Turtle Reef
Protected Area
Starcke River (Ngulun)
Why dive here
With 154+ marine species recorded in the area - including hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, tiger sharks and napoleon wrasse - Turtle Reef offers some of Great Barrier Reef's richest reef diving. Water ranges 24-30°C, warmest January, February, March.
Turtle Reef. The name gives it away, doesn't it? It’s exactly what it says on the tin. We’ve had dives here where we've counted upwards of 15 green sea turtles, just cruising past, sometimes stopping for a scratch on a coral bommie. It’s not just a turtle spot, though. We love the sheer expanse of the staghorn coral here. It forms these incredible, intricate cities, stretching out in every direction, punctuated by the occasional massive stony coral head. Diving Turtle Reef often feels like navigating a maze built by nature. Look closely amongst those branching corals and you'll spot countless tiny blennies, particularly the striking crested sabretooth and banded blennies darting in and out. Keep an eye out for the dusky filefish, too; they're masters of camouflage amongst the coral. Our favourite tip for Turtle Reef is to take it slow. Find a comfortable spot, settle in, and let the reef come alive around you. The currents here are generally pretty mild, making it a relaxed dive suitable for newer divers looking for that classic GBR experience.
Safety Notes
Strong currents typical this month (avg 30 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Turtle Reef
Turtle Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Turtle 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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