Flare Point lies between Ribbon Reefs No. 2 and 3 and is often the last dive of a Ribbon Reef trip, a relaxed swim through coral gardens before the boat turns south for Cairns. Spirit of Freedom describes a sloping reef wall with deeper outlying bommies, and Mike Ball's photographers' guide describes coral gardens with massive bright blue and yellow Acropora colonies, Porites boulders, new plate corals, a small central pinnacle and sandy patches.

The gardens are the draw. On calm days light rays stream through the shallows, and the Acropora supports swarms of blue-green chromis and sergeant majors. Diagonal-lined sweetlips hang under the plates, trumpetfish hunt among the branches, and juvenile rockmover wrasse and palette surgeonfish tuck into the coral. Spotted lagoon rays and whitetip reef sharks rest on the sand patches, and Queensland groupers occupy the larger crevices.

Spirit of Freedom adds cuttlefish, turtles, moray eels, mantis shrimp, unicornfish and eagle rays to the list. The outlying bommies attract more fish and are worth a visit at the start of the dive before returning to the shallows.

It is an easy, unhurried dive for all levels and excellent for snorkellers. For photographers it is a good place to capture classic Great Barrier Reef coral scenes. Mike Ball also lists Flare Point on its Coral Sea Odyssey and 7-night Coral Sea expeditions, so it features on longer trips as well as Ribbon Reef itineraries. Its gentle slope and sheltered position mean it is rarely cancelled for weather, making it a dependable end to an expedition.

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 Flare Point, typically as the final dive of a trip.

Divers enter by giant stride from the dive deck at the mooring and descend the mooring line. As the southernmost regular mooring, it is often the last dive before the boat heads south to Cairns.

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. Flare Point is best on calm days when light rays stream through the shallows.

Descend to the base of the slope, visit one of the outlying bommies at 15–20 m, then work back across the sand patches to the small central pinnacle and up through the coral gardens for a long shallow finish.

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (Spoilsport) – Ribbon Reef and Coral Sea itineraries from Cairns, several departures a month; Spirit of Freedom – 3-, 4- and 7-night trips from Cairns/Lizard Island, weekly. Often the final dive before returning to Cairns.