Meet the site
Green Island is a vegetated coral cay 27 km north-east of Cairns, a national park surrounded by fringing reef and seagrass beds, and the most accessible reef island from the city. It has been a tourist destination for more than a century and now carries a resort, a long jetty, restaurants and a dive operation, so it is far from wilderness, but the reef around it is protected and the diving is easy and reliable. Big Cat Green Island, operated by Reef Unlimited, runs all dives as guided beach entries. Introductory divers, who need no certification, spend about an hour at an average depth of 5 m at sites the operator calls Fish Cinema and Finding Nemo. Certified divers have three more advanced sites: Pinnacle Canyons, a series of coral heads reaching 17 m; Reef Edge Drift, along the outer margin at 15 m; and Northern Drift, to 21 m. Marine life includes colourful reef fish, giant clams, clownfish, turtles, blacktip reef sharks and bull rays. Green turtles are common, grazing on the seagrass close to the beach, and the seagrass beds occasionally host a dugong. Visibility is the main limitation: being close to the mainland, the water is often 5-10 m and less after rain, so the island suits introductory divers, families, snorkellers and people short on time better than experienced divers expecting outer-reef clarity. Great Adventures also offers diving at Green Island. Pinnacle Reef, a private Ocean Free mooring about 1 km offshore, has its own entry. The ferries' frequent timetable means divers can choose between a half-day and a full day on the island.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Green Island 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Green Island 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 Green Island 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 turtles, blacktip reef sharks, bull rays, giant clams, clownfish, reef fish, seagrass fauna, dugong (rare)
Location
Vegetated coral cay and national park 27 km north-east of Cairns, with fringing reef, seagrass and several beach-entry dive sites run by the island's dive operation.
Facilities nearby
Green Island: long jetty, dive shop, toilets, showers, restaurants and cafes, resort, glass-bottom boat, snorkel hire; ferries from Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns
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
greenisland.com.augreatadventures.com.autropicalnorthqueensland.org.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.