The channels between the southern Torres Strait islands – among them the Prince of Wales Channel, the main shipping route through the strait, and the waters around Hammond Island – carry enormous tidal flows between the Coral and Arafura seas. The fringing reefs along their edges are rich in fish and invertebrates, and local divers know them best for crayfish (tropical rock lobster), which Marine Life Network notes is the main recreational diving activity around Horn Island. Conditions are defined by the tides: currents in the channels regularly exceed four knots, and the Quetta – in the nearby Adolphus Channel – illustrates how short the slack-water windows can be.

Visibility varies widely, from a few metres to 15 m or so. Expedition liveaboards passing through Torres Strait at the start or end of their Horn Island voyages occasionally dive here, and PDS described the region's diving as very challenging with strong currents. Otherwise diving is arranged informally through local contacts on Thursday Island.

Crocodiles are common, shipping traffic in the Prince of Wales Channel is heavy, and the reefs are Torres Strait Islander sea country with traditional fishing rights. Divers need local knowledge, a live-boat pick-up and permission. This is not a destination for casual divers; it is a place for experienced divers with local connections who understand tidal diving.

Fly Cairns–Horn Island (daily Qantaslink/Regional Express services, about 1 hr 45 min); Horn Island airport links to Thursday Island by a 15–20 minute passenger ferry. There is no full-service dive shop in Torres Strait, so diving is arranged either on an expedition liveaboard (Mike Ball's Spoilsport ends or starts its November Northern Exposure trips at Horn Island Pier and has dived the Quetta; PDS's MV Kalinda has also finished trips there) or through local contacts and club divers on Thursday Island with a local boat. Bring all equipment; fills are limited and must be arranged in advance.

Torres Strait is a shallow, tide-dominated passage between the Coral Sea and the Arafura Sea, and the tides drive everything. Currents in channels such as the Adolphus, Prince of Wales and Endeavour channels regularly exceed 4 knots, and sites are only diveable for a short slack-water window – often once a day, and sometimes not at all on big spring tides. Plan around neap tides and consult local tide tables for the exact slack.

The south-east trades blow strongly from about April to November, raising steep wind-against-tide seas; the calmest period is the transition around November–December (when liveaboards visit), and the north-west monsoon season (December–April) brings storms, cyclone risk, stingers and reduced visibility from run-off. Visibility is variable, typically 5–15 m, and is best on the flood tide during neaps.

Dive only at slack water with a live-boat pick-up: drop onto the channel-edge reef, work along it at 6–12 m, and ascend with an SMB before the current builds.

No regular operator – occasional local/club dives from Thursday Island and expedition liveaboards (Mike Ball, PDS MV Kalinda) passing through Torres Strait; crayfish diving by locals.