fantastic operators that give introductory dives on the great barrier reef.

Will I encounter sharks while diving on the reef?

While sharks are present in the reef, species like white-tip and black-tip reef sharks pose no threat to humans.

For optimal diving conditions, the best time to scuba dive on the reef is from June to November.

Where to Dive in the Great Barrier Reef? Here are the mainland access points and our recommended tours;

Airlie beach & the whitsundays.

Nestled in the heart of the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach is a vibrant hub known for its breathtaking islands adorned with white sandy beaches and mesmerising turquoise blue waters.

Cairns serves as an excellent launchpad for your Great Barrier Reef diving adventure. Conveniently situated near Port Douglas, and in close proximity to the Daintree Rainforest – the world’s most ancient rainforest.

Cairns offers a fulfilling itinerary encompassing the best activities, including the must-do, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Best Liveaboard Tours From Cairns

Hers our recommended Liveaboard Tours operating from Cairns

Spirit of Freedom

Pro Dive Cairns

Ocean Quest

Acting as the entrance to the central part of the reef, Townsville is where you can set off on your diving expedition from Magnetic Island and delve into the mysteries of the SS Yongala, known worldwide as the top wreck dive.

Lastly, located on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Bundaberg is the perfect spot from which to embark on a visit to Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Island, and Heron Island.

Whitsunday Islands

Get the best experience scuba diving the great barrier reef

The Whitsundays, a collection of 74 mostly deserted tropical islands adorned with palm trees, sit nestled within the Great Barrier Reef.

Start your adventure from Airlie Beach on the mainland, hopping on diving expeditions and day-long cruises, or opt for an island stay at resorts such as those on Hamilton or Hayman Island.

The Whitsundays cater to every diving enthusiast, boasting a diverse range of underwater landscapes from plateau-like coral pinnacles to shallow subaqueous cliffs and bommie formations resembling massive boulders.

Besides the fascinating geology, divers will have the opportunity to encounter a diverse marine ecosystem, including majestic manta rays and batfish.

We think the Whitsunday Islands is the ultimate location to experience the reef’s magic- that’s why we decided to operate from here (no bias 🙂 -here are some hidden diving spots for those that want to explore, but not on a tour!

Bird island, visibility:.

2-12 metres

Diving Depth:

3-15 metres

Rocky shallows up to 6-8 metres, transitioning into coral rubble and silty sand. Conditions: Currents can be strong; plan for a drift dive or stay near the island. Features include intriguing rock formations up to 8 metres, including shallow caves, ledges, and gullies. Minimal coral, but abundant fish life, with sizable cod, sweetlip, and trevally.

BLACK ISLAND (WEST REEF)

2-10 metres

3-12 metres

Small, scattered coral heads on a gently sloping silty sand bottom from the beach to 15 metres. Conditions: Ideal for a relaxed shore dive, with most captivating corals near the shore. Fish life is generally small but vibrant. Be aware of strong offshore currents, particularly near the northern end of the beach. Snorkelling: Possible, but can be deep at high tide.

BORDER ISLAND (CATARAN BAY)

Shallow water up to 6 metres with a good hard coral cover and patches of sand. Deeper areas (below 6 metres) predominantly feature small coral heads, coral rubble, and silty sand. Conditions: Best diving on either side of the bay’s entrance. The reefs are relatively shallow, featuring beautiful, large plate coral. A small wall descends from the top of the reef to 6 metres, with scattered coral bommies down to 12 metres. Ledges and gullies are ample. Fish life is average, though larger sweetlip and cod can be found under the ledges. Inside the bay, current is minimal; however, beware of strong currents at the entrance. Snorkelling: Excellent, due to shallow coral.

HASLEWOOD ISLAND (WAITE BAY)

Visibility: 3-15 metres

Diving Depth: 3-18 metres

Terrain: Excellent coral cover with scattered small bommies and sand patches in shallow water, sloping gradually from 3 metres to 6 metres. A good wall down to 12-18 metres then coral rubble and silty sand. Conditions: A highly diverse site featuring a maze of captivating coral bommies in shallow water. Quality coral and wall dive from 6 metres to 18 metres on the reef edge. Plentiful gullies and ledges to explore and abundant fish life of various sizes. Be vigilant for manta rays from May to September. Current typically isn’t an issue except during spring tides. Snorkelling: Best in the shallows near the beach, although suitable for more adventurous snorkellers who prefer deeper areas on the reef edge.

HAYMAN ISLAND (DOLPHIN POINT)

5-18 metres

Varied terrain with coral outcrops and massive boulders set on coral rubble and sand. Conditions: A unique dive amongst giant rock slabs, with large coral bommies at 5-15 metres contributing to the site’s diversity. Excellent large fish life, including trevally, mackerel, barracuda, and occasional sharks. Currents can be strong near the point. Snorkelling: Not recommended due to depth.

HAYMAN ISLAND (EAST REEF)

5-15 metres

Excellent shallow coral cover (6-8 metres) interspersed with numerous small canyons. Small bommies and sand-coral rubble from 8 to 15 metres. Conditions: A beautiful shallow dive and snorkelling site. Coral cover is characterized by large plates, creating small canyons and ledges for exploration. Abundant small, friendly reef fish. Access can be challenging due to exposure to winds and currents. Snorkelling: Excellent due to shallow coral.

HOOK ISLAND (ALCYONARIA POINT)

3-18 metres

Good coral cover with patches of coral rubble and silty sand. Conditions: Excellent coral and fish life, particularly along the shallow ledge that extends to Flat Rock. Plate corals dominate the shallow water. The ledge drops vertically with the wall featuring numerous gullies and small caves. Many colourful soft corals can be found at 10 metres, hence the site name. Large wrasse, cod, and sweetlip are found at depth. Snorkelling: Excellent for viewing shallow corals but beware of strong currents.

HOOK ISLAND (BUTTERFLY BAY)

5-12 metres

Coral cover with large patches of coral rubble and silty sand. Conditions: This well-liked bareboat anchorage offers coral outcrops with shallow walls. Plenty of small, colourful fish are present. The best of the bommies is in the centre of the bay, though hard to locate at high tide. Tidal currents can be strong when moving away from the bay edge. Snorkelling: Possible along the bay edge or just off the beach.

HOOK ISLAND (MACKEREL BAY)

Good coral cover in shallow water, with scattered bommies at 7-12 metres. Conditions: This popular dive site’s quality can fluctuate based on visibility. It’s frequently chosen during northerlies when other popular sites are untenable. Expect a relatively shallow dive through a maze of coral bommies, which form shallow canyons, ledges, and swim-throughs. The fish life is medium in size and quite good. Snorkelling: Visibility can be affected by the tide. Best during neap tides.

Whitsundays Mainland Shore Diving Spots

Cape gloucester.

Beach shore dive from Cape Gloucester resort 40 minutes drive from Airlie Beach, transitioning into coral rubble and silty sand. Conditions: Features include intriguing rock formations up to 8 metres, including shallow caves, ledges, and gullies. Minimal coral, but abundant fish life, with sizable cod, sweetlip, and trevally.

Beach shore-dive from our diving spot in Bowen is 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Airlie Beach. Varied terrain with coral outcrops and massive boulders set on coral rubble and sand.

SS Yongala Shipwreck

Approximately an hour’s journey to the south of Cairns, near Townsville, lies the serene haven of Magnetic Island. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to investigate the age-old wreckage of the SS Yongala.

Sunk in 1911, it stands as Australia’s most substantial and well-preserved historical wreck. Encounter a variety of marine creatures, including manta and eagle rays, turtles, and sharks, that have claimed this emblematic structure as their habitat.

Owing to legislative protections, the wreck can only be visited via day trips facilitated by a licensed operator, such as Yongala Dive.

Museum of Underwater Art

Why simply stroll through an ordinary museum when you have the opportunity to swim amidst art pieces at The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA)? Immerse yourself in a breathtaking marine universe by visiting MOUA’s Coral Greenhouse sculpture at John Brewer Reef, situated off the Townsville coast.

This exhibit features a 9m (30ft) stainless steel greenhouse structure, ingeniously designed to counteract the sea’s undercurrents. Although a snorkel glance can provide a view, the best way to appreciate all its exquisite details is through a full diving experience.

Several dive tour operators, such as ProDive Magnetic Island, are available to guide you through this extraordinary aquatic art display.

Agincourt Reef

Situated near Cairns, at the northern extremity of the Great Barrier Reef, Agincourt Reef is an ideal location even for novice divers.

At this site, you have the opportunity to snorkel or dive along the brink of the continental shelf, amidst a vibrant swarm of technicolour fish, sea turtles, and occasional reef sharks. Experience the awe-inspiring Blue Wonder wall, a coral garden with a vertical descent of over 40m (131ft).

Both Cairns and Port Douglas serve as excellent bases for diving excursions to Agincourt Reef. While most tours typically set off from Port Douglas, arrangements can be made for pick-up from accommodations in Cairns.

Capricorn and Bunker Reefs

Venture into the Southern region of the Great Barrier Reef and experience a dive into one of the world’s natural marvels, encountering local nesting turtles, unique bird species, and migrating whales in the Capricorn and Bunker reefs.

The water here is fairly shallow, bustling with a variety of reef fish, turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, and a vast assortment of marine invertebrates. This location also offers the distinctive pleasure of snorkelling unguided straight from the shore, letting you float amidst the enchanting aquatic life.

Close by, you’ll find the opportunity to glide alongside large fish and through colourful coral canyons near Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave islands. Be sure not to overlook the marine turtles which nest and hatch every evening from November through May at the Mon Repos Conservation Park.

