Diving Guide > Australia > Great Barrier Reef (Cairns Section) - Cairns, Queensland , Australia Scuba Diving Guide

Great Barrier Reef is divided into four sections by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Act. These four sections are Far Northern Section, Cairns Section, Central Section and Mackay/Capricorn Section. Our coverage of Great Barrier Reef is also divided into four pages for each of these sections. A detail description of Great Barrier Reef is covered in the Great Barrier Reef scuba diving guide. Here our focus is on the dive sites and reefs in Cairns Section of Great Barrier Reef. Cairns Section is one of the more popular section of Great Barrier Reef. In this section, there are some world class dive sites. Dozens of charter boats and dive operators visiting these reefs or diving sites are based either in Cairns or Port Douglas. On a daily basis, they would bring divers out on snokelling trips and diving trips to the Cairns Section of Great Barrier Reef and also to reefs in the nearby Coral Sea Reefs. To know more on scuba diving in reefs of Coral Sea, please visit our scuba diving guide on Coral Sea Reefs. There are numerous day trips and liveaboard trips, divers coming here will simply be spolit for choices.

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Dive Sites around Great Barrier Reef (Cairns Section)

• Ribbon Reefs
  Ribbon Reefs is a set of 10 reefs that form a barrier along northern part of Cairns Section. Stretching more than 100km, these reefs contain many world class dive sites. Eastern side of the reefs face the open ocean, they are rarely dived because of unpredictable conditions. But some spectacular wall dives are possible along the out edges. Western side of the Ribbon Reef is sheltered by the reefs themselves and the mainland. There are many lushious coral gardens and amazing pinnacles. Marine life here is in abundance and diverse. Many operators based in Cairns and Port Douglas will bring visitors to Ribbon Reefs on a liveaboard basis. Cod Hole, Temple of Doom and Pixie Pinnacle are 3 dives site worthy of a separate mentioned below.
  
  
• Cod Hole (Ribbon Reef No. 10)
  Cod Hole is the most famous dive site of Ribbon Reefs. This is the signature dive of Great Barrier Reef, it is so well documented and photographed that any dive guides that talk about Great Barrier Reef will mention it. The star of this site are the Potatoes Cods. Most of the Potatoes Cods are at least 150kg in weight and 1.5m long. They are very approachable and will gather around the divermaster waiting to be hand fed. Each dive can easily expect to have around six Potatoes Cod. In addition to the cods, divers should look for Giant Moray Eel, Leopard Moray, groupers, Napolean Wrasse, sea bass, reef sharks, rays and reef fish.
  
  
  
• Temple Of Doom (Ribbon Reef No.3)
  A large pinnacle located on the Southwest of Ribbon Reef number 3, Temple of Doom probably has the highest population of marine life among the Ribbon Reefs. As soon as the divers enter the water, they will be surrounded by large schools of mackeral, barracuda, coral groupers, tuna, Bluelined Snapper, Bluefin Trevallies and yellow goatfish. There are plenty of healthy soft coral and hard coral here. Whitetip reef sharks, stingrays and Eagle Rays are commonly sighted here too. During the months from June to July, Dwarf Minke Whales make their appearance here and join in the fun with snorkellers and divers alike.
  
  
• Pixie Pinnacle (between Ribbon Reef No.9 and Ribbon Reef No.10)
  Pixie Pinnacle is located on the western side of the narrow channel between Ribbon Reef No.9 and Ribbon Reef No.10. The pinnacle itself is about 20m in diameter, it sit on the depth of about 40m and rise close to the surface. There are a number of small caves and overhangs that the divers can explore. Each of the caves and overhang are filled with soft coral, gorgonias fans, Tubastrea corals and hydroid corals. The fish life here include lionfish, grouper, hawkfish, wrasses, butterflyfish, squirrelfish and angelfish. Reef sharks, Eagle Rays, barracuda, mackerel and batfish can be seen swimming off the pinnacle.
  
  
  
• Norman Reef
  In addition to the Ribbon Reefs which are usually only assessible throught liveaboard trips, there are a few reefs which can be visited through day trips, Norman Reef is one such reef. Located 40km east of Port Douglas or 40 km Northeast of Cairns, Norman reef has beautiful coral gardens and are visited regularly by reef sharks, groupers, turtles and pelagic fish.
  
  
• Agincourt Reef
  Another group of small reefs visited by day trippers. There are a few excellent dive sites here. The Garden (a shallow coral garden with colorful reef fish), Nursery Bommie (a pinnacle visited by pelagic fish to feed), Blue Wonder (a beautiful wall dive) and The Channels (with swim throughs and caves) are all worthy of a visit.
  
  

Best Time to Dive in Great Barrier Reef (Cairns Section)

Where to Stay in Cairns and Port Douglas

• Our favourite 5 stars accommodation in Cairns - Hotel Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Cairns - Rydges Tradewinds Hotel Cairns
• Our favourite 3 stars or budget accommodation in Cairns- All Seasons Sunshine Tower Hotel Cairns
• Our favourite 5 stars accommodation in Port Douglas - Mai Tai Resort Port Douglas
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Port Douglas - Bay Villas Resort Port Douglas
• Our favourite 3 stars or budget accommodation in Port Douglas - Comfort Inn Port Douglas

• Our favourite 5 stars accommodation in Cairns - Radisson Plaza at the Pier Cairns
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Cairns - Rydgeplaza Cairns
• Our favourite 3 stars or budget accommodation in Cairns- Best Western Acacia Court Hotel
• Our favourite 5 stars accommodation in Port Douglas - Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Hotel
• Our favourite 4 stars accommodation in Port Douglas - Rydges Sabaya Reef Resort Port Douglas
• Our favourite 3 stars or budget accommodation in Port Douglas - Comfort Inn Port Douglas

How to get to Cairns and Port Douglas

• Australian Airlines
• Qantas
• Cathay Pacific Airway

Other Interesting Dive Sites

• Other dive sites in Australia
• Other dive sites in the world