Pirates Wall - Wilson Reef - GBR - Great Barrier Reef
Sha’ab Marsa Alam is a solid choice for a laid-back dive, just a quick boat ride from the marina. We usually kick off with a gentle drift along the main reef, where the corals keep things colourful and interesting. The real draw here is a small, old wreck, draped in soft corals and home to plenty of little critters. Keep an eye out for Pharaoh cuttlefish tucked into crevices and the occasional cowfish pottering about, especially around the seagrass beds nearby. With a maximum depth of 18m and good visibility, it's an easy dive that often delivers a dolphin fly-by.
- Location
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -13.956900, 144.377800
- Type
- wreck
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)
- Batt Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Pirates Wall - Wilson Reef - GBR
- 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 Pirates Wall - Wilson Reef - GBR
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