Meet the site
Anchors Away is a Bougainville Reef wall site described by marinelife.org.au as steep walls with crevices, at depths of 10–28 m, where old anchors from wrecks are embedded in the walls. It is a small piece of the reef's maritime history: Bougainville's isolated position in the shipping approaches to the northern Great Barrier Reef has caught many vessels, and the anchors, lost in attempts to kedge off or hold position, are now overgrown by coral.
The wall is steep and cut with crevices and ledges. The anchors, heavily encrusted and sometimes hard to distinguish from the reef, are the main talking point, and finding them is part of the dive. The sources do not say how many there are, which ships they came from or how old they are, so the crew briefing is the best guide.
Marinelife.org.au lists moray eels, squirrelfish, basslets, goatfish, rock cod and Maori wrasse. The crevices hold morays and squirrelfish, basslets (anthias) swarm along the wall face, and Maori wrasse cruise past. As at every Bougainville site, reef sharks are likely along the drop-off, and the clear oceanic water gives visibility of 20–40 m.
Anchors Away suits intermediate divers and offers a moderate-depth wall dive with a historical twist. It is not on the current Mike Ball itinerary pages, so it may be dived only occasionally. Any artefacts at the site are protected as underwater cultural heritage in Commonwealth waters if more than 75 years old and must not be disturbed or removed. Photographs are the only souvenir.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Anchors Away (Bougainville Reef) is recorded as Wall in Coral Sea. The listed access is boat (multi-day/liveaboard). 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 Anchors Away (Bougainville 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 Anchors Away (Bougainville 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
Moray eels, squirrelfish, basslets (anthias), goatfish, rock cod, Maori wrasse, reef sharks
Location
A steep wall with crevices on Bougainville Reef, where old anchors from wrecks are embedded in the coral at 10–28 m.
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
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
