Clipper - Great Barrier Reef

Clipper on the Great Barrier Reef is a site we keep coming back to, mainly for its sheer sense of scale. It’s not about finding that one rare nudibranch, though we’ve spotted some interesting little granulated drupes clinging to the rock. Clipper excels at big, wide-angle moments. You’ll drift over fields of staghorn coral, some colonies sprawling so far they seem to vanish into the hazy blue distance. Keep an eye out for the humphead unicornfish, those awkward, beautiful creatures with their distinctive forehead bumps. They’re often seen grazing here, moving with a quiet determination. We’ve also had fantastic luck with green turtles, often just resting, tucked under a coral overhang. The visibility here is generally good, allowing you to really appreciate the vastness of the reef. We’d suggest going early in the morning; the light filtering through the water onto the coral makes for some incredible photos, and the big parrotfish, like the blue trim and batavian, seem a bit more active. This site is perfect for divers who appreciate the grandeur of a healthy, expansive reef system. You’ll experience a gentle drift over massive coral structures, encountering schools of gendarme fish and the occasional patrolling blackspot surgeonfish. It's a site that rewards those who take their time and soak it all in.

Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Australasia
Coordinates: -16.427595, 145.988160
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 5-20m

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Clipper

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 Clipper

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