Meet the site
Pussy Galore is a wall dive on the Tijou and Cat reef system in the far-northern Great Barrier Reef, visited on Mike Ball's Northern Exposure expeditions. Mike Ball describes the Tijou and Cat walls as featuring barracuda, rays, sharks and turtles amid fans and whip corals, and names Pussy Galore as a notably beautiful site. The name continues a James Bond theme – a nod to Goldfinger – common in the tongue-in-cheek naming of remote expedition sites, which are often christened by the first crews to dive them. Like other walls on the outer shelf edge, the site features steep drops covered in gorgonian fans, whip corals and soft corals, fed by currents. Pelagic life cruises the blue: barracuda, rays and sharks. Turtles are common on the far-northern reefs. Details such as depth and exact location are not published. Dives are run as wall or drift dives with tender support, and operators require Advanced certification or equivalent experience. Pussy Galore suits experienced divers on a far-northern expedition. It is typical of the pristine walls that make the region so special for the few who reach it. Getting here is itself an expedition: the far-northern reefs lie hundreds of kilometres north of Cairns, are visited by only a handful of liveaboards in the October–December window, and are many hours from medical help, so divers should be current, self-sufficient, carry an SMB and audible signal, and dive conservatively. On Mike Ball's Northern Exposure itineraries the Tijou and Cat reefs are dived over a day of the seven-night voyage between Cairns and Horn Island, typically with up to four dives including a night dive, and the exact sites chosen depend on the weather on the day.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Pussy Galore (Tijou Reef) is recorded as Wall in Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait. 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.
- 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 Pussy Galore (Tijou 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 Pussy Galore (Tijou 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
Barracuda, rays, grey reef sharks, turtles, gorgonian fans, whip corals, soft corals
Location
A wall dive on the Tijou/Cat reef system singled out by Mike Ball as notably beautiful, with fans, whips and pelagics.
Facilities nearby
None – expedition liveaboard only (Spoilsport/Spirit of Freedom provide air, nitrox, meals, cabins).
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
mikeball.commikeball.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.