Table Top
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 - Table Top offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.
Table Top, off Norman Reef, really stands out for us. It’s essentially one enormous bommie, shallow on top, dropping to 15m. We love the sheer scale of the plate corals up top; they spread out like dinner tables for giants, hence the name. Drifting over them, you’re almost guaranteed to spot Hawksbill turtles grazing, completely unconcerned by divers. Down deeper, we’ve often encountered grey reef sharks patrolling the edges and white tips snoozing under ledges. The current can pick up, so be prepared for a bit of a drift, but that’s often when the parrotfish and butterflyfish are out in force. Look for the greensnout parrotfish – their colours just pop against the blue. Visibility averages 13m, which is good enough to take it all in. This is a brilliant site for those who appreciate healthy coral architecture and consistent pelagic action without needing extreme depths.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Strong currents typical this month (avg 30 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Nearest Dive Centres to Table Top
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Table Top
Table Top Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Table Top, 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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