Meet the site
Dynamite Pass cuts through Cormorant Reef immediately north of Ribbon Reef No. 10, and the tide that pours through it feeds some of the best coral on the northern Ribbons. Lizard Island Resort's dive team rates it as having the best coral of all their outer sites, with a magnificent wall drop-off, and Spirit of Freedom runs it as a drift along the reef wall.
The wall starts a few metres below the surface and falls to around 30 m, with sea whips, gorgonians and soft corals growing thickly where the current is strongest. Small caverns and overhangs are scattered along the face, and the sandy bottom of the pass has garden eels and lagoon rays. When the tide runs, the dive becomes an effortless ride past the reef; at slack water it is a relaxed wall dive where you can take time over the caverns and the smaller life.
Fish life is typical of a productive pass: reef sharks patrolling the edge, green turtles, sweetlips, mackerel, jobfish, groupers, parrotfish and schools of fusiliers. Moray eels and cuttlefish are common along the wall, and flounder lie camouflaged on the sand. Nigel Marsh, writing for Divernet about a Spirit of Freedom trip, described it as a pretty coral wall with sea whips, gorgonians and soft corals and plenty of fish action.
Because the site depends on the tide, it is not dived on every trip; crews choose the window and may substitute a nearby mooring if the flow is too strong. It is a good introduction to drift diving for divers comfortable with buoyancy control, and a nice contrast to the static pinnacle dives that dominate most Ribbon Reef itineraries.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Dynamite Pass is recorded as Drift in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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 Dynamite Pass 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 Dynamite Pass 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
Grey and whitetip reef sharks, green turtles, sweetlips, mackerel, jobfish, groupers, parrotfish, fusiliers, garden eels, moray eels, cuttlefish, lagoon rays, flounder; sea whips, gorgonians and soft corals
Location
A reef wall in Cormorant Pass on Cormorant Reef, just north of Ribbon Reef No. 10 and the Cod Hole, about 45 minutes by boat from Lizard Island.
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
spiritoffreedom.com.aulizardisland.com.audivernet.comnigelmarshphotography.commikeball.commorrisnautical.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.