Little Tracey is the smaller companion of Tracey's Bommie on Flynn Reef and has its own mooring. Passions of Paradise describes it as one of the best sites on its roster for mixed groups of snorkellers and divers, because the reef comes very close to the surface and yet drops to useful diving depth only a few fin kicks away. The structure is a series of shallow walls cut by crevices and small gullies, with hard coral dominating and patches of soft coral and anemones on the upper faces.

The fish life is dense rather than dramatic: clouds of small colourful reef fish over the crest, damselfish and chromis in the branching coral, parrotfish grazing along the top, and wrasse and butterflyfish working the crevices. Turtles are regularly seen, and small reef sharks cruise along the base of the wall. Because the site is on the outer part of the Flynn complex, pelagic visitors are also possible, including cruising tuna and trevally that sweep in along the drop.

The dive is shallow enough that most people can spend a long time underwater, which makes it good for photography and for relaxed, unhurried diving. It is also a sensible choice for newly certified divers or those doing a first dive after a break, since the wall provides a constant reference and the boat is never far away. Combined with a deeper dive at Tracey's Bommie or Coral Gardens, it gives a good cross-section of what Flynn offers.

Visibility is generally good, though it can be reduced on a big spring tide.

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 57 km out through Trinity Inlet and across the lagoon to Flynn Reef takes around 80 minutes on a fast catamaran and noticeably longer on slower dive boats or into a south-easterly chop.

Passions of Paradise reaches Flynn on its sailing catamaran (motoring out, sailing when the wind suits) and uses Little Tracey as one of its two daily sites in suitable conditions. 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. Little Tracey shares the shelter of the Flynn lagoon and is used in most wind directions; it is at its best on the top half of the tide when snorkellers can explore the reef crest.

Descend to the base of the shallow wall at 10-15 m and follow it with the reef on one shoulder, looking into the crevices, for about 20 minutes. Turn, rise to 5-6 m and return along the top of the wall, finishing with a safety stop near the mooring.

Passions of Paradise – daily day trips (one of its regular Flynn sites); Silverswift and Pro Dive Cairns dive the adjoining Tracey's Bommie