Meet the site
Breaking Patches is a shallow patch reef just west of Michaelmas Cay, about 42 km north-east of Cairns, and Reef Trip describes it as a shallow coral garden in less than 14 m of water, ideal for snorkellers who like duck-diving. Several operators, including Reef Experience and Aqua Quest, use it, and Passions of Paradise has two sites here, one of which is Long Bommie. Passions describes Long Bommie as a long length of solid coral extending about 200 m, split in the middle, with a swim-through for divers and a unique western drop-off with large hard-coral formations. The bommie is essentially a coral ridge, and following it from end to end makes a natural, easy-to-navigate dive, with the split in the middle providing a gap to swim through. The western side, where the reef drops off, has the biggest coral formations, massive boulder and plate colonies, and the most fish, including schools of fusiliers and other schooling species that Passions highlights. The shallow top suits snorkellers. Because the site is exposed, Passions only uses it in calm weather, when visibility and conditions are at their best. Expect the typical mid-shelf mix of parrotfish, wrasse, damselfish, butterflyfish, coral trout and turtles, with reef sharks occasionally seen along the edge. The depth is modest, so bottom times are long, and it suits divers of all levels. Paradise Reef, also on the Passions list for Breaking Patches, has its own entry. Visibility is typically 10-18 m, and calm days, when Passions can use the site, usually bring the clearest water.
What you might see
Schooling fish (fusiliers), parrotfish, wrasse, damselfish, butterflyfish, coral trout, turtles, reef sharks, large boulder and plate corals
Location
Solid coral bommie about 200 m long, split in the middle, on Breaking Patches, a shallow patch reef just west of Michaelmas Cay about 42 km north-east of Cairns.
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
passions.com.aureeftrip.comreefexperience.com.auilovecairns.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.