Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 8 Nov 2026
Andy's Postcard
Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island, Queensland · near Cooktown / Lizard Island (liveaboard from Cairns)
| Depth | 3–25 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Advanced Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) |
| Entry | Giant stride from liveaboard dive deck; descend mooring or line |
| Current | Variable/Tidal |
| Visibility | 15-30 m |
| Water | summer 27-29 °C, winter 23-25 °C |
| Suit | 3 mm full wetsuit or lycra Nov–Apr (27–29°C); 5 mm full wetsuit Jun–Sep (23–25°C); full-length lycra or stinger suit recommended Nov–May |
| Best season | Year-round. Jun–Jul dwarf minke whale season; Aug–Nov calmest seas and best visibility; Nov–Dec coral spawning; Dec–Apr warmest water, more rain and cyclone risk |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | -15.30000, 145.76000 (approximate) |
| Permit | Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth) – outer Ribbon Reefs, GBRMPA zoning applies (much of the Ribbon Reef front is Marine National Park 'green' zone; check the Cooktown–Lizard Island zoning map). Operators hold GBRMPA permits; the Environmental Management Charge is included in trip fees. No private permit needed to dive with a permitted operator. |
| Nearest chamber | Townsville University Hospital hyperbaric unit (Townsville) – via aeromedical evacuation (RFDS/rescue helicopter from Lizard Island or Cooktown airstrip, or vessel diversion); liveaboards carry oxygen and satellite communications |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Andy's Postcard
A photogenic coral pinnacle with schooling trevally and barracuda on the southern Ribbons.
Near Cooktown / Lizard Island (liveaboard from Cairns) · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island, Queensland
- Depth
- 3–25 m
- Minimum level
- Advanced Open Water
- Access
- Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)
- Boat ride
- —
- Water
- 27-29 °C
- Visibility
- 15-30 m
Andy's Postcard3–25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
In season nowBest months: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Year-round. Jun–Jul dwarf minke whale season; Aug–Nov calmest seas and best visibility; Nov–Dec coral spawning; Dec–Apr warmest water, more rain and cyclone risk
- Best months
- Now (November)
- Stinger suit Nov–May
Dive facts
- Depth
- 3–25 m
- Typical depth
- 15 m
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Advanced Open Water (18–30 m)
- Access
- Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Current
- Variable/Tidal
- Visibility
- 15-30 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 27-29 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 23-25 °C
- Water
- Tropical
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Moderate (occasional charters/club dives)
- Night dive
- Possible
- Snorkel friendly
- Partial
Exposure suit
3 mm full wetsuit or lycra Nov–Apr (27–29°C); 5 mm full wetsuit Jun–Sep (23–25°C); full-length lycra or stinger suit recommended Nov–May
Location
Ribbon Reef No. 5 · Far North GBR – Ribbon Reefs
-15.30000, 145.76000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsDive site map (external) →Primary source: morrisnautical.auMarine park & permits
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth) – outer Ribbon Reefs, GBRMPA zoning applies (much of the Ribbon Reef front is Marine National Park 'green' zone; check the Cooktown–Lizard Island zoning map). Operators hold GBRMPA permits; the Environmental Management Charge is included in trip fees. No private permit needed to dive with a permitted operator.
Nearest recompression chamber
Townsville University Hospital hyperbaric unit (Townsville) – via aeromedical evacuation (RFDS/rescue helicopter from Lizard Island or Cooktown airstrip, or vessel diversion); liveaboards carry oxygen and satellite communications
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Andy's Postcard →
A day-by-day plan for Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Andy's Postcard is a pinnacle / bommie liveaboard-only site in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island, QLD, 3–25 m, suited to Advanced Open Water divers, variable/tidal current.
Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m, tidal current that must be timed.
Why dive here
- A photogenic coral pinnacle with schooling trevally and barracuda on the southern Ribbons.
- Visibility often reaches 15-30 m.