Tangalooma Wrecks

Just north of Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island, you’ll find the Tangalooma Wrecks, a collection of ships resting on the eastern edge of Moreton Bay.

As you descend towards these vessels, you’ll observe the formation of coral within and around the wrecks, which now serve as a sanctuary for over 100 species of fish, and occasionally, dolphins, wobbegongs, and dugongs. Anticipate sightings of loggerhead turtles, vibrant reef fish and corals, and even the elusive grey nurse shark.

Off Mooloolaba’s coast, you can navigate through large coral structures and caves at Flinders Reef, or discover the marine life that has claimed the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane as their home.

First time diving?
Certified Scuba Diving

Essential Information for Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef:

Diving experience:.

If you have never dived before, there are many reputable dive operators in Queensland that can provide you with an unforgettable first-time diving experience.

Suitability for Diving:

Not everyone is suitable for scuba diving due to certain medical conditions. Consult with a diving professional to determine if you are fit for diving.

Competency in the Water:

Assess your swimming skills to determine your competency level: non-swimmer, beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert.

Pool Practice:

Before starting a scuba diving course, practice essential skills in a swimming pool, including familiarizing yourself with scuba gear, breathing and buoyancy control, regulator and mask clearing, emergency ascent, buddy skills, underwater communication, and swimming maneuvers.

Planning Your Trip:

Choose the best time of year (June to November) for optimal diving conditions.
Select a suitable diving location based on your skill level and interests.
Research and book a reputable dive operator that offers tailored diving packages.

Preparing for Your Dive:

Ensure you have a valid scuba diving certification or consider completing an Open Water Diver course.
Get the right equipment, either through rental or by bringing your own well-fitting gear.
Review safety protocols, familiarize yourself with the buddy system, hand signals, and emergency procedures.

During Your Dive:

Follow your dive guide’s instructions and pay attention to the pre-dive briefing.
Practice good buoyancy control to protect the coral reef ecosystem.
Be a responsible diver by respecting marine life and refraining from touching or disturbing them.
Take photographs responsibly, using a red filter for better color accuracy and avoiding flash photography.

After Your Dive:

Log your dive to keep a record of your experience and track your progress.
Share your experiences and photos with others, and consider joining online diving communities.
Support conservation efforts and spread awareness about protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

Certified Scuba Diving the Great Barrier Reef

Experience the awe-inspiring spectacle of certified diving at the edge of Australia’s continental shelf. As a certified diver, you can partake in up to two breathtaking dives, each lasting around 40 minutes. This is your ultimate opportunity to explore the exceptional marine life of the great barrier reef renowned for its superb visibility. For your utmost safety, enjoyment, and enriched experiences, our professional instructors accompany all dives at no additional cost.

Clownfish Scuba Dive in the Great Barrier Reef Captivating Close-up of a Clownfish Engage with the vibrant life under the waves!

Certified Great Barrier Reef Dive Adventure Dive into the magnificent world of the Great Barrier Reef!

Clownfish and Anemone – An Underwater Symphony Marvel at the harmony between clownfish and anemones!

Certified Diving in the Great Barrier Reef Delve into the extraordinary underwater wonderland!

If you’re a certified diver sharing this journey with non-diving companions, there’s no need to worry! While you dive into the vibrant underwater world brimming with exotic marine life, your companions can enjoy a range of other platform activities. They can even opt for an introductory scuba dive.

We provide all necessary equipment, including wetsuits and prescription masks (if needed). Please note, certified divers must hold an internationally recognized SCUBA certificate card.

Scuba Safety
Diving Safely
Scuba Diving Medical

The subsequent details are offered as a simple reference guide:

Health Issues:

Certain health problems could restrict your ability to dive. If you have any concerns, it’s advisable to consult with your physician. All diving activities have a minimum age requirement of 12 years.

Certified Diving:

Every diver needs to provide proof of diving certification and medical fitness for diving.

Beginner Divers:

A medical questionnaire needs to be filled out for assessment.

Post-Dive Flying:

A single dive requires a minimum waiting period of 12 hours before flying. For multiple dives within the same day, a 24-hour interval is suggested.

General Fitness:

Divers should have a reasonable level of physical fitness to cope with the environmental stresses of being underwater. The environmental factors that place a physiological strain on the diver include:

Exertion required for propulsion through the surrounding water
Heat loss to water that is generally colder than body temperature
Breathing gas of compressed density
Changes in the cardiorespiratory system from using underwater breathing gear
Changes in the gas volume and pressure within air spaces in the body eg; ears, stomach, etc
Introduction into the body of gases that can have toxic, narcotic, stimulatory or gas solubility effects on bodily functions.
The human body, in reasonable condition and without injury or illness, can deal with the effects of most of these factors.

Flying After Diving

The pressure of diving causes nitrogen to go into solution in the blood, and it is the decrease in pressure as the diver returns to the surface that causes this nitrogen to come back out of solution over time and to bubble. A rapid ascent to the surface can cause complications as it represents too fast a transition across a pressure gradient for the body to effectively compensate for. Ascending to a high altitude after the dive is simply a continuation of your post-dive ascent to the surface and can also lead to decompression sickness.

It’s recommended that you should wait at least 12 hours after a single dive, or 24 hours after multiple dives within the no-decompression limits before you travel to more than 300m (or 1,000 feet) above sea level. Bear in mind that driving over a mountain range would also put you over this suggested altitude limit.

Drinking alcohol before and during diving trips endangers not only yourself but your diving buddy. Alcohol reduces the ability of the individual to process information and impairs their ability in terms of:

Reaction time
Visual tracking performance
Concentrated attention
Ability to process information in divided attention tasks
Perception (Judgment)
The execution of psychomotor tasks.

Alcohol also cause dehydration which is considered to be one of the prime causes of decompression illness. Do not consume alcohol before diving or water activities.

Diving regulations and requirements in Australia vary from those in other countries. Here’s what you need to know about the rules in Queensland:

Introductory or Resort Dives: A Medical Questionnaire needs to be completed. Answering YES to any of the questions won’t necessarily prohibit you from diving but it will indicate the necessity for a medical examination by a physician, following Australian Medical Standard AS4005-1, before diving.

Experienced/Certified Divers: A Medical Questionnaire may need to be filled out before diving. While this isn’t legally required, it’s done in your best interest.

The questionnaire aims to identify if a doctor’s examination is necessary. You might have a pre-existing condition that doesn’t prevent you from diving in your home country, but Australian law might forbid. Alternatively, a new condition might have developed since you became certified to dive, potentially affecting your safety underwater.

If you respond YES to any conditions listed in the Medical Questionnaire, we advise you to consult a physician for a further assessment. If you’re in Australia, it’s best to visit a local physician to ensure the examination aligns with Australian Standards (AS4005.1).

Scuba diving is thrilling but demanding. For safe diving, you shouldn’t be extremely overweight or unfit. Conditions can sometimes make diving strenuous. You need to have healthy respiratory and circulatory systems. All your body spaces must be normal and healthy. Individuals with heart problems, a current cold or congestion, epilepsy, asthma, severe medical conditions, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, should refrain from diving. If you’re on medication, check with your doctor before participating in this program.

Dive Medical Questionnaire: This Medical Questionnaire is designed to identify if a doctor’s examination is required before engaging in recreational diving. A positive response doesn’t automatically disqualify you from diving. However, it indicates a pre-existing condition that might affect your safety while diving and requires a physician’s advice.

Respond to the following questions about your past and present medical history with YES or NO. If you’re uncertain, answer YES. If any of these conditions apply to you, we advise you to consult a physician before scuba diving. Your instructor will provide a PADI Medical Statement and Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Diver’s Physical Examination to take to the physician.

The questionnaire covers a range of health conditions including but not limited to:

chronic bronchitis
chronic sinus conditions
chest surgery
recurrent ear problems when flying
tuberculosis
spinal cord or nervous disorders
heart disease
collapsed lung (pneumothorax)
ear surgery
breathlessness
chronic ear discharge or infection
high blood pressure
perforated eardrum
recent illness or surgery
current medication intake (excluding oral contraceptives)
alcohol intake within 8 hours prior to diving

It’s crucial to understand that concealing any condition incompatible with safe diving could risk your health or life. Also, remember that you shouldn’t fly within 12 hours after a single dive or within 18 hours after multiple dives (24 hours recommended).

Guide Contents

Our service locations:, airlie beach swim centre.

We are on facebook

We are certified trainers:

Fun Scuba Diving Tours
Open Water Dive Course
Scuba Refresher Course
Discover Scuba
PADI Advanced Open Water Airlie Beach
Scuba for Local kids
PADI Rescue Diver
Pool Lifeguard-SISSS00133
Advanced First Aid HLTAID015
Scuba diving for kids – Parents Guide
Turtles at the Great Barrier Reef
Sharks of the Great Barrier Reef
Unique things to do in the Whitsundays
Dive Master Trainingship
Scuba Diving with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dive Medical Queenland
Scuba Diving The Great Barrier Reef: Here’s our Ultimate Guide (2023)
Swimming Whitsundays

Dive Courses in Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Trying to work out where to stay at the Great Barrier Reef? Discover a great selection of accommodation, the length and breadth of the Great Barrier Reef and beyond. Search for hotel rooms and book online.

