Meet the site
Gordon's Mooring is a relaxed, intricate dive among a cluster of smaller bommies rather than a single wall or pinnacle. The coral heads rise from sand at up to about 22 m, and many are close enough together to form short swim-throughs, arches and overhangs; others are separate towers you can circle in a few minutes. The coral is dominated by brain and plate corals, and one of the site's signatures is a garden of giant clams in the shallows, with dozens of mantles in blue, green and brown lining the sand and rubble. Because the bommies break up the current, the site is usually calm and easy to navigate, and it rewards divers who slow down. Clownfish are common in anemones on the bommie tops, yellowtail fusiliers and other schooling fish stream past, and great barracuda often hang motionless off the edge of the field. Reef sharks patrol the sand channels. Gordon's is one of the better Cairns sites for turtles: green and hawksbill turtles are regularly seen resting under ledges or feeding on the bommies, and loggerheads turn up occasionally. Photographers will find plenty of structure for wide-angle framing, and the shallow clam garden is ideal for a long safety stop. The maze-like layout means it is best dived with a guide or with a buddy who is confident with a compass, but the maximum depth and mild conditions make it suitable for newly certified divers. It is also a good second or third dive of the day after a deeper wall. Snorkellers can enjoy the shallow bommie tops and clams when the tide is up.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Gordon's Mooring (Flynn Reef) is recorded as Reef 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 Gordon's Mooring (Flynn 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 Gordon's Mooring (Flynn 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
Green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, giant clams, clownfish, reef sharks, yellowtail fusiliers, great barracuda, parrotfish, damselfish, brain and plate corals
Location
Mooring on Flynn Reef, about 57 km east of Cairns, over a field of smaller bommies and giant clam gardens.
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
silverseries.com.aucairnsdiveadventures.com.auprodivecairns.comdive-the-world.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.