Irving Reef - Coral Sea
Noreaster Reef isn't always the first name you hear when planning a GBR trip, and that's precisely why we love it. Forget the crowded pontoon sites; this place feels like a proper escape. Descending, the first thing that hits you is the sheer density of smaller reef fish. Schools of five-lined snapper ripple across the coral bommies, and we've spent entire dives just tracking the frantic movements of brown-lined puffers and golden butterflyfish flitting between the branches. What makes Noreaster special for us is its focus on the intricate details. You'll spot Rainford's butterflyfish, a genuinely stunning little fish, if you take your time. Look closer into the crevices, and you might even find the elusive Prodigal Son peeking out. The current can be mild to moderate here, making for a comfortable drift, but always check conditions. We find the mornings offer the best light, really making the corals pop. It’s a site for divers who appreciate a slower pace, for those who get a kick out of identifying every parrotfish from the Bullethead to the Rivulated, rather than just ticking off big pelagics.
- Location
- Coral Sea, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -23.541090, 151.624630
- Type
- reef
Best Time to Dive in Coral Sea
The warmest water temperatures in Coral Sea occur in March, averaging 28.3°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 21.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.9°C
- February: 28.3°C
- March: 28.3°C
- April: 27.2°C
- May: 25.0°C
- June: 23.0°C
- July: 21.6°C
- August: 21.2°C
- September: 22.3°C
- October: 24.3°C
- November: 26.3°C
- December: 27.7°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Coral Sea
- Anemone Bommies - Lady Elliot Island
- Bait Reef (reef)
- Barolin Point Dive Site
- Black Island “WONDERWALL“ (wall)
- Blue Pearl Bay 2 (reef)
- Butterfly Bay (reef)
- Butterfly Bay “KEYHOLE“ (reef)
- CHIN LONG WEE - 0m (wreck)
- Conical Rocks Reef (reef)
- Coral Gardens - Lady Elliot Island (reef)
- Corroboree Reef (reef)
- Cruise Whitsundays Pontoon
- Dangerous Reef (reef)
- Dangerous Reef (reef)
- Dolphin Point
Nearest Dive Centres to Irving Reef
Marine Life in Coral Sea
Home to 120 recorded species including 73 reef fish, 30 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 3 other, 2 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Whales & Dolphins
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- gray mangrove (Avicennia marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Paddle Grass (Halophila decipiens) - Seagrass & Algae
- Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Common Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus) - Reef Fish
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Ward's Damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) - Reef Fish
- Rainford's Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rainfordi) - Reef Fish
- Blackedge thicklip wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Harlequin tuskfish (Choerodon fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hn (Halophila spinulosa) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Golden Butterflyfish (Chaetodon aureofasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Longnose Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) - Reef Fish
- Rainbow Parrotfish (Scarus flavipectoralis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Irving Reef
Based on average water temperature of 25.2°C, currents 5 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 25°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories