Mackay Reef
Why dive here
With 154+ marine species recorded in the area - including hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, tiger sharks and napoleon wrasse - Mackay Reef offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest reef diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.
Mackay Reef is a classic Great Barrier Reef experience, a solid choice if you're looking for a dependable coral dive without too much fuss. You'll drift over sloping reef walls, keeping an eye out for whitetip reef sharks resting on sandy patches and the usual cast of parrotfish and angelfish. It's a relaxed dive, good for photographers or anyone wanting to soak up the reef without challenging conditions.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 30 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Mackay Reef
Mackay Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Mackay Reef, 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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