Golden Wall (Holmes Reef)

Meet the site

Golden Wall is a sheer drop-off at Holmes Reef. Marinelife.org.au gives a depth of 40 m and describes a wall covered in sea whips, gorgonians, black coral trees and soft corals, with schools of pelagic fish, sharks and turtles. The name refers to the golden tones of the sea whips and gorgonians that cover the face.

The wall falls from the reef edge well beyond recreational depth, so the dive is about managing depth while enjoying the growth on the face and the traffic in the blue. Sea whips grow straight out from the wall in the current, gorgonian fans spread across it, black coral trees add texture in deeper sections, and soft corals fill the gaps. On a sunny day with good visibility, the colours can be striking.

Pelagic schools pass along the wall, including trevally, barracuda and tuna, and grey reef and whitetip sharks patrol. Turtles feed on the reef and rest on ledges. Smaller animals such as anthias, butterflyfish and angelfish crowd the wall, and hawkfish perch on the gorgonians.

Golden Wall suits intermediate divers comfortable on a deep wall with no bottom in sight. It is not on current Mike Ball itinerary pages, so it is probably dived occasionally when the crew wants a wall rather than the pinnacle at Nonki or the caves at Amazing. Coordinates are approximate. Holmes Reef is zoned Habitat Protection Zone rather than National Park Zone, so recreational fishing is permitted; divers may occasionally see fishing lines or vessels, and should report any entangled wildlife to the crew.

What you might see

Pelagic schools (trevally, barracuda, tuna), grey reef and whitetip reef sharks, turtles, anthias, butterflyfish, angelfish, hawkfish; sea whips, gorgonians, black coral trees, soft corals

Location

A sheer wall on Holmes Reef dressed in sea whips, gorgonians, black coral trees and soft corals, to 40 m and beyond.