How many dive sites are in Great Barrier Reef?

Great Barrier Reef has 321 dive sites and 17 dive centres in Australia.

Is diving in Great Barrier Reef suitable for beginners?

Great Barrier Reef has 1 beginner dive sites. With 1 beginner-friendly sites, it's a good option for new divers.

What marine life can you see in Great Barrier Reef?

163 marine species have been recorded in Great Barrier Reef's waters, including fish, corals, invertebrates, and marine mammals.

What is the water temperature in Great Barrier Reef?

Water temperatures in Great Barrier Reef range from 25°C in August to 30°C in February.

Diving in Great Barrier Reef

Explore 321 dive sites in Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Great Barrier Reef

The warmest water temperatures in Great Barrier Reef occur in February, averaging 29.5°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 25.0°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 29.4°C
February: 29.5°C
March: 29.2°C
April: 28.4°C
May: 26.9°C
June: 25.8°C
July: 25.1°C
August: 25.0°C
September: 25.4°C
October: 26.6°C
November: 27.7°C
December: 29.0°C

Marine Life in Great Barrier Reef

Home to 163 recorded species including 88 reef fish, 61 hard corals, 9 seagrass & algae, 2 sharks & rays, 1 starfish, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Dive Site Difficulty in Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef has 1 beginner dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Great Barrier Reef

Based on average water temperature of 27.3°C, currents 17 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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

Marine Protected Areas in Great Barrier Reef

Trinity Inlet - Fish Habitat Area (A) (IUCN Category VI)
Annan River - Fish Habitat Area (A) (IUCN Category VI)
Annan River - Fish Habitat Area (B) (IUCN Category VI)
Michaelmas and Upolu Cays - National Park (IUCN Category II)
Trinity Inlet - Fish Habitat Area (B) (IUCN Category VI)
Starcke River (Ngulun) - Fish Habitat Area (A) (IUCN Category VI)

Getting to Great Barrier Reef - Nearest Airports

Cooktown Airport (CTN) - 68 km away, approx 89 min travel time
Cairns International Airport (CNS), Cairns - 125 km away, approx 152 min travel time
Mareeba Airport (MRG), Mareeba - 150 km away, approx 179 min travel time

