Meet the site
Alan's Wall is a Passions of Paradise site on Norman Reef, named after the company's founder. The operator describes it as a deep-water site with an 18 m drop and many crevices and swim-throughs, with sharks, Maori wrasse and abundant fish, suitable for advanced divers and for snorkellers along the wall edge. The wall is the defining feature: from a shallow reef edge the coral drops steeply to about 18 m, and its face is broken by crevices, fissures and passages that divers can explore on the way down and back up. These features give shelter to fish and make the dive more three-dimensional than a smooth wall. Reef sharks, typically whitetips and occasionally greys, patrol the base, and the Maori wrasse, which Norman is known for, often comes to investigate. Schools of fusiliers, surgeonfish and snapper hang off the face, and the crevices hold soldierfish, squirrelfish, coral trout and moray eels. The upper wall and reef edge carry dense hard coral, while shade-loving soft corals and sea fans grow in the deeper crevices. Snorkellers can follow the edge of the wall and look down on divers below, which makes the site work for mixed groups on the Passions catamaran. Passions describes it as better suited to advanced divers, largely because of the depth and the swim-throughs, though Open Water divers comfortable at 18 m will manage with a guide. It is often paired with Big Wall, another Passions site on Norman, on the same day. Visibility is typically 15-25 m, and the wall face is best lit from mid-morning onwards.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Alan's Wall (Norman Reef) is recorded as Wall in Cairns. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Alan's Wall (Norman Reef) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Alan's Wall (Norman Reef) through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Whitetip and grey reef sharks, Maori wrasse, fusiliers, surgeonfish, snapper, soldierfish, squirrelfish, coral trout, moray eels, soft corals, sea fans
Location
Deep-water Passions of Paradise site on Norman Reef, about 58 km north-east of Cairns, with an 18 m drop, crevices and swim-throughs; named after the company's founder.
Facilities nearby
Departs Reef Fleet Terminal / Marlin Marina, Cairns: toilets, cafes, paid parking; dive gear, tanks and lunch supplied on board
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
passions.com.aucairnsdiveadventures.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.