Meet the site
Andrews Caves on Lamont Reef is described by marine life writers as a huge coral-encrusted wall with lots of caves, some large and intricate and others little more than crevices, at depths of 10-25 m. The current is manageable, and dives can be planned as drifts along the wall. It lies about an hour by boat from the resort on Heron Island. Turtles, sea snakes, cod, nudibranchs and other small creatures are recorded, and the caves create shaded habitat for soft corals, sponges and cryptic fish. The wall itself is heavily encrusted with coral, making the dive visually rich even outside the caves. Because of its distance from Heron and from the mainland, Lamont is visited only on special trips or by private boats. It suits divers with Advanced certification or equivalent experience who are comfortable drifting along a wall at moderate depth. The larger caves are described as intricate, so divers should view them from their entrances unless trained and equipped for overhead environments. A torch is essential to appreciate the colour inside. Lamont sits between Fitzroy and Llewellyn reefs, and a boat trip in the northern Bunker Group can combine it with Fitzroy's sheltered lagoon and The Catacombs on Llewellyn.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Lamont Reef – Andrews Caves is recorded as Wall in Lady Musgrave & Bunker Group. The listed access is boat (multi-day/liveaboard). 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 Lamont Reef – Andrews Caves 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 Lamont Reef – Andrews Caves 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
Turtles, sea snakes, cod, nudibranchs, soft corals, sponges, reef fish, cryptic small creatures
Location
A huge coral-encrusted wall on Lamont Reef with caves large and small, 10-25 m, with manageable current for drift dives; about an hour by boat from Heron Island.
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.auladymusgraveexperience.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.