Great Barrier Reef Hotels
Airlie Beach Hotels
Cairns Hotels
Cape Tribulation Hotels
Gladstone Hotels
Mackay Hotels
Magnetic Island Hotels
Mission Beach Hotels
Port Douglas Hotels
Rockhampton Hotels
Townsville Hotels
Whitsundays Hotels
Yeppoon Hotels
Luxury Reef Hotels
The Best 5 Star Reef Hotels
More Queensland Hotels
Brisbane Hotels
Gold Coast Hotels
Sunshine Coast Hotels
Maroochydore Hotels
Noosa Hotels
Agnes Water Hotels
Bundaberg Hotels
Hervey Bay Hotels
Capital City Hotels
Sydney Hotels
Melbourne Hotels
Adelaide Hotels
Canberra Hotels
Hobart Hotels
Perth Hotels
Hotels Beyond The Reef
Alice Springs Hotels
Broome + Cable Beach Hotels
Byron Bay Hotels
Kangaroo Island Hotels
Port Stephens Hotels

Great Barrier Reef's islands are simply enchanting, with the choice of over 100 islands from unique and exotic islands to the world famous Whitsundays.

Best Islands Near Cairns
Bedarra Island
Brampton Island
Daydream Island
Dunk Island
Fitzroy Island
Great Keppel Island
Green Island
Haggerstone Island
Hamilton Island
Hayman Island
Heron Island
Hinchinbrook Island
Langford Island
Lindeman Island
Lizard Island
Long Island
Orpheus Island
South Molle Island
Whitsunday Island

Queensland is unique amongst the Australian states in that it has a number of genuine coastal capitals.

Airlie Beach
Charters Towers
Daintree Rainforest
Mission Beach
Port Douglas
Rockhampton
Shute Harbour
Whitehaven Beach

Discover a diverse range of experiences in the Great Barrier Reef.

Reef Experiences
Diving the Reef
The reef from the air
Sky diving at Airlie Beach
Sky diving at Cairns
Sky diving at Mission Beach
Adventure Activities
Cairns Reef Tours
Glass Bottom Boat Tours
Sail the Reef
Snorkelling The Reef
Submarine Reef Tours
Liveaboard Reef Tours

The Great Barrier Reef is a gathering of brilliant, vivid coral providing divers with the most spectacular underwater experience imaginable.

About The Reef
Northern Great Barrier Reef
Central Great Barrier Reef
Southern Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef Facts
How big is the reef?
History of the region
Reef Insights

Scuba Diving Snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef.

If you are a certified Scuba diver or a snorkeller, the Great Barrier Reef has some of the best ocean life in the world. If you have never done a Scuba dive before, the Great Barrier Reef offers some great places to learn to Scuba dive.

The Great Barrier Reef is world renowned for it’s amazing scuba diving locations. Bommies, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life stretch for the entire 2,300km length of the reef.

There are a wide range of dive sites along the Great Barrier Reef, there are calm, protected, shallow spots around the islands, perfect for first-timers, there are gentle reef sites, rich in fish life and corals and the deeper sites on the outer reefs for those with some experience. All sites are best reached by boat ranging from luxury cruisers to spectacular sail boats. For those visitors who have never put their head under the water, but want to see if they can enjoy snorkelling or scuba diving, there are excellent one-day, first-time dive trips.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef offers a range of scuba dive experiences for both the beginner and the experienced diving expert. Diving expeditions depart daily from all the major cities and towns along the coast and from most island resorts. No matter where you stay on the reef, you are always within a 20 – 60 minute boat ride of an excellent diving spot.

The late, great Jacques Cousteau famously named the Heron Bommie off Heron Island as one of his top ten favourite diving sites in the world.

Douglas Adams, the author of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy wrote an amusing anecdote about his experience diving at Hayman Island on the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef offers all manner of accommodation for singles, couples and families. The keen diver will be able to fine a suitable location to stay regardless of budget.

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia is one of the natural wonders of the world and a superb place to indulge in the best scuba diving in the world.

Cairns Diving Tour Operators

Diving from Cairns offers a truly unique reef experience for the traveller who seeks a more personalised and relaxed approach to exploring the Great Barrier Reef by mask, snorkel and fins.

Diving Day Tours

Great Adventures – Great Barrier Reef Adventure Destination: Outer Barrier Reef (Norman Reef)

Great Adventures – Green Island & Great Barrier Reef Adventure Destination: Outer Barrier Reef plus 2 hour stopover on Green Island

Reef Magic Marine World – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: Outer Great Barrier Reef, Moore Reef

Sunlover Cruises – Outer Barrier Reef Scuba Dive Tour Destination: Moore Reef Pontoon

Quicksilver – Great Barrier Reef Tour Destination: Outer Barrier Reef, Agincourt Reef

Ocean Freedom – Upolu Cay Tour Destination: Upolu Cay & Upolu Reef

M/V Osprey – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: 2 Outer Barrier Reef Locations

Reef Experience – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: Norman, Saxon, Hastings and Michaelmas Reef Locations

Reef Quest – Outer Barrier Reef Tour Destination: 2 Reef Locations on the Outer Barrier Reef – (17 private exclusive dive sites)

Seastar – Michaelmas Cay & Hastings Reef Tour Destination: Michaelmas Cay & Hastings Reef

Great Barrier Reef Experiences

There are plenty of things to experience on Great Barrier Reef.

Townsville Townsville, a thriving metropolis, is the unofficial capital of North Queensland and one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.

Rockhampton Rockhampton is set under Mount Archer, posing an impressive backdrop for the vibrant City centre, coast and the outback beyond.

Charters Towers Charters Towers is one of the most beautiful inland cities in Queensland, with unrivalled architecture and a unique history.

Australia's great natural wonder

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Kangaroo Island
Fraser Island
Lord Howe Island
Hunter Valley
Port Stephens
Moreton Island
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Australia's Best Beaches
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About 'greatbarrierreef.org'

greatbarrierreef.org is a 'Web Magazine' website that is dedicated to all things related to the Great Barrier Reef. We are passionate about Australia's great natural wonder, its vast marine life, its golden sun-kissed beaches, its warm turquiose waters and the unforgetable experiences that are waiting for all who visit. Our aim is to discuss the Great Barrier Reef, its history, its environment, its marine life and its spectacular destinations. We hope that this website will inspire all who visit, just as much as the Great Barrier reef has inspired us.

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Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel

A unique outer great barrier reef tour.

Eco Certified – committed to sustainability

Australian Owned and operated

Incorporating Indigenous Culture

Activities for all ages & experience levels

Experience two premium outer reef sites

Enjoy one of Cairns’ most unique & exclusive Great Barrier Reef tours. Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel invites you to explore some of the best diving and snorkelling sites on the Great Barrier Reef with our experienced Marine Biologists and Indigenous Cultural Guides. We choose our reef sites based on the best conditions for the day, so you’re truly getting the highest quality snorkelling and diving experience. Our sites include Milln, Flynn, Hastings, Saxon, Norman or Thetford Reef.

Once at the Reef, you will have the opportunity to explore the underwater world with included snorkelling experiences.

Come and jump on board, what are you waiting for?

guided with purpose

Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel pride our-self on our commitment to sustainability. The ECO Certification logo is a globally recognized brand which assists travellers to choose and experience a genuine and authentic tour, attraction, cruise or accommodation that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land and Sea on which our business operates on throughout Australia. At Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel we acknowledge the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji , Mandingalbay Yidinji, Yirrganydji & Gunggandji people, Traditional Owners of the Sea Country on which our business operates. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and to Elders past and present.

Customer Reviews

We had the best day on the reef with our 4 and 7 year old kids. The staff was fantastic. Highly recommend the whole experience.

We had a great time snorkeling the outer reef, nearly 1/2 price of other diving companies. Didgeridoo and Dance demonstrations were an added bonus thank you to the captain and crew.

A wonderful personal experience from beginning to end. The crew were lovely and worked hard all day for everyone on board.

I picked Dreamtime because I thought the indigenous touch would be a bit different and more interesting than other tours. There was nothing that I could complain about. I am so pleased I chose this trip, do yourself a favour and book it!

From the stories, history lessons, interactive staff to the stunning reef, i couldn’t have had a better day out on the reef.

This tour was the most relaxed and the most friendliest we have been on in the 10 days we stayed in Cairns. We absolutely loved it. The food was great and plenty of it.

Absolutely amazing! This brand new reef experience is the best one we’ve had in cairns – comfortable, modern, new boat and an energetic, happy, informative crew.

This was a wonderful experience. The staff were so friendly and knowledgable and the reef locations were excellent.

The whole operation was very professional and equally laid back. We felt like we had very personalised service and the crew was outstanding. This was the highlight of my trip to Australia.

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Liveaboard Diving in Great Barrier Reef

What to expect on a great barrier reef liveaboard.

Take a liveaboard in the Great Barrier Reef , Australia and you will be diving one of the ultimate bucket list destinations for not just every diver, but most of the world's population. Great Barrier Reef liveaboards visit this world-famous and stunning marine area which has earned its name as a 'must visit area' in this spectacular part of the world. Delving a little deeper into people's ambitions, they'll likely cite diving on the Great Barrier Reef - popularly abbreviated to GBR - as one of their life goals. This is for good reason too, as the reef is a 2300 kilometre stretch of unrivalled natural beauty, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, a World Heritage Site , and is THE place to dive on our planet. A liveaboard dive trip is the best way to explore this region as it consists of more than 900 islands and 2900 individual reefs, forming a spectacular turquoise chain from Lizard Island in the north of Queensland, all the way down to close to Heron Island in the south of Australia's 'Sunshine' state.

