reef

Log This Dive

Sykes Reef

Sykes Reef sits out in the Coral Sea, and it’s one of those spots that really reminds you why you put in all the effort to get here. The sheer scale of the reef is what hits you first – massive coral structures that just seem to keep going. We love drifting along, just watching the big pelagics cruise by. It’s not uncommon to see several Humpnose Unicornfish and Big-nose Unicorns in a single dive, sometimes schooling. The light out here is incredible, filtering down through the water column, illuminating the Montipora corals. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with Undulated Morays poking out from their crevices, and the flashes of colour from Bicolour Parrotfish and Black Butterflyfish are constant. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; the little Blackspot Pigmy Wrasse are busy darting around the coral. It’s a site that rewards a slow pace, letting the marine life come to you. You’ll want to be comfortable with open ocean diving for Sykes, as it’s exposed, but the rewards are absolutely worth it.