Meet the site
Fish Bowl on Moore Reef is a small-group day-boat site described by Diveplanit, and it should not be confused with the famous Fish Bowl on Hastings Reef, a separate site with its own entry. At Moore the Fish Bowl is a cluster of four bommies positioned at the edge of a shallow coral reef, which gives a dive with plenty of variation in depth: reef fish crowd the first 5 m of water over the reef edge, while around the deeper bommies, at about 18 m, reef sharks are regularly seen. Diveplanit gives Moore Reef depths from 5 m to a maximum of 25 m, typically around 15 m, describes the terrain as straightforward and easy to navigate, with staghorn coral on the upper sections, branching corals and sandy bottom areas, and says visibility is generally clear. Its list of marine life for the site and its neighbour, 360, includes whitetip reef sharks, green turtles, giant clams, parrotfish, Spanish flag snapper, pufferfish, groupers, barracuda, sweetlips and feather stars. The four bommies make a natural circuit, and there is enough relief to keep experienced divers interested while the shallow edge suits beginners and snorkellers. Diveplanit mentions the MV Reefkist in connection with the site; smaller day boats like this tend to use the less-crowded moorings on Moore rather than the pontoon areas. Around 300 m to the south-west, the site called 360 is a long sloping reef descending to about 25 m. It is a good option for a relaxed first dive of the day.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Fish Bowl (Moore Reef) is recorded as Pinnacle/Bommie 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 Fish Bowl (Moore 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 Fish Bowl (Moore 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 reef sharks, green turtles, giant clams, parrotfish, Spanish flag snapper, pufferfish, groupers, barracuda, sweetlips, feather stars, staghorn corals
Location
Cluster of four bommies at the edge of a shallow coral reef on Moore Reef, about 47 km east of Cairns; distinct from the better-known Fish Bowl on Hastings Reef.
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
diveplanit.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.