Meet the site
Raine Island is a small coral cay on the outer edge of the far-northern Great Barrier Reef and the world's largest green turtle rookery. Mike Ball says between 40,000 and 100,000 green turtles visit each year to nest; Scuba Diver Life cites 40,000–130,000 and reports divers seeing up to 100 turtles on a single dive, and Divernet notes up to 20,000 turtles have been counted trying to come ashore in a single night. The island itself is closed to the public, but the surrounding reefs can be dived on a handful of expedition liveaboards each year. The turtles migrate from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and northern Australia, some travelling more than 2,500 km. During the nesting season – November and December on the expedition trips – the water around the island is full of them: turtles resting on the reef, mating at the surface, and queueing offshore for their turn on the beach. The reefs themselves are pristine, with what Mike Ball calls spectacular coral formations and Divernet describes as swathes of hard corals, black coral trees and gorgonian fans. The mass of turtles attracts tiger sharks, which are occasionally seen patrolling the reef edge; Divernet also lists great hammerheads, manta rays, whitetip reef sharks and schooling barracuda and trevally. The dive profile is typically a drift or reef-slope dive run from tenders, and currents can be strong. Divers need Advanced certification or equivalent experience. Raine Island is a Commonwealth-protected nature reserve and a major conservation site: rangers and scientists have reprofiled its beaches to reduce turtle deaths and nest flooding. For divers, the opportunity to see turtles in such numbers is unique. The site's remoteness – days from port and hours from medical help – adds to the sense of expedition.
What you might see
Green turtles (tens of thousands in season), tiger sharks, great hammerheads, manta rays, whitetip reef sharks, barracuda, trevally, black coral trees, gorgonian fans, hard corals
Location
A small vegetated coral cay on the outer edge of the far-northern Great Barrier Reef, about 120 km off Cape York; the world's largest green turtle rookery. Divers explore the surrounding reef; the island itself is closed.
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.comscubadiverlife.comdivernet.comspiritoffreedom.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.