Undine Reef - Great Barrier Reef

Maude Reef, deep in the Pacific Northwest, is one of those sites we always talk about over a post-dive burger. It’s not just a dive, it’s a full sensory immersion into that cold, green world. Drop in and you’re immediately enveloped by the gloom, but give your eyes a moment to adjust, and the place just lights up. We’ve seen brown catsharks tucked into crevices, their eyes reflecting our torch beams, and the sheer density of Pacific herring schools can be astounding – so thick they sometimes make the light ripple as they move. Our favourite spots are those deeper shelves, around 20-30 meters. That’s where you start finding the more unusual suspects like four-spined squat lobsters clinging to anemones or the plainfin midshipman, looking perpetually grumpy. Visibility here can be a bit of a crapshoot; we've had days of 15 metres and days of 5. Our tip? Go when the tides are slack, usually an hour before or after high tide. That’s when the current dies down enough to really explore the reef's intricacies without fighting your way around. It’s a site for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of temperate waters, for divers who aren’t afraid of a bit of chill and who love searching out the smaller, more unique creatures. Don your drysuit, bring a good light, and prepare to be surprised.

Location: Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Australasia
Coordinates: -16.133333, 145.683330
Type: reef

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 Undine Reef

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 Undine Reef

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