Australia's premier artificial reef, a 133-metre guided-missile destroyer sitting upright on the seabed teeming with fish life just off the Sunshine Coast.

Depth28m

Levelintermediate

Entryboat

Currentvariable

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reef

Hastings Reef

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

A sprawling outer reef platform on the Great Barrier Reef accessible as a day trip from Cairns, offering sheltered coral bommies teeming with giant clams, anemonefish, and pelagic visitors cruising the reef edge.

Ribbon Reefs - Steve's Bommie

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

A legendary coral pinnacle on Ribbon Reef No. 3, where dense soft corals, nudibranchs, and swirling fish schools create arguably the Great Barrier Reef's finest single dive.

SS Yongala

Ayr · Queensland · Australia

Passenger ship sunk in 1911 cyclone. Intact hull encrusted with marine life. One of the world's top wreck dives.

Dive centers in Queensland

Dive Shop

Wings Diving Adventures

Airlie Beach · Queensland · Australia

The Whitsundays' top-rated dive operator offering daily small-group trips to island reefs and Great Barrier Reef sites from Airlie Beach.

Cairns Dive Centre

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

PADI 5-Star Centre in central Cairns offering outer reef day trips, full course range, and on-site pool training facilities.

Deep Sea Divers Den

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

Cairns' longest-running PADI 5-Star IDC Centre since 1974, offering day trips and liveaboard expeditions to the outer Great Barrier Reef with on-site accommodation.

Mike Ball Dive Expeditions

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

Iconic liveaboard operator since 1969 running Coral Sea expeditions to Osprey Reef, Cod Hole, and remote outer reef systems aboard the luxury vessel Spoilsport.

Passions of Paradise

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

Eco-certified sailing catamaran offering daily Great Barrier Reef trips with diving, snorkelling, and a focus on sustainable reef tourism since 1988.

Pro Dive Cairns

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

PADI 5-Star IDC Centre in Cairns offering multi-day liveaboard trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef with up to 11 dive sites per trip.

Spirit of Freedom

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

Premium 37-metre liveaboard operating Ribbon Reef and Coral Sea expeditions from Cairns, with complimentary nitrox and up to five dives daily.

Tusa Dive

Cairns · Queensland · Australia

Daily outer reef day trips from Cairns since 1984 visiting two reef sites per trip with guided diving, snorkelling, and introductory dives.

Poseidon Outer Reef Cruises

Port Douglas · Queensland · Australia

Premium day trips from Port Douglas to three Agincourt Ribbon Reef sites with marine biologist on board, diving, and snorkelling for up to 60 guests.

Quicksilver Dive

Port Douglas · Queensland · Australia

North Queensland's largest reef operator with daily catamaran services from Port Douglas to a permanent platform at Agincourt Reef since 1979.

Wavelength Reef Cruises

Port Douglas · Queensland · Australia

Boutique small-group reef operator from Port Douglas with marine biologists on board, visiting exclusive Opal Reef and Tongue Reef sites for max 30 guests.

Adrenalin Dive

Townsville · Queensland · Australia

Townsville's gateway to the legendary SS Yongala wreck dive, consistently ranked among the world's top ten wreck dives, with full technical diving support.

Passions of Paradise - Great Barrier Reef Tours Cairns

1 Spence St · Queensland · Australia

Down Under Cruise & Dive - Evolution Outer Reef Cruise

1 Spence St · Queensland · Australia

Reef Encounter

Cairns City QLD 4870 · Queensland · Australia

Ocean Free & Ocean Freedom

1 Spence St · Queensland · Australia

Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard

Cairns City QLD 4870 · Queensland · Australia

Tusa Reef Tours - Cairns Half-Day Great Barrier Reef Tours

Cairns City QLD 4870 · Queensland · Australia

Coral Sea Dreaming Dive and Sail

Finger · Queensland · Australia

DiversWorld

Cairns City QLD 4870 · Queensland · Australia

Down Under Cruise And Dive

Parramatta Park QLD 4870 · Queensland · Australia

Reef Magic Cruises

1 Spence St · Queensland · Australia

Silversonic - Scuba Diving & Snorkelling

Port Douglas QLD 4877 · Queensland · Australia

ABC Reef Safaris

Port Douglas QLD 4877 · Queensland · Australia

Oceansports

Port Douglas QLD 4877 · Queensland · Australia

Diving in Queensland

Queensland offers reef, wreck, pinnacle dive sites across 3 locations. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.

FAQ

How do I get to Cod Hole on the Great Barrier Reef?

Cod Hole is located on Ribbon Reef Number 10 in the far northern section of the Great Barrier Reef, roughly 250 kilometres north of Cairns. It is only accessible by liveaboard vessels, with most trips departing from Cairns or Port Douglas and lasting three to seven days. The Ribbon Reefs are too far offshore for day boats. Several reputable liveaboard operators run regular itineraries that include Cod Hole as a highlight, typically combined with other northern reef sites and sometimes Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.

Are the potato cod at Cod Hole dangerous?

Potato cod are not dangerous to divers. Despite their intimidating size, with some individuals weighing close to 100 kilograms, they are gentle and curious animals that have been interacting positively with divers for decades. They approach divers voluntarily and seem to enjoy the interaction. Feeding the cod was once common practice but is now regulated, and most operators have moved to no-feed encounters. The cod remain friendly regardless of feeding, suggesting their approach behaviour is driven by genuine curiosity rather than food conditioning.

What is the best time of year to dive Cod Hole?

The dry season from June through November offers the most consistent conditions, with calmer seas, better visibility, and lower rainfall. This period also coincides with minke whale season from June to July, when dwarf minke whales sometimes appear at the Ribbon Reefs and offer snorkelling interactions. The wet season from December to May brings warmer water but reduced visibility and rougher seas that can make the crossing to the outer reefs uncomfortable. The cod are present year-round.

What certification is needed for the Great Barrier Reef?

Sites range from beginner-friendly to advanced. Many inner reef locations are suitable for Open Water divers and even introductory dives. Outer reef sites like the Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs require Advanced Open Water and more experience.

When is the best time to dive the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns?

June to November is the dry season with the best visibility (15–30+ meters) and calmest conditions. June and July are prime for dwarf minke whale encounters on the Ribbon Reefs. Summer (December–February) has warm water but more rain and potential cyclones.

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