Queensland · 82 sites
Cairns dive sites
Cairns is the busiest dive hub in Australia. Day boats leave every morning for the outer reef sites 60–90 minutes offshore: Norman, Saxon, Hastings, Flynn, Milln, Thetford and Moore reefs, each with a handful of moored sites in 5–25 m, gentle coral gardens, turtles, reef sharks and, on the better sites, giant clams and Maori wrasse. Liveaboards leave from here for the Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea.
- Sites
- 82
- Wrecks
- 2
- Shore
- 2
- Boat
- 79
- Beginner
- 63
- Deepest
- 30 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Prime time. The trade winds ease from late September, the outer reef day boats run to Flynn, Milln and Thetford in flat seas, and the Coral Sea liveaboard season is open. Water 24–26 °C, 3 mm suit, 20–30 m visibility on the outer reef. Minke whale season has finished; humpbacks are still passing south. Stingers are not yet in season but boats start carrying lycra suits from November.
Getting there
Fly into Cairns. Every operator offers hotel pick-up; day trips depart the Reef Fleet Terminal around 7–8 am. Green and Fitzroy islands have shore snorkelling and some diving.
When to go
June to November for visibility and calm days between trade-wind blows; the wet season (December–April) is warmer, greener and requires stinger suits.
Water & suit
Summer 27-30 °C · winter 23-25 °C. 3 mm full wetsuit or shorty in summer (27-30 °C); 3-5 mm full wetsuit in winter (23-25 °C); full-length lycra or stinger suit strongly advised November-May and supplied free by most operators
Nearest chamber: Townsville University Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Townsville) – Cairns Hospital has no recompression chamber; divers are evacuated by RFDS/air ambulance
Most recorded marine life in Cairns
- Turtles 40
- Coral trout 38
- Parrotfish 34
- Giant clams 31
- Anemonefish 30
- Damselfish 30
- Fusiliers 30
- Butterflyfish 26
- Reef sharks 23
- Nudibranchs 22
- Trevally 20
- Wrasse 20
- Moray eels 19
- Angelfish 17
The most-dived sites in Cairns
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Cairns
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own Cairns plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Cairns's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Fitzroy IslandShore/Rock Platform · Max 12 m · Open Water
- Nudey Beach (Fitzroy Island)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 10 m · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Cairns for, including Clipper & Super Cat (Norman Reef).
- Whale Bommie (Milln Reef)Pinnacle/Bommie · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- Clipper & Super Cat (Norman Reef)Reef · Max 22 m · Advanced Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Cairns.
- Coral Gardens (Flynn Reef)Wall · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- Tracey's Bommie (Flynn Reef)Pinnacle/Bommie · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Cairns
All Queensland operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A long-running expedition liveaboard operation associated with Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea itineraries, including minke whale season trips.
mikeball.com · (07) 4053 0500
Liveaboard4 services106 sites
Spirit of Freedom
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
An expedition liveaboard associated with Ribbon Reefs, Osprey Reef and Coral Sea itineraries.
spiritoffreedom.com.au · (07) 4047 9150
Liveaboard4 services56 sites
Passions of Paradise
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns sailing catamaran day trip combining reef diving and snorkelling.
passions.com.au · (07) 4041 1600
CharterDestination2 services45 sites
Divers Den
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns operation running both day-boat and liveaboard products alongside a training business and retail presence.
diversden.com.au · (07) 4046 7333
TrainingCharterLiveaboard4 services34 sites
Down Under Cruise & Dive
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns day-boat operator offering reef diving, snorkelling and introductory diving.
downundercruiseanddive.com.au · (07) 4052 8300
CharterTraining3 services33 sites
Reef Encounter
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns-based liveaboard vessel offering multi-day reef stays with day-boat transfers.
reefencounter.com.au · (07) 4037 2700
Liveaboard3 services33 sites
Pro Dive Cairns
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A long-established Cairns operation best known for multi-day liveaboard certification trips that combine Open Water training with outer Great Barrier Reef diving.
prodivecairns.com · (07) 4031 5255
TrainingLiveaboardCharter4 services21 sites
Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
Small-vessel Cairns day trips, positioned around lower passenger numbers than the large reef catamarans.
oceanfree.com.au · (07) 4052 1111
CharterDestination2 services2 sites
Coral Sea Dreaming
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A small-vessel overnight Cairns trip format, sitting between a day boat and a full liveaboard.
coralseadreaming.com.au · 0474 727 777
LiveaboardCharter2 services
DiversWorld
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A Queensland equipment and service business. Current retail range, servicing capability and any training should be verified directly.
diversworld.com.au · (07) 4041 4004
RetailFull service1 services
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Cairns · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns day-boat operation with an Indigenous cultural element alongside reef diving and snorkelling.