Dive Sites

Admiralty Anchorage (-13.8867, 146.5569)
Agincourt Reef - 5-25m (-16.0233, 145.8561)
Agincourt Reef No. 1 - Trigger Fish City (-16.0398, 145.8644)
Agincourt Reef No. 4 - The Point - 5-25m (-15.9677, 145.8197)
Agincourt Reefs (-16.0314, 145.8427)
Agincourt Reefs (-16.0314, 145.8427)
Alexandra Reefs (-16.5490, 145.4990)
Atkinson Reef (-14.1333, 144.2833)
Aylen Patch (-14.1000, 144.4833)
Baines Patches (-16.8333, 146.3667)
Baines Patches (-16.8333, 146.3667)
Barracuda Pass (-16.2435, 145.8649)
Bashful Bommie (-16.2413, 145.8666)
Bashful Bommie (-16.2413, 145.8666)
Batt Reef (-16.4000, 145.7667)
Big Buoy (-15.5386, 145.7900)
Blue Wonder (-15.9857, 145.8374)
Briggs Reef - 360 (-16.9362, 146.2043)
Brisk-Falcon Reef (-18.7751, 146.5340)
Broken Patches (-16.5298, 146.1320)
Bunker Reef (-12.4992, 143.6228)
Cairns Diving on the Outer Barrier Reef (-16.3833, 145.9833)
Carter Reef (-14.5442, 145.5906)
Castle (-13.8518, 146.5634)
Cat Reef (-12.9967, 143.8492)
Central, Breaking Patches (-16.5824, 145.9757)
Challenger Bay - 5-20m (-14.9154, 145.6903)
Channel Reef (-17.7833, 148.4167)
Clam Gardens (-15.5297, 145.7707)
Clipper - 5-20m (-16.4276, 145.9882)
Cod Hole (-14.6655, 145.6395)
Cod Hole (-14.6637, 145.6635)
Cod Reef - 5-20m (-17.7083, 148.4083)
Covered Reef (-14.6667, 145.1667)
Crack a Jack (-15.3819, 145.7647)
Creech Reef (-13.6289, 144.1014)
Crystal Cascades (-16.9626, 145.6780)
Cucumber Alley (-16.8514, 146.3561)
Daintree Reef (-16.0579, 145.7304)
Day Reef (-14.5000, 145.5333)
Dive Adventures on the Great Barrier Reef (-14.6000, 145.6500)
Down Under Diving - 5-20m (-16.5236, 145.9852)
East Ribbon Reef - 5-20m (-17.6500, 148.5833)
Eclipse Reef (-18.7669, 146.5496)
Ellis Reef (-13.3789, 143.7069)
Endeavour Reef (-15.7780, 145.5810)
Entrance Reef - 5-20m (-17.8292, 148.4167)
Escape Reef (-15.8415, 145.8190)
Esk Reef (-18.7726, 146.5223)
Euston Reef (-16.6833, 146.2500)
Evening Reef (-15.9000, 145.6667)
Eves Reef (-13.9614, 144.5742)
Exit Reef (-12.7827, 143.4901)
Eye Reef (-14.8956, 145.4775)
Fahey Reef (-14.0637, 143.8573)
Faraday Reef (-18.4167, 147.3333)
Farquharson Reef (-17.8000, 146.5167)
Feather Reef (-17.5333, 146.3833)
Ferguson Reef (-12.3353, 143.8356)
Fingers, Norman Reef (-16.4210, 145.9949)
Fin Reef (-16.6167, 146.1667)
Fison Reefs (-12.4000, 143.4667)
Flare Point - 5-20m (-15.5126, 145.7768)
Flinders Reefs (-17.6167, 148.5167)
Flora Reef - 5-20m (-16.7414, 147.7072)
Flora Reef (-17.1833, 146.3000)
Flora Reef (-16.7500, 147.7333)
Flynn Reef (-16.7333, 146.2833)
Flynn Reef - 2 Gordon's (-16.7323, 146.2674)
Flynn Reef - Coral Garden (-16.7321, 146.2775)
Flynn Reef - Coral Gardens (-16.7359, 146.2617)
Flynn Reef - Little Tracy's (-16.7310, 146.2668)
Flynn Reef - Three Sisters (-16.7155, 146.2730)
Fly Reef (-14.5069, 145.1575)
Forrester Reef (-15.1667, 145.5000)
Goggle Gardens (-14.9508, 145.6839)
Gordon s mooring (-16.7324, 146.2666)
Gorgonian Wall (-15.4407, 145.7979)
Great Barrier Reef (-16.9186, 145.7781)
