Meet the site
The Hoskyn Islands are two small vegetated cays on a coral lagoon reef north-west of Lady Musgrave in the Bunker Group. The cays are a bird sanctuary, so landings are not allowed, but the surrounding lagoon offers good diving among coral bommies full of cracks and crevices. Marine life writers list turtles, moray eels, trevally, nudibranchs and a wide variety of fish, along with hermit crabs, spider crabs, decorator crabs and shrimps. The Cabbage Patch is a shallow site with coral formations, presumably named for cabbage-like foliose or plate coral, although the source does not say. The lagoon is recommended for night dives, when octopus and squid are active. Because the lagoon is small and shallow, diving is relaxed and suitable for all levels, and the bommies reward slow exploration with a torch. The reef is visited mainly by private yachts moving between Lady Musgrave, Fairfax and the northern Bunker reefs; there is no operator. The islands' status as a bird sanctuary means boats should anchor well clear of the cays and keep noise and lights down, particularly during nesting season. Check the GBRMPA zoning, as parts of the area are Preservation (Pink) Zone, where entry is prohibited. Hoskyn is a good option for self-sufficient divers on a Bunker Group cruise, particularly for a night dive in a sheltered lagoon.
What you might see
Turtles, moray eels, trevally, nudibranchs, hermit crabs, spider crabs, decorator crabs, shrimps, octopus and squid (night), reef fish, seabirds on the cays
Location
A coral lagoon with two small vegetated cays north-west of Lady Musgrave; the cays are a bird sanctuary with no landing, and the lagoon has coral bommies with cracks and crevices and the shallow Cabbage Patch site.
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
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.