dreamtimedive.com · (07) 4030 7920
CharterDestination2 services
SCUBABO Cairns
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Manunda · Cairns · QLD
A Cairns training operation. Current course range and agency affiliation require verification.
cairns.scubabo.com · 0448 097 746
Training1 services
Map of Cairns dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 6 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
Loading map…
76 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 82 Cairns dive sites
All Cairns sites at a glance
82 sites in Cairns · click a column to sort
| 1770 (Hastings Reef) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| 360 (Thetford Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| 5 Ways (Moore Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Alan's Wall (Norman Reef) | Wall | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Angel Bommie (Hastings Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Arlington Reef | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Banana Bommie (Michaelmas Reef) | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Big Wall (Norman Reef) | Wall | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Blue Lagoon (Hastings Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Blue Lagoon (Thetford Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Boulders (Flynn Reef) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Briggs Reef | Reef | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Cathedral (Thetford Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Caves (Norman Reef) | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| City Hall (Moore Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Clipper & Super Cat (Norman Reef) | Reef | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Clipper & Super Cat (Saxon Reef) | Wall | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Club 10 (Milln Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Coral Gardens (Flynn Reef) | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Cucumber Alley (Pellowe Reef) | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Darth Vader (Pellowe Reef) | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| East Meets West (Thetford Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| First Bommie (Norman Reef) | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Fish Bowl (Hastings Reef) | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Fish Bowl (Moore Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Fish Town (Milln Reef) | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Fitzroy Island | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Flat-Top Bommie (Norman Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Golf Clubs (Hastings Reef) | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Gordon's Mooring (Flynn Reef) | Reef | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Great Adventures Pontoon Reef (Moore Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Green Island | Reef | Max 21 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Hastings Wall | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Jorgensen Patch | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Little Tracey (Flynn Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Long Bommie (Breaking Patches) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Magic Wall (Saxon Reef) | Wall | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Marine World Wall (Moore Reef) | Wall | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Michaelmas Cay | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Nudey Beach (Fitzroy Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Weekly |
| Paradise Reef (Breaking Patches) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Petaj Mooring (Milln Reef) | Wall | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Pinnacle Reef (Green Island) | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Pirates Cove (Hastings Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Plate Top (Norman Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Playground (Norman Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Point Break (Flynn Reef) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Pretty Patches | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Round the Bend (Milln Reef) | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Sandra's (Norman Reef) | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Sandra's (Saxon Reef) | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Sandra's Peaks (Saxon Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Saxon Coral Gardens | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Saxon North Horn | Reef | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Saxon Wall | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Shark Mountain (Norman Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Ski Slope (Flynn Reef) | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Split Bommie (Hastings Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Stepping Stones (Hastings Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Sudbury Reef | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Sunlover Pontoon Reef (Moore Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Swimming Pools (Milln Reef) | Reef | Max 21 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Tennis Court (Flynn Reef) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| The Drop (Milln Reef) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| The Edge (Milln Reef) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| The Nursery (Norman Reef) | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| The Pinnacles (Moore Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Three Sisters (Michaelmas Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Three Sisters (Milln Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Tracey's Bommie (Flynn Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Troppos (Norman Reef) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Turtle Bay (Norman Reef) | Muck/Sand | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Turtle Bommie (Hastings Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Tusa Canyons (Thetford Reef) | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Twin Peaks (Saxon Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Upolu Cay | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| Whale Bommie (Milln Reef) | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
| White Rock (Fitzroy Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 14 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| Wild Side (Milln Reef) | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Wild Side (Norman Reef) | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Wild Side West (Norman Reef) | Wall | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Wonder Wall (Upolu Reef) | Wall | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Daily |
Cairns diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Cairns?
Fly into Cairns. Every operator offers hotel pick-up; day trips depart the Reef Fleet Terminal around 7–8 am. Green and Fitzroy islands have shore snorkelling and some diving.
When is the best time to dive Cairns?
June to November for visibility and calm days between trade-wind blows; the wet season (December–April) is warmer, greener and requires stinger suits.
How many dive sites are there in Cairns?
82 documented sites, including 2 wrecks and 2 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 30 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Cairns?
Yes, 63 sites are rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in Cairns?
Typically 27-30 °C in summer and 23-25 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm full wetsuit or shorty in summer (27-30 °C); 3-5 mm full wetsuit in winter (23-25 °C); full-length lycra or stinger suit strongly advised November-May and supplied free by most operators.
Which dive centres operate in Cairns?
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Spirit of Freedom, Passions of Paradise, Divers Den, Down Under Cruise & Dive, Reef Encounter and others are recorded as running sites in Cairns. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Cairns?
Townsville University Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Townsville) – Cairns Hospital has no recompression chamber; divers are evacuated by RFDS/air ambulance. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.