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Baines Patches

Baines Patches, out in the Ribbon Reefs, is the sort of site that reminds you why you put up with early mornings and salty hair. It's not always on the standard itinerary, which we love; often means you’ll have it mostly to yourself. What you get here is a real feel for the Great Barrier Reef’s scale, with huge bommies rising from the seafloor. We’ve had some cracking dives here, often starting with a leisurely drift along the wall, past gorgonian fans the size of dinner tables. Look closely, and you’ll spot arc-eye hawkfish perched like tiny sentinels. Our favourite memory is a school of giant trevally, just hanging in the current, silver flanks flashing as they moved in unison. The light, particularly around mid-morning, filters through the water here in a way that just makes the coral glow. We’d suggest keeping an eye out for foxface and parrotfish munching away; the sound of their teeth on coral is surprisingly loud and satisfying. It’s a great pick for photographers who appreciate dramatic reef structures and reliable clarity.