Batt Reef - Great Barrier Reef
Mellieħa Rock isn't the biggest name in Comino, but it’s one we always try to fit in. It’s a proper Mediterranean reef dive, less about big pelagics and more about the details, the things that make you stop and really look. We love drifting along the rocky slopes, where the sunlight paints streaks through the water, lighting up groves of bushy coral and slender seagrass. Keep an eye out for ornate wrasse flitting between the rocks and common octopus peeking from crevices. We’ve had some cracking encounters with common smoothhounds here, just cruising past, completely unbothered. It’s a great spot for a relaxed dive, perfect for photographers who want to take their time, or anyone who just wants to soak up the atmosphere without feeling rushed. Our favourite time to dive it is late morning, when the sun is high enough to penetrate the deeper sections but before the afternoon boat traffic picks up too much. You often get clearer water then too.
- Location
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -16.400000, 145.766660
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Michaelmas and Upolu Cays
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
Nearby Dive Sites in Great Barrier Reef
- Admiralty Anchorage (reef)
- Agincourt Reef - 5-25m (reef)
- Agincourt Reef No. 1 - Trigger Fish City (reef)
- Agincourt Reef No. 4 - The Point - 5-25m (reef)
- Agincourt Reefs (reef)
- Agincourt Reefs (reef)
- Alexandra Reefs (reef)
- Atkinson Reef (reef)
- Aylen Patch (reef)
- Baines Patches (reef)
- Baines Patches (reef)
- Barracuda Pass (drift)
- Bashful Bommie (reef)
- Bashful Bommie (reef)
- Big Buoy
Nearest Dive Centres to Batt Reef
- ABC Dive & Snorkel - ["PADI"]
- Blue-Cruise Pty.Ltd
- Coral Princess Cruises P/L - ["PADI"]
- Dive Centre
- Divers Den - PADI
- Horseshoe
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.
Notable Species
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) - Sharks & Rays
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora damicornis) - Hard Corals
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Bird wrasse (Gomphosus varius) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Telescopefish (Epibulus insidiator) - Reef Fish
- Banded thicklip (Hemigymnus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis) - Hard Corals
- Blunt-head Parrotfish (Chlorurus microrhinos) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Chameleon Parrotfish (Scarus chameleon) - Reef Fish
- Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus) - Reef Fish
- Black-back Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melannotus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Batt 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