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Dive Sites Near Cairns

7 dive sites in and around Cairns, QLD, nearest first, with the depth, skill level and conditions for each one.

Table and branching corals spread across a shallow reef flat just below the surface at Moore Reef off Cairns

Moore Reef

Cairns, QLD

All Levels4-18m

Horseshoe-shaped outer reef about 47 km off Cairns with three tour pontoons, a sheltered coral lagoon and guided wall, drift and bommie dives. Green zone, boat access only.

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A blue steephead parrotfish swimming over hard corals at Hastings Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef off Cairns

Hastings Reef

Cairns, QLD

All Levels1-20m

Horseshoe-shaped outer reef about 50 km north-east of Cairns with a shallow reef flat, coral bommies and a wall dropping to 20 m. Popular with snorkellers. Green zone, boat access only.

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A red and black anemonefish nestled in the tentacles of its anemone at Milln Reef on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns

Milln Reef

Cairns, QLD

All Levels1-30m

Outer reef off Cairns, south of Flynn Reef, known for the Three Sisters and Whale Bommie, wall dives, swim-throughs and night diving. Green zone, boat access only.

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Shallow hard corals under green-tinged water at Saxon Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef off Cairns

Saxon Reef

Cairns, QLD

All Levels1-18m

Small outer reef between Norman and Hastings reefs, about 55 km north-east of Cairns, known for the Twin Peaks bommies, calm lagoons and coral gardens. Green zone, boat access only.

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A colourful outcrop of plate, branching and boulder corals in clear blue water at Flynn Reef off Cairns

Flynn Reef

Cairns, QLD

All Levels5-30m

Popular outer reef about 60 km off Cairns with wall dives, swim-throughs and wide coral gardens at Tracey's Bommie, Gordon's Mooring, Tennis Court and Coral Gardens. Yellow zone.

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A diverse hard coral community with plate, brain and branching corals at Norman Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef off Cairns

Norman Reef

Cairns, QLD

All Levels1-20m

Outer reef north-east of Cairns with dive sites off its sheltered western side: coral canyons, walls, swim-throughs and a small wreck. Green zone, boat access only.

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Shallow reef flat and turquoise water at Opal Reef off Port Douglas, seen from the surface under building cumulus cloud

Opal Reef

Port Douglas, QLD

All Levels3-25m

A large, sheltered crescent of outer reef about 50 to 60 km off Port Douglas, dived and snorkelled from day boats at moored sites such as Bashful Bommie, SNO and Sandbox.

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