Great Barrier Reef - Ribbon Reefs (-15.5000, 145.7800)
Great Barrier Reef - Ribbon Reefs (-15.5000, 145.7800)
Green Island - Fringing reefs (-16.7662, 145.9724)
Green Island - New York (-16.7671, 145.9939)
Halfway Wall (-13.8487, 146.5639)
Hall Thompson Reef (-17.5833, 146.4833)
Hammond Reef (-12.9333, 143.5500)
Ham Reef (-13.0381, 143.8719)
Hanry Reef (-12.2167, 143.8333)
Harrier Reef (-15.1389, 145.6969)
Hastings Reef (-16.5167, 146.0167)
Hastings Reef Blue Lagoon (-16.5307, 146.0023)
Hastings Reef - Coral Gardens (-16.5286, 145.9924)
Hastings Reef - Fish Bowl (-16.5276, 145.9944)
Hazelgrove Reefs (-12.7544, 143.4803)
Heath Reef (-13.4736, 143.6811)
Hedge Reef (-13.8990, 143.9557)
Hedley Reef (-17.2333, 146.5000)
Helix Reef (-18.6167, 147.2833)
Helsdon Reef (-14.9397, 145.4867)
Herald's Surprise (-17.3250, 148.4583)
Hicks Reef (-14.4500, 145.4833)
Holmes Reef (-16.5338, 147.8054)
Hope Reef (-16.5333, 146.1333)
Hopkinson Reef (-18.5500, 147.2000)
Howie Reef (-17.4000, 146.4000)
Irene Reef (-15.6500, 145.7167)
Iris Reef (-13.9625, 143.8414)
Jackson Patches (-17.2833, 146.3000)
Joan Reef (-13.9500, 144.3500)
John Brewer Reef (-18.6167, 147.0667)
John Brewer Reef (-18.6333, 147.0667)
Jubilee Reef (-13.1667, 143.7667)
June Reef (-14.2897, 143.7817)
Just Magic - 5-20m (-16.0214, 145.8071)
Kedge Reef (-14.7833, 145.5167)
Keeper Reef (-18.7500, 147.2833)
Kelso Reef (-18.4333, 146.9917)
Kestrel Reef (-13.9000, 143.9167)
King Reef (-17.7833, 146.1500)
Korea Reef (-16.5545, 145.5544)
Lady Elliot Reef (-18.6833, 146.3333)
Lagoon Reef (-12.3833, 143.7500)
Lake Reef (-15.9167, 145.4000)
Lansdown Reef (-12.8167, 143.5500)
Lark Reef - 5-20m (-15.3000, 145.5667)
Lena Reef (-15.6500, 145.8000)
Lighthouse Bommie - 5-20m (-15.0505, 145.7052)
Lighthouse Bommie - 10-25m (-14.8751, 145.6900)
Light Reef - Phil`s Bommie (-16.0180, 145.8064)
Linnet Reef - 5-20m (-14.7864, 145.3450)
Lloyds Reef (-12.2667, 143.8833)
Lodestone Reef (-18.7000, 147.1000)
Log Reef (-12.6831, 143.8339)
Long Reef (-15.0500, 145.5667)
Long Sandy Reef (-12.5333, 143.7833)
Lorne Reef - 5-20m (-19.0333, 146.5833)
Low Isles (-16.3908, 145.5614)
Lytton Reef (-13.7500, 143.9000)
Macdonald Reef - 5-20m (-13.5333, 143.6500)
Mackay Reef (-16.0500, 145.6500)
Mackay Reefs - 5-20m (-15.1167, 145.5500)
Macnamara Patch (-13.0500, 143.6333)
Magpie Reef (-13.7333, 143.8667)
Main Cay Reef - 5-20m (-17.7167, 148.4667)
Malcolm Patch (-15.6167, 145.4500)
Mantis Reef (-12.2833, 143.9106)
Maori Reef (-17.1000, 146.3333)
Martin Reef - 5-20m (-14.7650, 145.3556)
Marx Reef (-15.2000, 145.6167)
May Reef - 5-20m (-12.7811, 143.4666)
McCulloch Reef (-17.2833, 146.4500)
Mermaid s Cove - 5-15m (-14.6525, 145.4516)
Michaelmas Reef (-16.5893, 146.0412)
Michaelmas Reef (-16.5819, 146.0198)
Middle Reef - 5-20m (-12.5203, 143.3922)
Middle Reef (-19.2000, 146.8167)
Mid Reef (-14.4583, 144.9608)
Miles Reef (-14.5500, 144.9167)
Milln Reef (-16.7833, 146.2833)
Milln Reef - Rainbow (-16.7814, 146.2720)
Milln Reef - Swimming Pools - 5-15m (-16.7909, 146.2647)