A Great Barrier Reef liveaboard will take you to the crystal clear tropical waters of the Coral Sea , which is comprised of billions of coral polyps, making it the largest living organism on the planet. It is so large and vast that it is visible from outer space - even if you spent a lifetime exploring the reef, it would be impossible to view it all. Day trips are possible but will only allow you to witness the crowded inner reef for a few hours, and will leave you wishing for more time to explore what is on offer. The best way to truly experience the underwater marvels of this iconic structure is by setting sail on a diving liveaboard cruise lasting a number of days, meaning you will be able to witness a wide variety of the incredible biodiversity that the reef supports. Even aboard a liveaboard cruise, you'll still only touch the surface (pardon the pun!), and no doubt by the end you'll be thinking of planning another similar trip in the near future!

The Great Barrier Reef Underwater

Being the World's largest reef system , you can expect to see pretty much everything you could imagine on a GBR liveaboard tour. You'll see the full complement of reef fish, including Clownfish, Fusiliers, Butterfly Fish, Angelfish, Trout and Batfish, all swimming amongst a backdrop of stunningly colourful hard and soft corals.

If you look hard enough (or more likely your expert Divemaster who'll know where to look!), there's some incredible macro life to be seen as well, such as brightly patterned Nudibranchs and tiny but graceful Shrimp. You won't need to rely on your guide to spot the tons of circling Reef Sharks, elegant Turtles (green and loggerhead), and huge Manta Rays that are present at many sites frequented by liveaboard operators - you'll have to make sure you have your camera handy though as you won't want to miss these creatures in their natural habitat! Other animals that divers report sightings of frequently include Sea Snakes, Cuttlefish, and Leopard Moray Eels.

Some dive sites have their own unique attractions, none more famous than Cod Hole in the northern Ribbon Reefs , home to a friendly and docile family of giant Potato Cod (Grouper), and Maori Wrasse.

All of this life is present all year round, and if you are visiting between June and December, you may have the added bonus of viewing dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Dolphins and the annual spectacular coral spawning .

It's also not just beautiful reefs and their associated coral gardens that are on the diving radar here either - the SS Yongala wreck is widely recognised as one the finest dive sites on the planet, situated towards the southern end of the reef.

Dive Sites & Areas On The Great Barrier Reef

It would be naive to write about every single dive site on the Great Barrier Reef, as it's likely you'd be here for a lifetime if so! The few 'best of', and on many liveaboard itineraries, are described below:

OSPREY REEF is famous for its 40m+ visibility and almost guaranteed sitings of large numbers of sharks at North Horn. Located in the Coral Sea, and accessible via liveaboard from Cairns, the reef features many small caverns and swim-throughs, making the dive sites here fun for everyone.

RIBBON REEFS Lie to the north of Cairns. Isolated they are only reachable via a few liveaboards. They are a chain of ten individual reefs offering sheltered warm waters, and due to their remoteness are in pristine condition.

MILLN REEF is a spot perfect for snorkelling and diving and is also a great place to do a night dive (sleeping turtles and crabs are common) if you wish. It consists of 3 large coral pillars, located around 60 kilometres from Cairns.

FLYNN REEF Features arguably Australia's best coral garden, is a place where you can see the full array of hard and soft coral that the GBR has on show.

COD HOLE has a resident family of giant Potato Cod which will let you take some fabulous close up photos - there are not many places you can take a selfie with a fish that is likely larger than you! Don't worry though, they're ever so friendly and curious, and love interacting with divers. Here it's common to see the sometimes even larger Maori Wrasse aswell. This site is part of the Ribbon Reefs.

LIZARD ISLAND is a national park on an island of the same name, situated to the very north of the GBR. It's a tropical paradise, ideal for unwinding after a few days of diving or honing your diving skills prior to a trip in the calm, sheltered waters that surround it.

NORTH HORN is one of the more well-known parts of Osprey Reef and is renowned for its famous shark feed, where divers are almost guaranteed to see a wide range of these predators, including Grey Reefs, Silkys, Silvertips and Hammerheads.

BOUGAINVILLE REEF benefits from an exposed position on the outer reef, which does mean it can only be visited by liveaboard and when conditions permit. As a result, it offers some of the most unspoilt and pristine diving in all of Australia, regularly frequented by Manta Rays and Turtles.

SS YONGALA WRECK is a wreck that has long been recognised as one of the finest dive sites in the world. Sunk in 1911, the ship is relatively intact, having developed a mesmerising variety of corals and boasting some of the most diverse marine life on the whole of the GBR.

Tips For Divers

There is diving to suit every level of diver on the Great Barrier Reef , from calm, gentle, warm waters for newbies, to challenging swim-throughs and caves for the more experienced. Some trips will require evidence of dive experience, but there are many that request no minimum logged dives. Most of the time full equipment is available to rent (please check this!), but remember to bring your certification. You'll also want your logbook as recording what you've seen is all part of the fun! Visibility is always great - often well in excess of 25 metres, and sometimes over 40. Water temperatures range from 22 to 30 degrees Celsius.

The native language of Australia is English, although commonly dive crews will speak a variety of others. Currency is the Australian Dollar, and ATMs are easily found onshore (not onboard though!). Internet access, healthcare, and transport in Australia are of high quality, although as always please ensure that appropriate travel insurance has been purchased.

Getting To The Great Barrier Reef

Undoubtedly the best method of exploring the GBR is sailing through the Coral Sea amongst the reef on an Australian liveaboard dive cruise.

LiveAboard.com has several cruises to choose from to suit every budget, with the vast majority departing for the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns' port in Queensland. There are a few small regional airports (for example Townsville, Rockhampton, Lizard Island) where it is possible to fly into from other areas of Australia, but by far the easiest, cheapest and convenient way to visit the reef is to fly directly into Cairns. Its airport has good international connections, allowing most visitors to fly directly from many overseas locations, although many daily flights also arrive here from the major hubs of Sydney and Melbourne, in case one of your first Australian destinations is there.

Great Barrier Reef Diving Reviews

316 Verified Reviews
9.6 Exceptional

Very relaxed and well organized, very safety concious. The dive sites were carefully selected and differed a lot. In my opinion 'Coral Gardens' was the most beautiful.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Ocean Quest

Overall great. Tons of fish and soft coral

Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Spoilsport

10.0 Exceptional

Most sites were great. A few lacked fish and live coral. But, that's part of the adventure.

Awesome experience, some sites are like beautiful gardens.

An incredible experience overall.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in January on the Pro Dive Cairns

8.4 Very good

Definitely one of the best diving spots on the planet.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in January on the Ocean Quest

8.8 Fabulous

The diving was fantastic. It was great that we were able to see so many different parts of the reef with the boat moving twice a day.

Such a wonderful variation of fish and all the beautiful colours of coral were unreal!

Beautiful and full of life

The diving was beautiful, I loved changing sites daily. Incredible sharks after dark experience

Worthwhile.....lived up to expectations

Marco-Bruno P

Better than expected but the bleaching is really bad...

Very exciting. I had always wanted to see it

Good, did see some dead coral.

Outstanding views of species of fish and wildlife. Beautiful coral.

Superb visibility, awesome reefs and fish, not to much current

Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Spoilsport

Perhaps better condition of coral and marine life compared to diving the same sites 10 years ago

Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Pro Dive Cairns

Fantastic, the reefs are healthy - covered in endless hard and soft corals. Healthy marine life population at all levels of the food chain.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in February on the Spirit of Freedom

Picture perfect with 20- 30 meter visibility. The reef looked very healthy with incredible amounts of sea life living on and around it.

8.0 Very good

Variable - a lot of damage.

Great dive sites. Lots of versatility.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in March on the Rum Runner

A dream trip—shallow dives mean more time in water enjoying nature, less time consumed with deco time, etc...

Diving Great Barrier Reef in March on the Ocean Quest

amazing very well preserved and lots of marine fauna

Great. Lot of fun and my confidence grew with each dive.

Amazing locations - the skipper knew exactly the best sites

Excellent! Exceeded my expectations

Diving Great Barrier Reef in August on the Pro Dive Cairns

Due to the weather it was only OK, not the best vis on most dives

Ok, vis was about 15 mtrs for most dives, fish life was awesome!

Diving Great Barrier Reef in November on the Pro Dive Cairns

It was lovely, there were no other boats so not invaded by a million other divers.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in April on the Pro Dive Cairns

Even though the visibility was bad for windy weather, still coral was spectacular and there were many kinds of fish

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Ocean Quest

FRANCESCO G

Some beautiful bommies and healthy reef

Diving Great Barrier Reef in July on the Spoilsport

Disappointing snorkelling, more suited for diving

Diving Great Barrier Reef in September on the Pro Dive Cairns

Beautiful. We went to different sites every day and they were all unique. Some with deep diving, some more shallow with endless flat reefs, some with walls of coral, we saw sharks, rays, eels, turtles, and fish of all kinds. We were also lucky enough to be onboard during the coral spawning.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in November on the Ocean Quest

Iman Daniel J

Great. No current, good visibility

Visibility wasn't great, due to poor weather, but the Great Barrier Reef is great for diving.

Really beautiful, great visibility and diversity of species.

Water was 30* and visibility was excellent. Reef areas were beautiful.

Reasonable variety of fish, some coral but no sponges at all. Night dive was devoid of any life other than the divers, even the corals looked drab. Needed good navigation skills. Much of the coral has been damaged... presumably back mixture if leaching, but also years of intensive dive activity.

The GBR is definitely impressive in terms of its size and huge variety of life that is available to explore.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in April on the Ocean Quest

About 8 degrees warmer and about 10m better visibility than the south coast of NSW.

