Nathan Reef
Protected Area
Barnard Island Group
Why dive here
With 154+ marine species recorded in the area - including hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, tiger sharks and napoleon wrasse - Nathan Reef offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest reef diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.
Nathan Reef offers classic Outer Reef diving. You'll drift past large coral formations and keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks resting on sandy patches. It’s a solid choice for divers looking for a relaxed GBR experience without the crowds found closer to shore. Expect good visibility and the usual suspects of reef fish.
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 Nathan Reef
Nathan Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Nathan 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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