Milln Reef - The Whale - 10-25m (-16.7726, 146.2728)
Milln Reef - The Whale (-16.8042, 146.2733)
Moore Reef (-16.8500, 146.1833)
Moore Reef - 5 Ways - 5-20m (-16.8596, 146.2122)
Moore Reef - East Timor (-16.8719, 146.2294)
Moore Reef - Labyrinth - 5-20m (-16.8758, 146.1985)
Moore Reef - Manta Ray Bay (-16.8653, 146.2360)
Moore Reef - West Timor - 5-20m (-16.8819, 146.2162)
Morey Reef (-16.4667, 145.4667)
Morning Reef (-15.9740, 145.6640)
Mull of Kintyre - Wilson Reef - GBR (-13.9346, 144.3922)
Munro Reef (-14.3167, 144.7500)
Murray Reefs (-15.1000, 145.2667)
Myrmidon Reef (-18.2333, 147.3667)
Nathan Reef (-17.5333, 146.5167)
Needle Reef (-18.3500, 147.2000)
New Reef (-13.0911, 143.6705)
Nicholas Reef (-16.4833, 146.1000)
Noddy Reef (-13.6844, 143.7953)
Noggin Reef (-17.1167, 146.4833)
Noreaster Reef (-17.7819, 146.6753)
Norman Reef (-16.4276, 146.0069)
Norman Reef - Caves (-16.4191, 145.9972)
Norman Reef - Playgrounds (-16.4280, 145.9884)
Norman Reef - Pontoon (-16.4231, 145.9937)
Norman Reef Pontoon (-16.4261, 145.9901)
Norman Reef - Troppo s (-16.4193, 145.9966)
Norman Reef - Waynes World (-16.4339, 146.0001)
Norman Wildside - Central (-16.4374, 145.9993)
Northern Small Detached Reef (-12.4000, 143.8167)
North Flinders Reefs (-17.5833, 148.4500)
North Horn (-13.9032, 146.6498)
North Horn (-13.8014, 146.5458)
North Reef (-17.4317, 148.3333)
North Wall (-15.4811, 147.1173)
North Warden Reef (-14.1556, 144.6475)
North West Reef (-17.5083, 148.2917)
North West Reef - 5-20m (-16.8833, 146.4000)
Nursery Bommie - 5-15m (-16.0310, 145.8563)
Obree Reef (-13.9753, 143.6808)
Ogilvie Reef (-13.5266, 143.8017)
Olive Patch (-14.1833, 143.9333)
Onyx Reef (-16.4333, 146.0667)
Opal Reef (-16.2167, 145.9000)
Osborne Reef (-13.0433, 143.6289)
Osprey Reef (-13.9081, 146.6153)
Osterlund Reef (-15.5567, 145.5115)
Ottaway Patch (-15.7167, 145.4333)
Otter Reef (-18.0833, 146.5500)
Outer Barrier Reef (-15.9833, 145.9333)
Oyster Reef (-16.6333, 145.9333)
Pandora Reef (-18.8125, 146.4331)
Park Reef (-14.4333, 145.3333)
Park Reef (-14.4333, 145.3333)
Pasco Reef (-15.0500, 145.5333)
Pearl Reef (-15.7167, 145.8000)
Peart Reef (-17.4833, 146.4000)
Pellowe Reef (-16.8500, 146.3500)
Petaj (-16.7877, 146.2678)
Petty Patch (-15.2167, 145.3500)
Phillips Reef (-18.9667, 146.6167)
Pickersgill Reef (-15.8667, 145.5833)
Pirates Wall - Wilson Reef - GBR (-13.9569, 144.3778)
Pith Reef (-18.2000, 147.0333)
Pixie Gardens (-14.9281, 145.6773)
Pixie Pinnacle - 10-30m (-14.9298, 145.6755)
Pixie Reef (-16.5500, 145.8667)
Pixie Wall (-14.9265, 145.6793)
Pixie Wall (-15.0657, 145.7179)
Plate Top - 5-15m (-16.4270, 145.9904)
Potter Reef (-17.7000, 146.5667)
Predators Playgound (-16.8073, 147.9770)
Pullen Reefs (-15.2500, 145.5833)
Quake Reef (-13.4549, 143.6514)
Rattlesnake Reefs (-13.9000, 143.6500)
Ribbon Number Eight Reef - 5-20m (-15.0764, 145.7225)
Ribbon Number Five Reef - 5-20m (-15.3579, 145.7833)
Ribbon Number Four Reef - 5-20m (-15.4350, 145.8026)
