Scuba diving in

The Coral Sea

The remote reef systems and crystal-clear waters of the Coral Sea represent some of the best adventure diving imaginable. Ancient underwater mountains rise from thousands of metres below the surface, forming a pelagic playground of sheer, coral-covered walls. Situated around 200-kilometres off Australia’s eastern coast, these reefs remain almost entirely untouched, with large and diverse coral specimens alongside rare sea creatures and sizeable shark populations.

Diving Osprey Reef

Osprey Reef is one of the largest, most northerly, and best-known reefs in the Coral Sea. While the sheltered lagoon reaches depths of around 30-metres, the deep trough which separates Osprey Reef from the continental shelf allows its outer walls to drop as far as 1,000-metres. As a result, the currents that flow past these walls deliver nutrients to the sizable soft corals and create unbelievable water clarity. 

But, as you might expect, large pelagics are the main attraction here. Shark feeds have been offered at the natural amphitheatre of North Horn for decades, offering more-or-less guaranteed sightings of grey and whitetip reef sharks. Hammerheads, silkies, and other sharks can also make appearances, and hungry potato cod often join the melee.

All manner of other marine life can also be spotted at Osprey, either living above the reef or passing by on the current. Highlights include green and loggerhead turtles, sailfish and marlin, tuna, barracuda, and dolphins, and even humpback, sperm and beaked whales. Manta rays can sometimes be found frequenting a cleaning station at Round the Bend, and exceptionally lucky divers may also stumble on one of Osprey Reef’s most extraordinary residents, the chambered nautilus.

Diving Holmes Reef

Situated around 300-kilometres southeast of Osprey, Holmes Reef is a highly-rated Coral Sea dive destination offering yet more pumping pelagic action with silvertips and grey reef sharks, and visibility that is rarely less than 30-metres. The topography here is also varied, with both sheer walls and shallow coral gardens, as well as caves, caverns and swim-throughs, and the odd coral bommie. These shadowy nooks and crannies provide hiding spaces for a myriad of smaller species as well, including a full spectrum of interesting crustaceans. One of the Coral Sea’s lesser-known dive destinations, Flinders Reef, lies 100-kilometres south of Holmes and around 230-kilometres northeast of Townsville. This reef’s position makes it a popular stop during itineraries that link the SS Yongala with the Coral Sea, with noteworthy dive sites including Cod Wall, Geronimoes, Fan Fair, Rock Arch, and Watanabe.

Diving Bouganville Reef

Bougainville Reef lies close to the midway point between Osprey and Holmes and is so rarely visited, your guides will likely be every bit as excited as you, should the opportunity arise. Sites here typically feature steep walls which appear to shelve into slopes beyond recreational depths. Like its distant neighbours, Bougainville is known for its healthy soft corals, as well as some superb plate coral specimens. Schools of bumphead parrotfish maraud around the reef munching mouthfuls of coral, while butterflyfish, unicornfish, and fusiliers float past in large numbers. Sharks, rays, and turtles are also frequently spotted here, alongside tuna, barracuda and trevally.