1770 is a Passions of Paradise site in the central part of Hastings Reef, a position that gives it good protection from strong winds. The name is presumably a nod to the year Cook sailed this coast. The mooring lies over a shallow lagoon, which suits snorkellers and new divers, and nearby are the Twins, a pair of bommies descending to about 20 m that Passions reserves for more experienced divers as an advanced option.

The operator lists pelagic fish, sharks, turtles, schools of juvenile fish and coral formations among the site's attractions. The lagoon floor is scattered with coral heads and patches of branching coral, sheltering juvenile fish of many species, and it is bright and calm, with good light for photography. Around the Twins the relief and depth attract larger fish: trevally, mackerel and small reef sharks cruise the bommies, and schooling fusiliers and snapper gather on the up-current side.

Turtles are regularly seen resting in the lagoon or on the bommies, and Hastings' humphead parrotfish schools may pass through. Giant clams and anemones with anemonefish are common in the shallows. The site's central location and shelter make it one of the most dependable moorings on Hastings, and the contrast between the shallow lagoon and the deeper Twins means one mooring can serve a whole boatload of mixed-ability guests.

Visibility in the lagoon is usually 12-20 m, and the Twins, being further from the reef flat, often have clearer water than the mooring itself. The Twins are best dived early in the day while divers have plenty of gas and no-decompression time in hand.

Boat access only. Cairns day boats leave from the Reef Fleet Terminal (1 Spence Street) and the neighbouring Marlin Marina on the city waterfront, with check-in between about 7:00 and 8:00 am; most operators run transfers from city and northern-beaches accommodation, and there is paid parking near the terminal. The run of about 50 km out through Trinity Inlet and across the lagoon to Hastings Reef takes around 75 minutes on a fast catamaran and noticeably longer on slower dive boats or into a south-easterly chop. 1770 is a Passions of Paradise mooring; Cairns Dive Adventures also lists it among Hastings' moorings.

Enter from the stern steps.

The prevailing south-east trade winds (typically 15-25 knots from April to September) are what limit Cairns outer-reef diving: above about 25 knots trips may be cancelled, and exposed eastern moorings are used only in light winds. Summer northerlies are gentler but make north-facing moorings choppy. Box jellyfish and Irukandji are present from about November to May (stinger suits on every dive), and the cyclone season runs November to April, when a system in the Coral Sea can close the reef for days.

Visibility drops after heavy rain and strong winds; spring is usually calmest and clearest. Hastings has moorings on all sides, so there is almost always a sheltered option. 1770 sits in the centre of the reef and is well protected from strong winds, making it a dependable choice on rough days.

Standard dive: explore the shallow lagoon and its coral heads at 5-10 m. Advanced option: head to the Twins, two bommies reaching about 20 m, circle them and return across the lagoon, finishing with a safety stop at 5 m.

Passions of Paradise – regular day-trip mooring on Hastings; other operators occasionally; Hastings is also worked by Reef Experience, Divers Den, Tusa Reef Tours, Aqua Quest, Down Under Cruise & Dive and the Reef Encounter liveaboard; the mooring used on any day is chosen by the skipper according to wind, tide and other boats