Excellent weather and 26C water temperature with exceptional visibility. We were particularly lucky that it was calm in the more exposed Coral Sea locations.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Spoilsport

Outstanding. Clear waters with visibility between 10 and 25m. Great water temp. Obviously the marine park is exceptional and one of the best in the world.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in June on the Ocean Quest

Amazing! Coral was as colorful, diverse and healthy as i could have expected.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in June on the Pro Dive Cairns

Some beautiful things to see out on the reef. So much sea life and so many turtles! It's sad to see the effects of the warmer climate on the reef but hopefully things will improve.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in July on the Ocean Quest

It was bit sad to see white dead corals at first. 😔 Enjoyed beautiful and awesome corals and variety of fishes around them. I'll come again and again

Diving Great Barrier Reef in September on the Ocean Quest

I don't dive, but I did snorkle all but 1 on of the sessions and it never got old. Each site, even if we returned to one over that time span, was unique. The reef is stunning, has of course suffered from climate change in some places more than others. The guides were informative about what we were seeing, and each shared their special interests. The conditions were generally excellent, with one day that was a bit choppy. The "Sharks in the Dark", chumming off the back end of the boat for chark was very interesting, and to my taste, best experienced from the upper deck!

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Ocean Quest

Perfect. Healthy colourful corals and abundant marine life.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Pro Dive Cairns

Really good, especially at night. The viz was only moderate at times, and some areas of coral are broken or stressed, but I’d go back

Good but reef not as good condition as 5 years ago

We snorkel and the sight was superior to other reefs

Fine. The coral at the end of the Busselton Jetty was more colourful.

We had very good conditions and saw a great variety of animals. It was great

You could see some bleached spots, but also new corals coming trough. But it was still the best diving spot I have seen in Australia and we’ve seen many animals big and small. The coral reef was dense, huge and divers. I loved it!

Diving the Great Barrier Reef was the best dive experience I have had yet. The coral was so vibrant and the sea life was teaming with life. The night dives were the most exhilarating.

Incredible diving. Some of the healthiest and most varied coral I have seen.

Clear visibility, healthy coralles

Diving Great Barrier Reef in December on the Pro Dive Cairns

6.8 Review score

Great! Not really big wall dives, more of a slope and lots of healthy coral gardens.

Amazing! We lucked out with 2 sunny days and clear skies, so the coral and biodiversity were colorful and abundant.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in January on the Rum Runner

Encounters with various tropical fish species. In particular, I could feel the friendliness of the Napoleon fish and could easily see the sea turtle eating. There were also damaged coral reefs, but I liked the brilliance of many fish swimming in a clean underwater environment.

Unfortunately the visibility was very poor due to a recent major storm.

Great diving, tons of fish, turtles, corals

I heard we went at the worst time of year but it was still amazing.

Underwhelming. It was not as colorful or full of sea life as I expected. The visibility was limited.

wonderful. Not much current and shallow beautiful dives.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in March on the Pro Dive Cairns

I not as unique I thought it would be. I do not think it is far better or far different than some other reefs I have dove in the Caribbean. Reefs can be hit or miss. The giant clams were different. Also I think there is more live coral on the GBR than Caribbean reefs.

Amazing - the different coral structures and variety of marine life was really incredible.

The reef is a mind blowing experience! The coral is so vibrant it looks like a blooming garden of underwater flowers.

Don't expect too much! Water is not crystal clear and species are not as good as south east asia. But the coral landscape is great!

Lots of hard corals, several bigger parrot fish, less fry than expected. Less fish then expected some dives, others had lots.

Visibility was not great. Otherwise, wonderful.

A few great days of sunshine in Clearwater followed by some rain and chop that made it a bit foggy on the last day. Can’t stop mother nature.

Ok, not so good vis about 5 meters....windy weather 30 knot winds stirred up the sand.

Saw a turtle lots of sharks unforgettable

Great visibility even though the weather has been quite windy and choppy

lene feltmann E

The visibily was poor, but most dives gave new discoveries. The night dives were fantastic.

The GBR was gorgeous and the coral was stunning. The most amount of love coral I have seen on a reef and the greatest fish diversity!

I would give 6 out of 10. I was expecting to see more things and big stuff but that wasn't achieved. Did not spot that many sharks either. Not even school of fishes.

Christopher C

Lived up to all expectations, and we saw a wide range of large and small critters.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Spirit of Freedom

The reef is spectacular, lots of fish and lots of places to dive.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in May on the Pro Dive Cairns

It was my first time driving but I had a blast. I loved exploring the reef and being surprised by all the sea creatures.

Very good when far away from Cairns in unspoilt reef.

Its one of the best place for the fresh hand to accumulate experience and a lot of things to see

Diving overall was good, although the visibility at times was not optimal.

It was incredible clarity was amazing

More marine lives, especially the stone fish is my favorite

Great visibility and interesting things to see

Diving Great Barrier Reef in August on the Ocean Quest

All good and pretty cool memory

Easy diving, lots of marine life… not the best visibility

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Spirit of Freedom

Colorful coral and a wide variety of sealife on display

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Rum Runner

Amazing. Heaps of life, amazing coral. Lots of variety of life.

Diving Great Barrier Reef in October on the Spoilsport

Amazing coral and marine life

The coral reef was the best I’ve ever seen not a lot of big fish probably due to fishing in the area visibility was great lots of small fish

The coral colors and structures were fantastic.

Nice visibility, super corals, a lot of life. Not a place for big stuff

An excellent and highly recommended experience!

The reef was beautiful. Even without the sun shining for most of the trip, one could see the spectacular array of colors throughout the dive.

Very good even though rainy daily

Great, came in after the cyclone so visibility was altered but was able to see all the marine life I wanted to. Amazing dive experience.

wonderful, we saw tiny stuff, vibrant reefs and many pelagics.

It was amazing seeing all the marine life despite of the weather and visibility under the water.

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Explore the Great Barrier Reef

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The Great Barrier Reef’s premier PADI Dive Centre & Liveaboard Operator

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most unique marine spectacles; A majestic aquatic wonderland perfect for scuba diving. Since 1983, Pro Dive Cairns has developed an international reputation for quality, professionalism, safety, and value. Specialising in dive courses from beginner to advanced, and three-day liveaboard dive trips, you will receive the very best, personalised experience. Unquestionably the most recognised and highly awarded PADI dive centre on The Great Barrier Reef, Pro Dive Cairns is the number one choice.

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Pro Dive Cairns is home to the Great Barrier Reefs premier three-day, two-night liveaboard dive trip; as well as well as a range of PADI certified scuba diving courses. From a five-day Learn to Dive Open Water certification course (run in conjunction with the three-day liveaboard dive trip), through to advanced and professional development courses. Pro Dive Cairns is your number one stop when planning your first or next scuba diving adventure.

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Why Choose Pro Dive Cairns?

5 star padi centre.

Pro Dive Cairns is Australia’s premier 5 star PADI rated, dive and development centre.

Purpose Dive Centre

Centrally located in the Cairns CBD, modern, purpose-built heated dive pools with large air-conditioned classrooms.

Let’s Dive

Access to 19 exclusive and unspoilt dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef.

Dive and learn to dive in a safe and comfortable environment. Your safety is our number one priority.

Personalised

With a maximum of 32 passengers, Pro Dive Cairns provides you with a more personalised experience.

The Great Barrier Reef

18 million-year-old, unique natural wonder filled with marine life.

Pro Dive Cairns Dive Shop

Offering an extensive range of the latest dive products, as well as professional local service and advice, it’s a one-stop shop for all your scuba diving equipment needs.

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Do you need help deciding what trip or courses suit you? The Octopus is here to help! Just answer some very simple questions and The Octopus will steer you in the right direction.

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Day trip or a multi day liveaboard trip, how many nights are you interesting in spending on the great barrier reef.

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Cairns | Port Douglas

Diving And Snorkelling Day Trips - Ex Cairns

Diving and snorkelling day trips, list of day trips, visit our friends at diving cairns for the best advice on you live aboard options.

Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef: 17+ Things you need to know

The Great Barrier Reef needs no introduction. It’s the most extensive coral reef system on Earth and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

I spent 3 days diving the Great Barrier Reef, and it was an epic adventure.

After 11 dives, which included night dives and unguided dives, I’m sharing all my tips for scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. I’ve included when and where to go, how many days you need, costs, and more.

1. There are so many places to go diving in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is massive!

It stretches more than 2,300 km along Australia’s northeast coast of Queensland, starting in Bundaberg on the south and ending at the tip of Cape York on the north.

While Cairns is arguably the most popular base, there are a few major access points where you can visit the reef.

2. where to dive the Great Barrier Reef

Here are the best places to go diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns is a great starting point for diving the Great Barrier Reef. I followed this Cairns itinerary , which includes all the best things to do (including scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef).

Cape Tribulation: Located in the Daintree Rainforest (the oldest rainforest in the world), Cape Tribulation is a few hours north of Cairns. It’s the only place on earth where two natural wonders meet up

Townsville is the gateway to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef. You can dive from Magnetic Island and explore the SS Yongala (regarded as the world’s best wreck dive).

Airlie Beach is home to the Whitsundays, a cluster of spectacular islands famous for their white sand and turquoise blue waters.

Bundaberg lies on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. From here, you can visit Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Island, and Heron Island.

3. Diving the Great Barrier Reef during dry season (winter)

Every Great Barrier Reef travel blog you read will tell you that the best time to go diving is from May to October.

