Meet the site
Sandra's Peaks are a pair of coral peaks that sit offshore from the Sandra's mooring on Saxon Reef. Divers Den describes Sandra's as a beautiful, shallow reef with a wide range of anemonefish, and says that Sandra's Peaks lie offshore, offering depth and a valley between them. For certified divers, the peaks turn what would otherwise be a shallow snorkelling site into a more rewarding dive: the swim out across the sand leads to two coral towers separated by a valley, where the depth increases and the fish life thickens. The valley between the peaks funnels water, so it tends to hold schools of fusiliers and snapper, and larger fish cruise between the two towers. The peaks are covered in hard and soft corals, and their shaded lower flanks carry sea fans and sponges. Saxon's residents include whitetip reef sharks, which rest on the sand during the day, schools of yellowfin barracuda, anemonefish of several species, turtles, giant trevally and wobbegong sharks under ledges. Nudibranchs and other small creatures are common on the peaks. After exploring the peaks, divers return towards the boat over the sandy bay and the coral islands of Sandra's itself, which make a relaxing, shallow finish to the dive and a good place for a long safety stop. The site suits Open Water divers comfortable swimming a short distance from the mooring, and gives a good balance of depth and shallow reef on a single tank. There is also a separate Sandra's site on Norman Reef.
What you might see
Whitetip reef sharks, yellowfin barracuda schools, fusiliers, snapper, giant trevally, anemonefish, turtles, wobbegong sharks, nudibranchs, sea fans, sponges
Location
Pair of peaks sitting offshore from the Sandra's mooring on Saxon Reef, about 55 km north-east of Cairns, with a valley between them.
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
diversden.com.auaustraliantraveller.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.