Wild Side Central and Wild Side East are two comparable moorings on the exposed side of Norman Reef, and Divers Den describes them together: each has walls on either side and a shallow bay, with wall depths increasing towards the points, where currents are stronger. Hard corals dominate and shelter a wealth of macro life, including nudibranchs. Wild Side East is notable for rare sand stars, and in spring juvenile harlequin sweetlips move through the staghorn corals; sharks and rays occasionally appear.

The layout is intuitive and flexible. The bay in the middle is sheltered and shallow, fine for less experienced divers and snorkellers, while the walls on either side offer increasing depth and water movement the further out you go. The best coral and the most fish are usually towards the points, where current delivers food, but that is also where divers need to be more careful.

Juvenile harlequin sweetlips are a particular treat: they are boldly patterned in black, white and orange and swim with an exaggerated, flapping motion, quite unlike the adults, and are only seasonal visitors to the staghorn thickets. Sand stars, flattened, sand-coloured sea stars that bury themselves in the substrate, are rarely seen on the Cairns reefs. Because the site is on the weather side, the coral is robust and in good condition, and visibility is often better than on the sheltered moorings, frequently 20 m or more.

The pelagic sightings, sharks and rays passing along the walls, add excitement. The site suits Open Water divers with some experience.

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 58 km out through Trinity Inlet and across the lagoon to Norman Reef takes around 82 minutes on a fast catamaran and noticeably longer on slower dive boats or into a south-easterly chop.

Wild Side Central and East are Divers Den moorings used in suitable weather; the skipper picks whichever is better sheltered on the day. Enter from the stern platform.

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. Most Norman moorings lie on its protected western side. The Wild Side moorings face the prevailing weather and are dived when the trade winds ease; Divers Den notes that walls deepen and currents strengthen towards the points, so stay in the bay if the current is up.

Descend into the shallow bay, then follow one wall out towards the point, deepening gradually to 15-20 m and turning before the current strengthens. Return along the wall and cross the bay at 5-8 m, searching the hard corals for nudibranchs and the sand for sand stars. Safety stop in the bay.

Divers Den (Reef Quest, Ocean Quest) – in suitable weather; other Norman operators occasionally; Norman is also worked by Divers Den (Ocean Quest liveaboard), Reef Experience, Aqua Quest, Down Under Cruise & Dive, Reef Encounter and Passions of Paradise; the mooring used on any day is chosen by the skipper according to wind, tide and other boats