This is the dry season with little to no rain and no stingers. You’ll also have the best underwater visibility.

It’s winter in Australia, but not too cold. The temperatures hover around 26 degrees during the day, but the evenings can get chilly, reaching 17 degrees at its lowest.

4. Diving the Great Barrier Reef during wet season (summer)

November to April is the wet season in northern Queensland. Tropical showers are common, and this can impact the water’s visibility.

But it’s also summer in Australia! Expect hot and humid conditions – but luckily, you’ll have the rain to cool you down.

There are a few benefits of diving in the Great Barrier Reef during the wet season.

The water temperatures peak at 29 degrees, which is ideal. That’s a whole 7 degrees warmer than during winter!
It’s also quieter with fewer tourists.
Coral Spawning takes place in November and December.

5. The best months are September and October

After speaking to a few dive instructors, the best months to go diving at the Great Barrier Reef are September and October.

This is the end of the winter season, so the water and outdoor temperatures are slightly warmer than in June and July.

It’s also outside the trade wind times and stinger season, so you can expect optimal conditional all around.

6. How to dive the Great Barrier Reef

You can explore the Great Barrier Reef on a day trip like this . But it will be a very busy day. This is because the boat ride to the reef takes 1.5 to 3 hours. Then, it takes another 1.5 to 3 hours to return to the mainland.

If you plan on diving the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, I highly recommend joining a scuba diving liveaboard tour. This means you spend a night on the reef!

By doing a liveaboard, you also get the chance to do a night dive. This is a phenomenal experience, and you’ll see all those creatures that come out after dark.

7. The best Great Barrier Reef liveaboard tour

Unfortunately, there aren’t many liveaboard options to choose from. And they get booked out quickly as liveaboard diving is in high demand.

I had initially booked an overnight liveaboard from Cairns with Coral Sea Dreaming. It’s a much smaller boat and can accommodate up to 8 guests. I like that it was a small group tour that came with fantastic online reviews.

But I eventually decided to go with Pro Dive as they offer a longer liveaboard option of 3 days (not 2) . But on the downside, Pro Dive has a much bigger boat, and you’re diving with 30+ people on every dive!

I paid just over 1000 AUD for 3 days on the Great Barrier Reef, which was all-inclusive.

8. What it’s like to dive at the Great Barrier Reef

It’s safe to say that everyone planning on diving the Great Barrier Reef has high expectations. It’s pretty hyped up!

I was expecting to see more vibrant coral and bigger schools of fish (or even Grey Nurse and Leopard Sharks like you find when diving in Byron Bay ). Despite this, I still had incredible encounters.

My first night dive was mind-blowing as there were reef sharks everywhere! They’re harmless, but they did come close to us, which was a surreal experience.

We also swam past a massive school of parrot fish, saw the biggest clams ever, and navigated through amazing swim-throughs.

But you must remember that the reef is so big, and every dive site offers a different experience. If you’re an advanced diver, you might prefer the sites closer to the reef’s northern tip or the S.S. Yongala wreck dive.

two people going to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

9. Be prepared for unguided dives

Most Great Barrier Reef scuba diving is unguided. This means it’s only you, your dive buddy, and your trusted compass, deep below the surface.

Before diving in Australia, I had only ever done guided dives. With no clue how to navigate underwater, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous!

The reality is that most people will be in the same shoes as you. But the Great Barrier Reef is a shallow reef with no current.

Generally, your first dive is guided. This allows you to get familiar with the gear and the water conditions.

Before your unguided dive, your instructor will give a thorough briefing about the site and show you how to use a compass. If you’re feeling unsure, you can always request a guide for every dive, but you may need to pay extra for this.

Our first unguided dive was a night dive! I was out of my comfort zone, but it was one of the most incredible experiences.

10. The Great Barrier Reef dive sites are uncrowded

This is a massive pro of diving the Great Barrier Reef – no crowds.

During my 3-day scuba diving liveaboard, I only saw one other boat, and they were diving at a different site to us.

Diving unguided, with only your buddy and no one else around you, is quite something and will make your experience more memorable!

11. Be careful of the stingers

You might be planning your Great Barrier Reef diving trip based on water visibility and weather conditions, but you must also be aware of stingers.

The most popular type of stingers in this area are box jellyfish. Their venom can be fatal to humans, and you’ll find them in the waters from November to April each year.

You can still go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef during stinger season but will have to wear a stinger suit. The diving operators provide these.

A school of fish in the Great Barrier Reef

12. Whales on the Great Barrier Reef

Here are a few key attractions:

June to July: Dwarf Minke Whales
July to September: Humpback Whales

I was keen to dive with dwarf minke whales, so I booked my 3-day diving liveaboard for July. I didn’t realize these whales don’t actually hang out on the reefs that are closer to the mainland, which I was visiting.

To dive with them, you need to join a specific Minke Whale Liveaboard that goes further north to Ribbon Reef.

We also didn’t see any humpback whales, even though we were there during the annual migration. This is not to say you won’t experience these whale encounters, but the chances aren’t likely unless you book a specific whale liveaboard dive trip.

Great Barrier Reef Scuba diving liveaboard

13. The trade wind pick-up in June and July

June and July are the windiest months on the reef. While this won’t affect your underwater experience of diving the Great Barrier Reef, it can cause rough, windy conditions above the water.

During our diving trip in July, it was super windy. The 3-hour boat ride from Cairns to the reef (and back) was pretty hectic and extremely bumpy! Most people on our trip took sickness tablets.

The rough conditions died down when we got to the reef, but it was still windy throughout the three days.

But don’t avoid July just because of the winds. A friend joined the same liveaboard a week after I did. Her experience was perfect – little to no wind. So, it really is the luck of the draw!

People standing on the top deck of a boat

14. You will Dive, sleep, eat, repeat on a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard tour

If you’re doing a Great Barrier Reef liveaboard, be prepared to dive, sleep, eat, and repeat.

It’s full on!

And while you may be tempted to skip a dive in favor of chilling on the sundeck, try to get to all the dives on your itinerary. You never know what sightings you’ll miss out on.

15. Do a dive certification

The Great Barrier Reef is a great place to get your diving certification. You’ll do two days of theory and skills training in Cairns before completing your open-water dives on the Great Barrier Reef.

The conditions are perfect for beginner divers as there are no strong currents, the visibility is excellent, and it’s a shallow reef.

I did my Padi Advanced Course plus Nitrox certification during my liveaboard trip.

16. Don’t spend much time in Cairns before your Great Barrier Reef diving trip

Cairns is the most popular starting point for most Great Barrier Reef dives. There are plenty of dive shops here, and the prices are competitive.

But you really don’t need to spend much time in the city itself.

Book your flights to Cairns so that you arrive the afternoon before your liveaboard departure. This will give you enough time to wander through town and explore the harbor. There’s not much more to see besides that!

17. You can’t fly for 24 hours after your last dive

Remember that if you’re diving the Great Barrier Reef, you can’t fly within 24 hours of your last dive. It’s best to pair your dive trip with one of the below local attractions.

Cairns and Port Douglas: Spend two more days exploring the lush walking tracks and epic swimming holes in Daintree National Park.
Townsville: After diving the SS Yongala wreck, visit nearby Magnetic Island. It’s a tropical island paradise with palm-fringed beaches and abundant wildlife.
Southern Great Barrier Reef: After diving Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Island, or Heron Island, head to Fraser Island . It’s the largest sand island in the world with epic 4WD tracks.

Best time to go diving at Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef FAQS

Here are a few things that I often get asked about the Great Barrier Reef. If you have any other questions, drop me a message in the comments section below.

Is it worth diving the Great Barrier Reef?

Yes! The Great Barrier Reef is a world heritage site and a bucket list destination. There are so many incredible places to go diving along the reef, including Cod Hole, Ribbon Reef, and Osprey Reef.

And better yet, Northern Queensland has so much more to offer. Visit the Daintree Rainforest, go 4WD’ing on Fraser Island, live the island life of Magnetic Island, or go sailing through the Whitsundays.

Snorkeling or scuba diving the Great barrier Reef

What is the best time of year to dive the Great Barrier Reef?

The dry season from May to October offers the best conditions for diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Looking for the overall best months to plan your trip? September and October!

This is because you won’t have the trade winds during this time, the temperature starts heating up, and the days are sunny. And it’s just before the stinger season, so you won’t need to worry about that either.

Where is the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef?

It depends on what you’re after. If you’re visiting the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, I’d recommend doing a scuba diving liveaboard from Cairns. After three days out at sea, spend another three days exploring the nearby Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation.

But if you’re looking for the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef, the S.S. Yongala is an incredible wreck dive. You should have your advanced certification for this as you’ll be diving as deep as 30m, where the base of Yongala rests.

Are there Great White Sharks in the Great Barrier Reef?

It’s highly unlikely that you will find Great White Sharks in the Great Barrier Reef. This is because the water temperatures in north Queensland are too warm for them. They prefer temperatures between 12-24 degrees.

But there was a sighting of a Great White Shark on the southernmost part of the reef, near Lady Elliot Island. This was in 2020, but it’s only the second time one has been seen near the reef in 25 years.

How many days do you need in the Great Barrier Reef?

If you’re diving the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, it’s best to do a 3-day liveaboard. This gives you more time in the water as there is so much to explore.

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Great Barrier Reef Scuba Diving Australia

Torn Tackies contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.

Are you planning your Great Barrier Reef scuba diving trip? Do you have any questions? Drop me a message in the comments section below.

Looking for more Australian travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!

