cropped-50greatDivesc.jpg

L01_Raine_Island_Logo

Final (2)

DAN Slider (500x250) - 50 Great Dives

DAN World Travelling to Dive Webtile (500x250) - Slider 2

ocean-wide-images-480x240

3Islands-Banner-500x250px

globalballooning_slider2024

Final

ApolloScubalogo

AUP 50 DIVES

50GDC_500x250px 2

ScubaBoSlider

Adrenalin_slider1

50GDC_500x250px 1

CapeByronSlider

AllwaysARTWORK 500x250 (1)

OP Sports - AUP 50 DIVES - 1

Tusa

DiveDarwin300

PerthScuba_Banner (1)

HeronIsland_Vert_GBR_POS

L&S

YongalaDive

Divers Den

THE REEF

The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef is Cairns, the undisputed capital of Australian diving!

The Great Barrier Reef, “The Reef”, is the world’s largest structure built by organisms and is visible from outer space.

This phenomenon of nature has been manufactured by tiny coral polyps and stretches over 2,300 kilometres (1,400 mi) from just north of Fraser Island in the south to Torres Strait in the north. It has an area of over 340,000 square kilometres (130,000 sq mi) and is composed of 2,900 individual reefs.

The reef is considered to be only 20,000 years old and has been a World Heritage Listed site since 1981.

The Great Barrier Reef supports over 1,600 species of fish and over 12,000 species of invertebrates. The Reef has 10% of the world’s known fish species.

Cairns in far north Queensland, is the departure centre of most dive operators including day boats and liveaboards.

Whilst the outer reef is about 65 kilometres (40 mi) to the east there is still a plethora of excellent coral reefs about halfway out.

Most sites are protected from over diving by only permitting a limited number of charter vessels to each site.

The terrain includes coral bommies and reef walls with large soft corals, channels, caves and canyons with diverse coral life supported by clear nutrient rich water bought in by prevailing tidal currents.

The marine life is incredible.

Anemones support colourful clown fish, coral gardens support an array of small spectacular fish such as butterfly and cardinal fish, while against the walls and in the canyons, you will find coral trout, parrot fish Māori wrasse, sweetlips, angelfish, batfish and reef sharks.

Pelagic fish are regular sights including large schools of trevally, eagle rays and manta rays.

The invertebrate life includes worms, sea stars, feather stars, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, giant clams and other molluscs.

Turtles are also a regular encounter as are dwarf minke whales in winter.

Beautiful shallow coral gardens provide perfect entertainment to pass the time while completing safety stops.

Special thanks to Clint Carroll of Cairns Dive Adventures & Spirit of Freedom.                                            
Copyright © 2025 Steve Sinclair

Great Cairns dive sites include:
Norman Reef, Troppos, Saxon Reef, Hastings Reef, Upolu Cay, Michaelmas Reef, Arlington Reef and the spectacular Three Sisters on Milln Reef.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
To register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
NOTE: Entrants should do this dive with one of the following preferred dive services.

DIVE SERVICES

OTHER SERVICES

DIVE TRAVEL SERVICES

WATER TEMPERATURES: