Southern Small Detached Reef
Protected Area
Mitirinchi Island
Why dive here
With 154+ marine species recorded in the area - including hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, tiger sharks and napoleon wrasse - Southern Small Detached Reef offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest reef diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.
Southern Small Detached Reef offers a good cross-section of typical Great Barrier Reef coral. You'll find plenty of hard corals, with a scattering of colourful soft varieties, and the usual reef fish patrolling the bommies. It’s a solid dive for those looking for a predictable GBR experience without strong currents or deep profiles. We'd suggest it for divers who enjoy relaxed, easy drifts over healthy coral.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 30 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Reviews for Southern Small Detached Reef
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Southern Small Detached Reef
Southern Small Detached Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Southern Small Detached 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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