12+ Best Things to do in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
The Perfect Blue Mountains Itinerary
Guide to Palm Beach Lighthouse Walk in Sydney
The Best Mossman Gorge Walks

Hi, I'm Carryn. I’m an adventure travel blogger trying to figure out my way through life by traveling and exploring. Join me as I share my travel guides and tips for life abroad. Find out more about me here .

17 Best Things to do on Fraser Island [K’gari]

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CAIRNS & PORT DOUGLAS' BEST SCUBA DIVING

OUTER REEF DIVING

INTRO DIVING

LEARN TO DIVE

PRIVATE CHARTERS

Scuba Dive In Affordable Luxury With The Premier Five Star Padi Dive Resort

Blue Dive Port Douglas offers the best Great Barrier Reef scuba diving trips, courses, guides and outer reef sites. Our team are dive professionals. Our destinations are the best reef locations for visibility, corals, abundance and diversity of underwater life. Our service is outstanding, providing privately guided dives and dive courses on the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. At Blue Dive, we don’t dive with strangers – we dive with new friends…

YOU WANT THE BEST GREAT BARRIER REEF EXPERIENCE YOU WANT BLUE DIVE

We’re the original Port Douglas scuba company, offering privately guided dives and private PADI Open Water courses since 2008. We are 100% locally owned and operated and are the Port Douglas dive specialists. Our experienced dive team are passionate about ensuring your Great Barrier Reef experience, is the best it can be. Whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, family or group of friends – and whether it’s on a day trip, multi-day dive course or private charter – Blue Dive will show you the best of the Great Barrier Reef.

GREAT BARRIER REEF LUXURY PRIVATE CHARTERS FOR DIVERS AND SNORKELERS

If this is the trip to tick the Great Barrier Reef off your bucket list, then the ultimate way to do this is on a Blue Dive Port Douglas luxury private charter. The trip will be completely tailored to your needs, be it snorkeling, diving or both. Your vessel will be a top of the range luxury boat, perfect for families, groups and corporate events. For day trips and overnight trips, a Blue Dive luxury private charter is the ultimate way to experience the Great Barrier Reef.

Why Book With Blue Dive Port Douglas

Private guided diving, amazing reef sites, engaging reef info, professional dive masters, freedom from crowds.

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Diving the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the best dive sites in the world . Running up and down Queensland’s east coast in Australia , there are tons of fish to see as well as beautiful, vibrant coral. I was excited to use my newly acquired dive skills and dive the Great Barrier Reef while I was in Cairns. You always hear how great it is and I wanted to see it firsthand.

The reef itself is massive, covering over 344,000 square kilometers. For comparison, that’s the size of 70 MILLION football fields. Attracting over 2 million visitors each year, it’s often considered one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, and it’s so big that it can actually be seen from space! The Great Barrier Reef is actually a collection of almost 3,000 individual reefs, making it the world’s largest structure made by living organisms.

Over the past three decades, it’s seen a rapid decline in coral, losing almost 50% of its coral due to climate change and pollution. But there is still plenty to see during your dive.

You can expect to see clownfish (like Nemo!), groupers, butterflyfish, and maybe even some turtles (there are actually 6 species of turtle living around the reef), sharks, and more when you go diving there.

What’s diving the Great Barrier Reef like? Simply put, it’s amazing! I went with Tusa Dive. Waking up early, I checked in for my dive around 7:30am and we headed out to do two dives. There were about 90 minutes of travel time before the first dive site, and then another 90 minutes to get back to land afterward. The dive sites were close together so we only had a short break in between. Expect to get back to land between 4-5pm, depending on which sites you go to.

And, while I can use words to explain it, a picture is worth a thousand words — and a video worth 10,000 so here’s a video of my dive experience:

Tips for Diving the Great Barrier Reef

Make sure you go with a company that has many dive permits. That allows them to choose the best dive site based on the same conditions and change reefs if one might be too popular. (For example, there are at least 16 dive sites at Agincourt Reef alone).
Though Cairns is the most popular jumping-off spot, Port Douglas, Townsville, or Cape York are also great spots to depart from and can get you to some less-visited parts of the reef.
Even if you don’t want to dive, most dive trips let you join and snorkel the reef so don’t pass this up just because you don’t know how to dive/aren’t certified.
If you don’t have a dive camera, most of the bigger boats have some for rent. Expect to pay around 60 AUD for a rental.
Consider a multi-day trip if you’re a seasoned diver. You’ll get much more time on the reef and be able to visit different areas. Expect to pay at least 750-1,000 AUD per person for a multi-day, live-aboard trip.
Don’t touch the coral. It’s a living organism and touching it can kill it. Do your part to preserve the reef and only touch areas your instructor says you can.
Make sure your travel insurance covers diving before you go.
Be honest about your swimming ability. If you’re not an excellent swimmer, most boats have flotation devices to help you snorkel. Don’t hesitate to ask for one if you need it.
It can take time to get out to the reef and the rocky ride can easily cause sea sickness. If you’re prone to sea sickness, bring medication so you don’t get sick and have to skip your dive.
Make sure you bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Australia is super hot. Don’t get sunburned or dehydrated before you dive!

Diving the Great Barrier Reef Logistics

Standard cruise packages start around 220-250 AUD per person, which generally includes the cruise and snorkeling. There is often an additional fee if you want to dive (usually 65-85 AUD). The best way to save money is to book multi-dive packages. That way, the more you dive the more money you save. Discounts are usually available if you have your own equipment.

I went with Tusa , though their tours are currently on hold. Other companies worth checking out are:

Quicksilver
Pro Dive Cairns
Silverswift

If diving isn’t your cup of tea, you can also go snorkeling. Snorkeling day trips usually include visits to multiple spots on the reef as well as lunch.

Get Your Guide also has tons of snorkleing and diving excursions if you want to compare prices as you shop around.

Generally, the best time to visit the Great Barrier Reef is between June and October. This is because the temperatures are consistently warm and it doesn’t rain often so the water will be clearer (leading to better conditions for diving/snorkeling).

The Great Barrier Reef was like nothing else I’d ever seen. I’d done a bunch of diving before but diving the reef was one of the highlights of my entire time in Australia . It was really nice to get away from the other boats and get to have the reef to myself. The further out you go, the nicer the reef gets.

With reports of coral bleaching increasing and large parts of the reef dying off due to warmer ocean temperatures, it’s probably best to try to visit and dive the reef as soon as possible before it all disappears. It’s worth every penny!

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay in Cairns are:

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (best for everyone)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on Australia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Tour Details

Welcome to Seawalker Green Island

Walk on the sea floor of a Great Barrier Reef island!

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The unique and exciting Seawalker Helmet Dive Tour

Seawalker Green Island offers an amazing underwater helmet diving experience on the Great Barrier Reef. It’s unique in that you walk on the seafloor surrounded by colourful tropical fish and corals at beautiful Green Island, a 6000 year old coral cay. There is no equipment to operate and non-swimmers are welcome; Seawalker is accessible to almost everyone and you don’t even have to get you hair wet!

Immerse yourself in the marine wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef and discover the underwater world from a different perspective. It’s a fun and engaging adventure you can share with your family and friends.

Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Learn about safety.

Listen to a 5 minutes simple and informative safety briefing about this unique experience.

Don the helmet

We will lower the Seawalker helmet onto your shoulders and send you into the water with our experienced and qualified guide.

Walk on the seafloor

Walk and enjoy the beautiful coral and colourful fish that surround you in the Great Barrier Reef.

Where the fun starts

You’re just a few steps away from an amazing underwater adventure!

After boarding the vessel, simply make your way to see our friendly staff. They will assist you to complete the next steps such as completing necessary paperwork and arranging the most suitable time based on your Green Island schedule.

Meet us at the Green Island dive shop before your allocated time so that our staff may assist you with preparing your Seawalking gear. The wetsuit and dive boots will give you full protection from the underwater elements.

Safety briefing

Before going underwater, you will need to know a few pieces of information, such as how to communicate. The safety briefing will take approximately 5 minutes and our staff will be available to answer any questions that you may have.

Head to dive platform

Our staff will lead you to the beach where you will board the transfer tender. The transfer to the dive support vessel will take approximately 5 minutes, so keep an eye around the boat for a good chance to see sea turtles and other wonderful marine creatures.

When it’s your turn, we will lower the Seawalker helmet onto your shoulders while a professionally trained instructor will assist you for your 5 meter descent to the white sandy seafloor. You are now ready for seawalking.

Walk on the Seafloor

Your experienced guide will show you the beautiful coral and schools of fish. At our underwater location, you have an excellent chance at having a photo taken with ‘Gavin’ the famous photobombing parrotfish.

Getting to Green Island

Seawalker is an optional activity with Great Adventures’ Green Island cruises. Your transfer ticket to Green Island is at an additional cost.

Green Island is 27 km from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Departing from Cairns, your transfer will take approximately 45 minutes aboard one of Great Adventures fast catamarans. You can choose any combination of the following departure times from Cairns and Green Island:

Check-in at Great Adventures counter inside the Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street Cairns . Check-in is 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time.

SEAWALKER PRICE: $198 per person Price is in addition to your cruise fare to Green Island.

Package & save save $41 save $39 per an adult ($34 for a child) when you package seawalker with great adventures’ green island eco adventure. in addition to your seawalker experience, your green island eco adventure also includes the choice of snorkelling or a glass bottom boat tour..

Read: Scuba & Helmet Diving Safety and Medical Information

Prices are in Australian dollars and valid to 31 March 2025. Credit card surcharge may apply.

