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Ribbon Reef - 5 Mile

Ribbon Reef, particularly the 5 Mile stretch, often feels like a secret garden, even when the boats are out in force. The reef itself is a series of coral and rock patches, strung out with wide sandy channels in between. We love those sand patches – they're not just barren zones, but prime real estate for honeycomb stingrays doing their best impression of the seafloor, and we've even spotted the occasional black fin eel snaking across them. The coral here, especially the table corals, provides shelter for so many juveniles. You’ll be craning your neck looking under ledges for blacktip soldierfish or the tiny, shy Poss' scorpionfish. Our favourite finds are often the longnose hawkfish perched on a gorgonian fan, or the vibrant flash of a Blackburn's butterflyfish. Visibility averages 14m, which is good enough to appreciate the details, but it can drop after heavy rains, so we always check conditions. It's a relaxed dive, great for photographers wanting to take their time, or anyone who enjoys the slower pace of a good reef rummage.