Coral Sea, Australia

    Butterfly Bay “KEYHOLE“

    Best months: Mar–Jul

    Why dive here

    With 113+ marine species recorded in the area - including dugongs, grey reef sharks, humpback whales, sea turtles and tiger sharks - Butterfly Bay “KEYHOLE“ offers some of Coral Sea's richest reef diving. Water ranges 25-30°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeMar–Jul
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeDugongs, Grey Reef Sharks, Humpback Whales, Sea Turtles and Tiger Sharks · 113+ species recorded
    Water25-30°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    Keyhole at Butterfly Bay is exactly what it sounds like: a tight squeeze, only accessible to the smallest liveaboards. And that's part of its charm. We love places that feel a bit exclusive, and this certainly fits. Drop in and you're immediately in a maze of coral. The staghorn corals, both blue and red, are particularly impressive here, forming dense, sculptural gardens that feel ancient. It’s shallow, only topping out at 11 metres, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s basic. Visibility averages around 7 metres, which isn't huge, but it focuses your attention. We often find ourselves just hovering, eyes scanning the nooks and crannies. Anemonefish are always buzzing around, but keep an eye out for the larger barracuda patrolling the edges. We’ve also had luck spotting wobbegongs tucked into the coral and the occasional blue-spotted stingray cruising the sandy patches. It’s an intimate dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who likes to take their time and really explore a smaller, protected ecosystem.

    Today05:3818:0512h 27m daylightGolden hour 17:36

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Butterfly Bay “KEYHOLE“

    Butterfly Bay “KEYHOLE“ Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Butterfly Bay “KEYHOLE“, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-16.5, 148) (0km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    26°C

    79°F · Range: 25.4–29°C

    Current Speed

    10.3 cm/s

    Direction: SE (119.1°)

    Salinity

    35.38 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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