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reefcoralmarine parkboat diveliveaboardUnverified

NBM Dive Site Resource

Great Barrier Reef

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

A broad-area profile for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, encompassing many distinct reefs and operator-serviced sites rather than a single entry or mooring.

Save this dive site to your free member profile.

Historic Picture Placeholder

Old-fashioned maritime line drawing reserved for a future historic photograph
Historic Picture PlaceholderHistoric photograph pending research and rights review
WaterMarine
AccessAccess through permitted tourism operators, day boats, liveaboards or authorized independent activities according to Marine Park zoning. No database boat relationship was inferred.
ExperienceAll levels at operator-selected sites; currents, depths, walls, wrecks and overhead terrain require matching training and supervision.
Maximum depthHighly variable across the 2,300 km reef system; follow the exact selected site and operator plan.
Best seasonVisited year-round, subject to cyclones, wind, coral spawning, marine heat events and operator schedules.
VisibilityHighly variable by reef, tide, weather, runoff and plankton.

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Scuba divers underwater at the Great Barrier Reef.
Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in the 1980s.Queensland State Archives, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain in Australia; Wikimedia Commons rights reviewSource ↗
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

Published reference location

Location map

The marker shows the public coordinates associated with this profile. Confirm current access, moorings, and departure details before the dive.
Published reference coordinates-16.50000, 146.00000
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Map zoom level 1 of 11

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.
Automatically checked
No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Why divers know this place

Highlights

Coral gardens, walls, channels, marine biodiversity and a large network of day-boat and liveaboard diving.

Dive-area module

Area coverage

This profile represents a preserve, sanctuary, park, or regional dive area rather than one underwater site. The sourced inventory below links to the named sites documented within its boundaries.

Before you arrive

Access notes

This marker represents a vast reef system, not a dive waypoint. Select an exact named site and current permitted operator; check zoning and reef-health notices.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Cyclones, heat stress and bleaching, current, depth, remote evacuation, boat traffic, marine life and fragile coral.

At the site

Facilities and support

Major gateways include Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville, Airlie Beach and others; facilities vary widely by operator and reef.

Connected reporting

News mentioning Great Barrier Reef

NewsTaylor Cay Marine Access Closes Through March for Nesting SeabirdsNewsNight Patrol at Catalina A24-25 Reinforces a No-Stopping War-Grave Buffer

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.