Big Softy takes its name from the large soft corals that cover its wall, and it is one of the drift sites in the Lizard Island Resort outer-reef rotation. The resort describes a wall drift with varied reef topography between 10 and 30 m, with tropical reef fish, grey and blacktip reef sharks and seasonal manta rays.

The wall is sheer in places and broken by cracks, crevices and small ledges that are worth inspecting as the current carries you past. Soft coral trees in shades of pink, purple and cream grow out from the face where the water flow is best, along with sea whips and gorgonians. Above the wall the reef top supports hard coral and schools of small reef fish.

Because it is dived with the tide, Big Softy is an easy way to cover distance, and the combination of soft coral and pelagic traffic makes it a good wide-angle dive. Grey reef sharks cruise the drop-off, blacktips patrol the shallows, and in the cooler months manta rays sometimes pass along the wall. Expect fusiliers, surgeonfish, triggerfish, parrotfish and trevally.

Information on the site is limited to the resort's description, and its exact position is not published. It suits divers with some drift experience who are comfortable ascending under an SMB away from a mooring line, and the crew will usually brief a specific entry point and direction depending on the tide. For divers staying at Lizard Island it adds a wall and soft-coral dive to a program otherwise built around the Cod Hole and nearby bommies.

Big Softy is dived from Lizard Island Resort as part of its outer-reef program (resort guests only; Lizard Island is a one-hour flight from Cairns, and the outer reefs are roughly 45–55 minutes by boat). Divers are dropped from the boat at the up-current end of the wall and drift along it, with the boat following for pick-up. Liveaboards on the northern Ribbons may use it occasionally.

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. Big Softy is run as a wall drift with the tide and needs light to moderate winds; wind against tide makes pick-up uncomfortable.

Enter at the up-current end, descend to 18–20 m on the wall and drift with the reef on one shoulder, checking cracks and crevices. Rise gradually along the face as gas is used, deploy an SMB and finish on the reef top for the safety stop.

Lizard Island Resort dive shop – outer-reef day trips for resort guests.