Table Top - Great Barrier Reef

Of all the sites in Iron Bottom Sound, the Corsair is our sentimental favourite. We love that it’s right there, just a short boat ride from the dive shop, sitting in about 8m of water. It’s accessible, and if you hit it early, before the wind picks up, the visibility can be surprisingly good, sometimes over 20m. We’ve seen it clear enough to spot the distinctive gull wings from the surface. This isn't some broken-up debris field; it’s a fully intact Vought F4U Corsair, resting on its belly in the silt. You can easily make out the cockpit, the engine, and those iconic folded wings. It’s like a ghost from another time, just waiting for you to peek into its past. The plane itself is now a living reef. Look inside the cockpit for Jebb's Siphonfish and tiny Yellow-red Pygmygobies. We’ve spent hours just circling the propeller, spotting False Brown Morays peeking from crevices and the bright flash of Orange-lined Triggerfish darting around the fuselage. The schools of Blue and Gold Fusiliers here are sometimes so thick they obscure the light, and it’s always a treat to watch the Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish graze on the corals now growing on the wings. It’s a gentle dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who wants to spend time slowly appreciating a piece of history turned thriving ecosystem.

Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Australasia
Coordinates: -16.422700, 145.991500
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: Michaelmas and Upolu Cays

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Table Top

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 Table Top

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