Great Barrier Reef, Australia
    Michaelmas and Upolu Cays

    Tongue Reef

    Best months: Feb–Mar

    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 - Tongue Reef offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest reef diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeFeb–Mar
    WetsuitNo wetsuit needed, or a rash guard
    Marine lifeHammerhead Sharks, Sea Turtles, Tiger Sharks and Napoleon Wrasse · 154+ species recorded
    Water24-30°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Tongue Reef often gets overlooked for its flashy neighbours, but we think that’s a mistake. This particular patch of the Outer Reef really shows off what a healthy GBR can be. Drop in and you’re immediately enveloped by the sheer density of coral, a true riot of colour and texture. We love drifting along with the gentle current, keeping an eye out for the big schools of fusiliers that hang around the bommies, often so thick they dim the sunlight for a moment. The coral formations here are exceptional; great tables of Pachyseris and the delicate fronds of Feather Coral stretch out, punctuated by the knobbly heads of Cauliflower coral. Keep your eyes peeled for Polkadot Cod hiding in the nooks, and we’ve often spotted Blue Spotted Hinds out in the open. For something a bit different, look closely at the sand patches near the reef edge; we’ve found Leopard Cones and Sand-dusted Cones here, slowly making their way across the substrate. It’s a gentle dive, generally, suiting anyone who wants to just soak in the beauty of a vibrant reef. A quiet morning dive here, before the bigger boats arrive, is our favourite way to experience it.

    Safety Notes

    Strong currents typical this month (avg 30 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.

    Today05:5318:1612h 23m daylightGolden hour 17:47

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Tongue Reef

    Tongue Reef Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Tongue Reef, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-15.65, 145.72) (5km away)

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    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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