The Caves - Coral Sea

Look, we get it. The data isn't exactly singing praises for the Yankee Juillet. And honestly, for your average "wow factor" dive, it’s not going to blow your fins off. But if you’ve got a soft spot for history, for the quiet grace of a wreck slowly being reclaimed, this site has a certain understated charm. The Yankee Juillet is what’s left of a small plane, resting in about 19 meters of water. We love it for the story it tells. It’s not some grand warship, but a private aircraft, giving it a more personal, almost melancholic feel. The fuselage is broken, stretched across the sandy seabed, with the wings angled upwards. We often spend time just hovering over the cockpit, imagining the final moments. It's not about big schools of fish here, more about the small, intricate details. You'll find a surprising number of blennies peering out from crevices, and we’ve spotted peacock mantis shrimp scuttling in the sand nearby. The corals aren't vibrant, true, but the wreck itself has become a canvas for various sponges and a delicate growth of soft corals, lending it a muted beauty. It’s a dive for photographers who appreciate composition over colour, or for anyone who enjoys a peaceful exploration without the usual hustle. Keep an eye out in the sand around the wreck; we’ve had a few lucky encounters with stingrays here. It's a short, easy dive, perfect for a relaxed afternoon.

Location: Coral Sea, Australia, Australasia
Coordinates: -23.917800, 152.411400
Type: wreck

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

Nearest Dive Centres to The Caves

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 The Caves

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