Great Barrier Reef, Australia
    Michaelmas and Upolu Cays

    Fingers, Norman Reef

    Best months: Feb–Mar

    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 - Fingers, Norman Reef offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest wall diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeFeb–Mar
    WetsuitNo wetsuit needed, or a rash guard
    Marine lifeHammerhead Sharks, Sea Turtles, Tiger Sharks and Napoleon Wrasse · 154+ species recorded
    Water24-30°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterWall dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Fingers, over on Norman Reef, is one of those spots we always look forward to. It’s a shallow cove, true, but that protection from the wind often means surprisingly calm conditions and better visibility than some exposed sites. We’ve had some cracking dives here, particularly in the mornings before other boats arrive. The name comes from the coral formations that stretch out like… well, fingers. They’re not deep, topping out at 13 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time to really explore. We love finning slowly along the coral bommies, poking into the nooks and crannies. You’re almost guaranteed to spot a Whitetip reef shark cruising through, and the parrotfish here, especially the Dusky and Bridled, are always busy munching away. Keep an eye out for the Line and Dot and Dash Butterflyfish; they’re pretty striking against the coral. It’s a site that suits everyone, from new divers building confidence to experienced photographers wanting to take their time getting that perfect macro shot of a burrowing urchin.

    Safety Notes

    Strong currents typical this month (avg 30 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.

    Today05:5218:1512h 23m daylightGolden hour 17:46

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Fingers, Norman Reef

    Fingers, Norman Reef Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Fingers, Norman Reef, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-15.65, 145.72) (5km away)

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    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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