We recommend pre-booking Seawalker to avoid disappointment as daily spaces are limited. You can however book onboard your Great Adventures cruise or at the Island Dive Shop, dependent on availability.

Commonly asked questions about Seawalker

Are all seasons suitable for seawalker.

The warm waters of Tropical North Queensland make for year round comfort for water activities. In cooler months however, the complimentary wet suits will keep your body warm.

Will the water pressure make me uncomfortable?

You will descend down the ladder slowly, so it’s easy to equalize the pressure.

Is there a minimum or maximum age limit to do Seawalker?

The minimum age is 12 years old, but there is no upper age limit providing you pass the medical questionnaire.

How deep will we go?

Your instructor will guide you down to around 5 metres deep, an ideal and comfortable depth to experience the reef in a stress free environment.

What if the weather is rainy or cloudy?

You will be walking alongside the coral and fish underneath our platform. Even during poor weather, you will still be able to have a great viewing experience close to the reef and marine life.

Can I take my camera or GoPro underwater?

No. Due to safety procedures you will be unable to take a camera underwater with you however a professional photographer will take your photos and these will be available to purchase.

Send us a message

Can't find the information your looking for? Please fill in below form or give us a call and we'll get back to you as soon as we can, thank you!

Seawalker Green Island

Green Island, Great Barrier Reef Australia

Phone: +61 7 4044 9944

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Seawalker Green Island Conditions

The minimum age for Seawalker is 12 years.
Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from participating. Some children with extremely narrow shoulders may not be able to take part.
All participants are required to complete a medical questionnaire. For advice, contact our office.
After a single helmet dive a wait of 12 hours is recommended before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater. If doing multiple dives an interval of 24 hours is suggested.
All operations are weather dependant to ensure safety and comfort.

This is the best time for a dive at the Great Barrier Reef

E ver wanted to visit the largest coral reef system in the world? Most experienced scuba divers will agree that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most jaw-dropping places to dive on the planet.

But when should you visit?

Peak season gets crowded, but if you leave it too late, the weather starts to turn, and the visibility isn't great – not to mention the risk of box jellyfish!

If you're planning to visit Australia, this post will show you the best time to dive in the Great Barrier Reef and what you can expect on your trip.

If you're looking for world-class scuba diving without the crowds, you should check out the different diving sites in Tulum, Mexico .

Best Time Of Year To Dive Great Barrier Reef

The best time to dive in the Great Barrier Reef is between June and October. This is peak season when the weather is warm, rain is uncommon, and the waters are calm and clear.

The downside is that diving tours fill up quickly, and there are a lot of crowds on the beaches and in local restaurants.

If you want to avoid the crowds, the low season is between November and May. However, there is a high chance of rain, the water visibility isn't as good, and deadly box jellyfish will be floating around – not great conditions for diving!

What To Expect When Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef

The great thing about visiting the Great Barrier Reef is that you can take an intro diving tour without any experience. The crew onboard will give you all the gear you need and show you the basics of diving safely.

If you do decide to go on a scuba dive tour, an instructor will be with you the entire time to show you the route and keep you as safe as possible.

Most tours also have an underwater photographer to snap pictures of you and the wildlife while you're diving, so you won't have to worry about investing in an underwater camera.

If you're an experienced diver with a certification, you can also go diving without an instructor, but you'll need to have all your own gear and rent a boat to take you out.

Where to go Scuba Diving in Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is about 1,429 miles long , stretching across 133,000 square miles, so there are a lot of opportunities to go diving.

If you've never been before, here are some of the top dive sites you should consider visiting.

Agincourt Reef

This reef is on the northern end near Cairns. It's a great spot for beginners and has plenty of options for snorkeling and diving on the edge of the continental shelf.

At Agincourt Reef, you'll see tropical fish, sea turtles, and even the odd reef shark. This is also the spot where you can visit the Blue Wonder Wall, where the coral garden drops vertically for over 40 meters.

Most tours to Agincourt Reef depart from Port Douglas, but a few tours will pick you up directly from any Cairns accommodation.

SS Yongala Shipwreck

Travel about an hour south of Cairns, and you'll find Magnetic Island, home to the SS Yongala shipwreck that sank in 1911. This is Australia's largest and most intact shipwreck and is now protected by legislation.

The only way to visit the shipwreck is with a licensed operator, but it's well worth the trip. You'll get to see eagle rays, manta rays, turtles, and even sharks that live around the wreck.

Yongala Dive is the most well-known licensed operator that organizes tours to the shipwreck if you're interested in going.

Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsundays is a group of 74 mostly uninhabited tropical islands. You can take day cruises from Airlie Beach to take on this incredible scuba dive tour.

Manta ray and batfish call the waters around the islands home, but you'll also see underwater cliffs, submerged offshore reefs (bommies), and flat-topped coral pinnacles.

Museum of Underwater Art

Yes, the Great Barrier Reef has its very own underwater museum for divers to peruse. This is where you'll get to see the world-renowned Coral Greenhouse Structure, a 30-foot stainless steel structure that helps dissipate the underwater currents.

The Underwater Museum is just off the coast of Townsville in John Brewer Reef, and many local tour guides have trips out to the dive site. Although you can see the museum by snorkeling, you can't beat the experience of diving down to explore every beautiful detail.

Capricorn and Bunker Reefs

Toward the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, you'll get to meet whales, nesting turtles, and rare birds at the Capricorn and Bunker Reefs.

The water is shallow, so it's perfect for beginner divers, and it's teeming with marine life. If you're not up for diving, you can snorkel without a guide to see the tropical fish, turtles, and manta rays swimming nearby.

But diving near Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island is the best place to see huge fish, coral canyons, and marine turtles that nest on land.

What You'll See When Scuba Diving In Great Barrier Reef

It's hard to picture the sheer amount of marine life surrounding the Great Barrier Reef. If you're a lover of ocean creatures, you won't be disappointed!

Between June and July is the best time to see a dwarf minke whale gathering.
Also, through the summer, you'll see beaked whales, sperm whales, and bottlenose dolphins.
Grouper, cod, and beam fish are also common – and they get pretty big in this part of the world!
If you love sharks, you might be lucky enough to spot a silky, silvertip, grey reef, or whitetip shark – all of which call the Reef home.

Tips For Scuba Diving In Great Barrier Reef

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is a unique experience, so if this is your first trip, here are some helpful tips to make it a great one.

Get your scuba diving certification before you go so you can take full advantage of all the trips on offer.
When you choose a dive company, make sure they have permits for multiple scuba dive sites. There could be an issue with overcrowding at the one you planned on visiting, so you want to make sure they can switch to a different one if they need to.
Cairns is the most popular area, so it's usually the most crowded. Some less popular (but equally incredible) places to visit are Townsville, Port Douglas, and Cape York.
If you have family members who don't want to dive, many tour operators allow people to join you on the boat and go snorkeling at the dive sites.
If you want to try out underwater photography, most of the bigger boats have cameras for rent for around 80 AUD.
If you're an experienced diver, plan a multi-day trip. This gives you more time to explore, and you'll get to visit multiple sites.
Never touch the coral – it's a living organism, and the oils and creams on human skin can kill it.
Make sure your travel insurance covers scuba diving – not all policies cover water sports.
If you're a non-swimmer who wants to try scuba diving, be honest about your abilities with your instructor. They'll have flotation devices to get you started.

Best Dive Shops in Great Barrier Reef

You'll find multiple dive shops in each area of the Great Barrier Reef, all offering different excursions. Here are a couple of the best ones if you're looking to book in advance.

Pro Dive Cairns

This one covers the Cairns area and is known for trips exploring the most vibrant reefs. If you're an experienced diver, this is the team for you. However, non-divers and snorkelers are also welcome.

They have over 35 excursions on offer, including day trips from Cairns and Port Douglas, which are perfect for exploring as much of the Outer Great Barrier Reef as possible.

Adrenalin Snorkel and Dive

This dive shop is perfect for scuba divers of all levels (as well as snorkelers). They're based in Townsville and offer day trips to the Queensland coast and the Central Great Barrier Reef.

The sites visited range in depth from one to twenty meters, and they aim to help you spot as much marine life as possible on your reef experience.

Lady Musgrave Experience

This team is situated in Bundaberg and takes divers out on day trips aboard a high-speed catamaran. Once you're at the site, you'll get a full day of Great Barrier Reef diving in a protected coral lagoon that covers around 8km.

There's also a chance to sunbathe and relax on Lady Musgrave Island and go snorkeling around the shores. The Great Barrier Reef tour guides also offer a guided island walk where you can spot the turtles nesting during the hatching season.

Ready to Go Scuba Diving?

Most scuba divers will agree that Australia is one of the most incredible places to go diving in the world. And the best time of year to dive in the Great Barrier Reef is during the warmer months.

But if you're looking for a great place to go scuba diving a little closer to home, Florida is a great choice.

Check out our next post for the best time to go scuba diving in the Florida Keys .

This article originally appeared on The Roam Wild and was syndicated by MediaFeed.

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Any PD or Cairns GBR Day Tours that do 3+ Intro scuba dives? - Great Barrier Reef Forum

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Any PD or Cairns GBR Day Tours that do 3+ Intro scuba dives?

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My question is:

* Is there any tour companies that offer and allow more than two intro dives on the one full day on the GBR?

I would like to do at least three intro scuba dives if possible and preferably out of Cairns, only because I will be already snorkelling out of PD at least once or maybe twice, but I am happy to do the intro scuba dives from PD if that's the best and only option available.

Thanks in advance for any help and information.

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