Conditions to avoid
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
- Any time other than slack water
- Cyclone season (roughly December–April)
- Stinger season without a full suit (November–May)
About Andy's Postcard
Andy's Postcard is a pinnacle on Ribbon Reef No. 5. Morris Nautical, which runs a Ribbon Reef itinerary, describes it as a pinnacle featuring hard corals, lionfish, nudibranchs, octopus and schooling trevally and barracuda. It is listed on Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' Cod Hole–Ribbon Reefs itinerary map among the southern Ribbon Reef sites with Clam Beds, Steve's Bommie and Flare Point, and a ScubaBoard trip report from the Nimrod Explorer liveaboard mentions it as a pinnacle-style dive with diverse marine life.
The name suggests a picture-perfect scene, and the pinnacle format matches other celebrated sites on the Ribbons such as Steve's Bommie and Pixie Pinnacle: a coral column rising from sand, with hard corals on the top, overhangs and crevices on the flanks, and schooling fish circling in the blue. Trevally and barracuda schools provide the action, while lionfish and octopus are among the resident critters. Nudibranchs are common on the coral.
Published details are thin. The site does not have its own page in the Mike Ball or Spirit of Freedom guides, and depths here are estimates based on comparable Ribbon Reef pinnacles. Expect the usual southern Ribbons fauna: anemonefish, fusiliers, sweetlips, whitetip reef sharks, turtles and, in June and July, the chance of dwarf minke whales, which are regularly encountered around Ribbon Reef No. 3 nearby.
It suits intermediate divers comfortable ascending in open water. Anyone booking a southern Ribbons itinerary can ask whether it is on the plan. It deserves a better write-up than currently exists, and divers who log it can help by recording depths and highlights.
Getting there & entry
A coral pinnacle on Ribbon Reef No. 5, listed on Mike Ball's itinerary map among the southern Ribbon Reef sites.
Liveaboard only (or fly-dive via Lizard Island). Mike Ball Dive Expeditions' Spoilsport and Spirit of Freedom depart Cairns (Trinity Wharf / Marlin Marina) in the evening and steam north overnight, roughly 12–14 hours and 200–250 km, to reach the Ribbon Reefs by morning; some itineraries fly Cairns–Lizard Island (about one hour, scenic flight along the coast) and board or disembark there. Trips run 3–7 nights and include Andy's Postcard on some southern Ribbon Reef itineraries.
Divers enter by giant stride from the dive deck at the mooring and descend the mooring line. It is one of the southern Ribbon Reef moorings on Mike Ball's map (with Clam Beds, Steve's Bommie and Flare Point) and is dived from the mooring.
Entry: Giant stride from liveaboard dive deck; descend mooring or line
Weather, swell & tides
The Ribbon Reefs sit on the edge of the continental shelf and take the full south-east trade wind from April to October. Lagoon-side moorings stay diveable in 20–25 knot SE winds, but reef-front sites and passes need lighter winds; liveaboards shelter behind the reefs overnight. September to December is usually calmest.
Tidal flow through the gaps between the Ribbons is strong on springs, so exposed pinnacles are timed for slack water. December to April brings rain, lower visibility and cyclone risk; box jellyfish and Irukandji are possible November to May.
Best season: Year-round. Jun–Jul dwarf minke whale season; Aug–Nov calmest seas and best visibility; Nov–Dec coral spawning; Dec–Apr warmest water, more rain and cyclone risk
How the dive is usually run
Descend to the base of the pinnacle, circle it once while watching the blue for trevally and barracuda, then spiral upward searching the coral for nudibranchs and octopus, finishing on top for the safety stop.
Marine life
- Hard corals
- lionfish
- nudibranchs →
- octopus →
- schooling trevally and barracuda
- anemonefish
- fusiliers
- sweetlips
- whitetip reef sharks →
- turtles →
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Beyond 18 m an Advanced certification (which includes a deep dive to 30 m) is the accepted minimum. Anything past 25 m is a deep dive in practice.
Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 15 m); the full site to 25 m needs Advanced Open Water. Operators often quote Open Water.
Operators' own listing: Open Water.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Open-water ascent; possible current; lionfish; stingers Nov–May.
