Barracuda Pass
Protected Area
Michaelmas and Upolu Cays
Why dive here
With 154+ marine species recorded in the area - including hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, tiger sharks and napoleon wrasse - Barracuda Pass offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest drift diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.
Barracuda Pass, a channel dive in the Great Barrier Reef, often delivers exactly what its name suggests. We’ve seen decent schools of barracuda here, sometimes just hanging mid-water, other times moving with purpose. It's a fairly straightforward drift, good for divers who appreciate pelagic action over intricate coralscapes. You’ll want to keep an eye out into the blue.
Safety Notes
Drift dive - carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and stay with your group. Brief the current direction before entry.
Strong currents typical this month (avg 30 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Barracuda Pass
Barracuda Pass Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Barracuda Pass, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-15.65, 145.72) (5km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
26°C
80°F · Range: 24.5–29°C
Current Speed
30.07 cm/s
Direction: S (183.8°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.057 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
35.08 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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