Queensland · 43 sites
Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island dive sites
The Ribbon Reefs are ten long, narrow reefs on the edge of the shelf north of Cairns, reached by liveaboard. They hold the Great Barrier Reef's most famous sites: the Cod Hole and its potato cod, Steve's Bommie's single fish-covered pinnacle, Pixie Pinnacle, the Lighthouse Bommie and Challenger Bay, with dwarf minke whales joining divers in June and July. Lizard Island, a national park with a research station and a resort, sits at the northern end.
- Sites
- 43
- Wrecks
- 0
- Shore
- 3
- Boat
- 39
- Beginner
- 20
- Deepest
- 40 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The best window of the year: trades easing, 25 °C water, 30 m visibility at Cod Hole, Steve's Bommie and Pixie Pinnacle. Liveaboards run 4–7 night Ribbon Reef itineraries out of Cairns through to December. Minke season finished in July.
Getting there
Three- to seven-night liveaboards from Cairns and Port Douglas, often with a low-level flight back from Lizard Island. Lizard Island resort guests can dive locally.
When to go
Year-round. June–July for minke whales; August to November for the calmest seas.
Water & suit
Summer 27-29 °C · winter 23-25 °C. 3 mm full wetsuit or lycra Nov–Apr (27–29°C); 5 mm full wetsuit Jun–Sep (23–25°C); full-length lycra or stinger suit recommended Nov–May
Nearest chamber: Townsville University Hospital hyperbaric unit (Townsville) – via aeromedical evacuation (RFDS/rescue helicopter from Lizard Island or Cooktown airstrip, or vessel diversion); liveaboards carry oxygen and satellite communications
Most recorded marine life in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Nudibranchs 22
- Fusiliers 20
- Whitetip reef sharks 16
- Turtles 14
- Giant clams 11
- Sweetlips 11
- Anemonefish 10
- Cuttlefish 10
- Damselfish 10
- Trevally 9
- Moray eels 8
- Parrotfish 8
- Blue-green chromis 7
- Groupers 7
Plan a dive trip to Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
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 Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Clam Gardens (Lizard Island)Reef · Max 6 m · Snorkel/Any
- Watsons Bay (Lizard Island)Shore/Rock Platform · Max 8 m · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island for.
- Lighthouse BommiePinnacle/Bommie · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- Steve's BommiePinnacle/Bommie · Max 35 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island.
- Challenger BayReef · Max 30 m · Advanced Open Water
- Cod HoleReef · Max 32 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive centres and charters in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
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
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
Ocean Voyager
ListedUnconfirmed
Cairns · QLD
A Cairns liveaboard operation running multi-day Great Barrier Reef itineraries.
Liveaboard3 services
Map of Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 11 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
Loading map…
32 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 43 Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island dive sites
All Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island sites at a glance
43 sites in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island · click a column to sort
| Acropolis (Ribbon Reefs) | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Andy's Postcard | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Big Softy | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Blue Lagoon (Lizard Island) | Reef | Max 5 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Blue Lagoon (Ribbon Reefs) | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Casuarina Beach (Lizard Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Depth not published | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| Challenger Bay | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Daily |
| Circle of Life | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Clam Gardens | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Clam Gardens (Lizard Island) | Reef | Max 6 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Daily |
| Cobia Hole | Reef | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Cod Hole | Reef | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Daily |
| Coral Kingdom | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Cracker Jack | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Dynamite Pass | Drift | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Fish Market | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Flare Point | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Goggle Gardens | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Gorgonian Wall | Wall | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Rare |
| Gotham City | Reef | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Joanie's Joy | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Kate's Cathedral | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Lighthouse Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Daily |
| MacGillivray Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Mermaid Cove (Lizard Island) | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Monolith | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| No Name Reef | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| North Direction Island | Island | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Pixie Gardens | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Pixie Pinnacle | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Daily |
| Pixie Wall | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Pixie's Caves | Cave/Cavern | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Snake Pit | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Steve's Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 35 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Daily |
| Summer Bay | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Table Tops | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Temple of Doom | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Two Towers | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Vertical Gardens | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Occasional |
| Watsons Bay (Lizard Island) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Weekly |
| West End (Ribbon Reef 9) | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Wonderland | Reef | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Weekly |
| Yonge Reef | Drift | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
Three- to seven-night liveaboards from Cairns and Port Douglas, often with a low-level flight back from Lizard Island. Lizard Island resort guests can dive locally.
When is the best time to dive Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
Year-round. June–July for minke whales; August to November for the calmest seas.
How many dive sites are there in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
43 documented sites and 3 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 40 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
Yes, 20 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 Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
Typically 27-29 °C in summer and 23-25 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm full wetsuit or lycra Nov–Apr (27–29°C); 5 mm full wetsuit Jun–Sep (23–25°C); full-length lycra or stinger suit recommended Nov–May.
Which dive centres operate in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
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 Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
Townsville University Hospital hyperbaric unit (Townsville) – via aeromedical evacuation (RFDS/rescue helicopter from Lizard Island or Cooktown airstrip, or vessel diversion); liveaboards carry oxygen and satellite communications. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Other regions in Queensland