Ribbon Number Nine Reef (-14.9900, 145.7061)
Ribbon Number One Reef (-15.6055, 145.8038)
Ribbon Number Seven Reef - 5-20m (-15.1844, 145.7343)
Ribbon Number Six Reef (-15.2774, 145.7552)
Ribbon Number Ten Reef (-14.8000, 145.7000)
Ribbon Number Three Reef (-15.4874, 145.8067)
Ribbon Number Two Reef (-15.5599, 145.7963)
Ribbon Reefs - 5-30m (-14.6167, 145.6667)
Rib Reef (-18.4667, 146.8833)
Rodda Reef (-13.9214, 144.3558)
Rodda Reef (-13.9214, 144.3558)
Rosser Reef (-15.6167, 145.5167)
Round the Bend (-13.8912, 146.5529)
Ruby Reef (-15.7500, 145.7833)
Rudder Reef (-16.2000, 145.7167)
Saint Crispin Reef (-16.1000, 145.8333)
Satellite Reef (-16.4333, 145.6833)
Saxon reef (-16.4657, 145.9957)
Saxon Reef (-16.4667, 145.9833)
Saxon Reef Magic Wall (-16.4618, 145.9837)
Scott Reef (-17.0833, 146.1833)
Sea Reef (-14.0000, 144.1333)
Second Small Reef (-12.5789, 143.7922)
Shark Reef (-14.1333, 146.8000)
Sim Reef (-14.8167, 145.2833)
Snake Pit - GBR (-14.6722, 145.5724)
Snake Reef (-14.4667, 145.0167)
Southern Small Detached Reef (-12.5842, 143.8658)
South Flinders Reefs (-17.8333, 148.4667)
South Horne (-14.0196, 146.6830)
South of Nudey Beach (-16.9378, 145.9827)
South Warden Reef (-14.2550, 144.7231)
South West Reef (-17.7167, 148.3528)
Spitfire Reefs (-16.0167, 145.6333)
Split Bommie, Hastings Reef (-16.5292, 145.9906)
Spur Reef (-16.4000, 146.0500)
SS Yongala (-19.3058, 147.6222)
SS Yongala (-19.3058, 147.6222)
Stagg Patches (-17.0167, 146.1333)
Startle Reefs (-15.2100, 145.5097)
Stevens Reef (-17.1000, 146.4167)
Steve's Bommie - 10-25m (-15.5012, 145.7883)
Stonor Patch (-15.7167, 145.4500)
Strickland Reef (-15.0736, 145.5180)
Sudburry East Wall - 15-40m (-16.9934, 146.2916)
Sudbury Reef (-17.0006, 146.0790)
Swimming pool - 5-15m (-16.7833, 146.2500)
Swinger Reef (-15.2500, 145.5333)
Switzer Reef (-14.3611, 144.7561)
Table Top (-16.4227, 145.9915)
Taka Range (-15.4695, 145.7992)
Taylor Reef (-17.8333, 146.5500)
Temple of Doom (-15.5206, 145.7817)
The Abyss - 25-50m (-16.5270, 148.0055)
The Slashers Reefs (-18.4667, 147.0833)
Thetford Reef (-16.8167, 146.2000)
Thetford Reef (-16.7986, 146.1770)
Tijou Reef (-13.1558, 143.9453)
Toe Reef (-17.7028, 148.5167)
Tongue Reef (-16.3333, 145.8000)
Tree Peaks - Saxon Reef - 14m (-16.4660, 145.9798)
Troppo's - 5-20m (-16.4192, 145.9965)
Trunk Reef (-18.3500, 146.8333)
Turtle Bommie, Saxon Reef (-16.2783, 145.5886)
Turtle Reef (-14.7167, 145.1667)
Twin Peaks, Saxon Reef (-16.2789, 145.5883)
Tydeman Reef (-13.9833, 144.5167)
Undine Reef (-16.1333, 145.6833)
Unison Reef (-14.3000, 144.6833)
Unity Reef (-16.6500, 145.5833)
Waining Reef (-14.4833, 145.2333)
Wardle Reef (-17.4167, 146.5500)
Waterwitch Reef (-13.1497, 143.6146)
Weigall Reefs (-14.4833, 144.6333)
Wentworth Reef (-16.5165, 145.5225)
Wharton Reef (-14.1333, 144.0000)
William Reef (-12.2000, 143.8500)
Williamson Reefs (-15.3672, 145.5931)
Wilson Reef (-13.9500, 144.4000)
Wonderland (-14.9957, 145.7231)
Wreck Bay (-15.9822, 145.8370)
Yonge Reef (-14.6000, 145.6167)