Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef tops the bucket list of many divers around the world – and it’s no surprise, given that it’s the largest reef system on Earth! Consisting of more than 3,000 separate coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef spans almost the entire length of Australia’s eastern coast. Offering vibrant corals, teeming marine life, and incredible underwater experiences, it’s definitely a dive destination not to be missed. That being said, it can be difficult to know where to begin, where to go, and how to plan out your own dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef. To help with this, we’ve compiled below all information that you’ll need for the ultimate dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

 

When To Go

 

It’s possible to dive the Great Barrier Reef pretty much any time of the year, given its warm and tropical climate. However, there are some seasonal differences when it comes to marine life and water conditions that you’ll want to be aware of. For many divers, June to December is considered to be the best time to visit as there’s clearer water visibility and lower levels of rainfall during these months. This period also happens to coincide with the migration patterns and activity of several marine animals, including minke whales, humpback whales, manta rays, and hammerhead sharks. Sea Turtles are also frequently spotted during this time, especially from October to November when they are actively breeding and nesting.

 

The temperatures along the Great Barrier Reef rise substantially during the months of January and February, which also happens to coincide with the monsoon season. This brings in heavy periods of rainfall, which can create lower water visibility around the reef. Luckily, however, this is short-lived, as the weather typically starts to clear up in March. The month of March is a great time to dive the reef if you’re looking for shark encounters. Baby sea turtles are known to hatch during this period, which draws in a variety of sharks from the surrounding areas. That being said, jellyfish also frequent the area during this time, so you’ll want to be careful when you’re out diving. Some of them can be dangerous, so many liveaboard and dive companies will have stinger suits available for you to use.

 

Where To Go 

 

The Great Barrier Reef stretches for over 1,400 miles, meaning there are hundreds of dive sites for you to explore. To help narrow down your options, the first thing you’ll want to decide is if you’d like to base yourself off land or on a liveaboard. Both offer great opportunities for diving; it really just depends on your personal preferences. That being said, if you’re new to diving or are looking to get certified, you’ll probably be better off staying on land, where you’ll have access to shallower and calmer dive sites.

 

For those looking to base themselves on land, you’ll want to stay either in Cairns or in Port Douglas, which lies right in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. The majority of dive operators are located in Cairns, but you can also find a few dive resorts to the north in Port Douglas as well. From either location, you’ll have access to a number of dive sites that are easily reached by a short out and back boat trip. This area of the reef is known for its active coral system, which is teeming with reef fish, reef sharks, as well as sea turtles. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to spot a few large pelagic fish, such as tuna, mackerel, and trevally, on some of the outer reefs.

 

If you’d prefer to venture farther out to some of the more remote reefs, then you’ll want to hop on a liveaboard. These dive cruises, many of which depart from Cairns, provide the opportunity to explore some of the least visited reefs, including the Ribbon Reef, Osprey Reef, and Raine Island. Located in the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef, these dive sites offer more difficult dives with stronger currents and deeper depths. However, they also allow for encounters with a much wider variety of marine life, including everything from reef fish to sea turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, dolphins, and, depending upon the season, even whale sharks and minke sharks!

 

Top Dive Sites 

 

It can be hard to narrow down your list of dive sites with so many options to choose from. To help with this, we’ve included below our list of the top three dive sites in the Great Barrier Reef!

 

S.S. Yongala

 

Considered by many to be one of the best wreck dives in the world, S.S. Yongala is a former cargo and passenger ship that sank during a cyclone in 1911. Located off the coast of Townsville, a few hours south of Cairns, this wreck dive is accessible by both land and via liveaboard. As Australia’s largest and most intact shipwreck, S.S. Yongala is protected under the Historic Shipwreck Act, which means that penetration of the wreck is forbidden. Regardless of this, you’ll still be able to get an up-close and personal look at this incredible shipwreck that has now become an integral part of the reef system. While exploring the wreck, you can expect to also encounter a variety of marine life, including reef fish, eagle rays, turtles, sea snakes, and sharks.

 

Cod Hole, Ribbon Reef 

 

Accessible only by liveaboard, Cod Hole is another well-known dive site located within the Ribbon Reefs. It’s most famous for its population of potato codfish, which can grow to be up to 220 pounds. The fish, which divers regularly feed, have become so accustomed to humans that they have been known to approach divers and will even follow them around. The area is also home to a variety of other marine life, including giant clams, triggerfish, pufferfish, coral trout, white-tipped sharks, and grey reef sharks.





Eddy Reef 

 

Located just off the coast of Cairns, Eddy Reef is a drift dive that offers a wide variety of pelagic marine life encounters. Home to tuna, barracuda, groupers, black-tip reef sharks, and coral trout, it’s a favorite among many divers. The reef itself ranges in depths from ten to twenty meters and is covered in vibrant coral that provides shelter for a number of small critters and reef fish. If you’re able to pause for a moment along the dive, you’re bound to spot a variety of nudibranchs, shrimp, crabs, angelfish, lionfish, and pufferfish. There’s even a protected nook that you can drop down into, from where you can observe reef sharks as they sleep and hunt.



References:

 

Sport Diver: https://www.sportdiver.com/article/news/7-must-dive-spots-australias-great-barrier-reef#page-7

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