Dive centres that go here
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) – occasional on Ribbon Reef itineraries; historically also dived by other Cairns liveaboards.
Operators recorded for Andy's Postcard
Other dive centres in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Spirit of Freedom
ListedCairns · Cairns · QLD
An expedition liveaboard associated with Ribbon Reefs, Osprey Reef and Coral Sea itineraries.
spiritoffreedom.com.au · (07) 4047 9150
Passions of Paradise
ListedCairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns sailing catamaran day trip combining reef diving and snorkelling.
passions.com.au · (07) 4041 1600
Divers Den
ListedCairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns operation running both day-boat and liveaboard products alongside a training business and retail presence.
diversden.com.au · (07) 4046 7333
Down Under Cruise & Dive
ListedCairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns day-boat operator offering reef diving, snorkelling and introductory diving.
downundercruiseanddive.com.au · (07) 4052 8300
Reef Encounter
ListedCairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns-based liveaboard vessel offering multi-day reef stays with day-boat transfers.
reefencounter.com.au · (07) 4037 2700
Pro Dive Cairns
ListedCairns · Cairns · QLD
A long-established Cairns operation best known for multi-day liveaboard certification trips that combine Open Water training with outer Great Barrier Reef diving.
prodivecairns.com · (07) 4031 5255
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Andy's Postcard: frequently asked questions
How deep is Andy's Postcard?
Andy's Postcard reaches a maximum depth of 25 m, with the shallowest part at about 3 m; most of the dive is spent around 15 m.
What certification do I need to dive Andy's Postcard?
Advanced Open Water is the recommended minimum. Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 15 m); the full site to 25 m needs Advanced Open Water. Operators often quote Open Water. Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m, tidal current that must be timed.
Can I shore dive Andy's Postcard?
No, it is reached by boat. A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive Andy's Postcard?
Year-round. Jun–Jul dwarf minke whale season; Aug–Nov calmest seas and best visibility; Nov–Dec coral spawning; Dec–Apr warmest water, more rain and cyclone risk.
What marine life will I see at Andy's Postcard?
Regularly recorded: Hard corals, lionfish, nudibranchs, octopus, schooling trevally and barracuda, anemonefish, fusiliers, sweetlips, whitetip reef sharks, turtles.
What wetsuit do I need at Andy's Postcard?
3 mm full wetsuit or lycra Nov–Apr (27–29°C); 5 mm full wetsuit Jun–Sep (23–25°C); full-length lycra or stinger suit recommended Nov–May.
How cold is the water at Andy's Postcard?
Typically 27-29 °C in summer and 23-25 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Andy's Postcard?
Open-water ascent; possible current; lionfish; stingers Nov–May. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Andy's Postcard?
Townsville University Hospital hyperbaric unit (Townsville) – via aeromedical evacuation (RFDS/rescue helicopter from Lizard Island or Cooktown airstrip, or vessel diversion); liveaboards carry oxygen and satellite communications. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
The Ribbon Reefs are ten long, narrow reefs on the edge of the shelf north of Cairns, reached by liveaboard. They hold the Great Barrier Reef's most famous sites: the Cod Hole and its potato cod, Steve's Bommie's single fish-covered pinnacle, Pixie Pinnacle, the Lighthouse Bommie and Challenger Bay, with dwarf minke whales joining divers in June and July. Lizard Island, a national park with a research station and a resort, sits at the northern end.
Getting there: Three- to seven-night liveaboards from Cairns and Port Douglas, often with a low-level flight back from Lizard Island. Lizard Island resort guests can dive locally.
All Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
- morrisnautical.au/packages/highlights-of-the-ribbon-reefs
- mikeball.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cod-Hole-Ribbon-Reefs-Map.pdf
- scubaboard.com/community/threads/trip-report-great-barrier-reef-nimrod-explorer.213286
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Depths and coordinates estimated; limited published description.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
Nearby dive sites
More pinnacle/bommie dives in Queensland
Explore more
This region
Marine life









