The Northern Point of Pelorus Island is the more demanding sister of Front Reef. The North Queensland Underwater Explorers Club describes a point at the northern end of the north-western beach where the reef reaches about 15 m, with detached rocks, coral bommies, small swim-throughs and large coral 'trees'. It is one of the more fish-rich sites in the Palm group, precisely because of the current that sweeps past it.

That current has a name among club divers – the 'Pelorus Island Express'. It runs northerly and the outgoing tide at the point is strong, so the club advises diving only at high-tide slack, in a window of about 30 minutes, and exiting before the ebb begins. Shore divers reach the point by walking over difficult rocks, swimming on the surface or wading; boat divers head south into the current and ride it back, with a surface attendant watching.

When it is on, it is excellent. Barramundi cod, sweetlips, juvenile batfish, lionfish, glassfish clouds in the swim-throughs and dense beds of mussels feature in the club's list, and the large coral trees and bommies give the site a three-dimensional feel lacking in the gentle slope of Front Reef. Pelagic fish work the edge in the current, and in winter humpback whales pass the island.

This is not a site for new divers or for anyone who has not planned the tide. Get the timing wrong and divers can be swept north past the island into open water, with no support nearby. For experienced divers who camp on Pelorus or anchor off the beach with a boat, it is the island's premier dive.

Boat only. The Palm Island group lies 20–25 km off the coast between Townsville and Ingham. The quickest access is from the Lucinda or Dungeness boat ramps near Ingham (about 1 hour 20 minutes' drive north of Townsville via the Bruce Highway), from which a small boat reaches Orpheus and Pelorus in about 30–45 minutes across Halifax Bay; Taylors Beach ramp is an alternative.

From Townsville the run is roughly 1.5–2 hours. Orpheus Island Lodge guests arrive by helicopter or seaplane and dive from the lodge's boats. Campers on Orpheus (QPWS permit) and Pelorus (self-sufficient, Hinchinbrook Shire Council) usually arrive by private boat or water taxi.

Use public moorings where available and check no-anchoring areas. From the north-western beach, walk north over the rocks (difficult with gear), swim on the surface or wade to the point. By boat, drop divers south of the point with a surface attendant following.

The Palms are high continental islands, so some shore always offers a lee, but the Orpheus–Pelorus channel and exposed points are hit by the south-east trades (15–25 knots, April–September) and by strong tidal streams – springs can produce currents that make the points undiveable except at slack water. Visibility is typically 6–10 m and reaches 15 m in the winter channel; it falls after strong winds and during the wet season (January–April) when the Herbert River floods discolour the water. The calmest, clearest conditions come in the October–December build-up.

Marine stinger season (box jellyfish and Irukandji) runs roughly November to May – wear a full-length stinger suit or wetsuit with hood and gloves, carry vinegar. Cyclone season November–April; tropical lows and cyclones can close sites and damage coral (TC Yasi 2011, TC Debbie 2017). NQUEC warns of the 'Pelorus Island Express' – a northerly-running current and strong outgoing tide at the point.

Dive only in the roughly 30-minute window at high-tide slack and be out before the ebb starts.

Enter at high-tide slack, head south into any residual current along the point at 10–15 m among the detached rocks and bommies, and return with the current's assistance. From a boat, drift with a surface attendant following bubbles. Exit before the ebb.

Orpheus Island Lodge – private dive charters for guests to local reefs (minutes away) and the outer reef (~75 min), plus Discover Scuba shore dives; otherwise private boats from Lucinda/Taylors Beach, campers and NQUEC club trips. No scheduled public dive trips.