Meet the site
Sno – short for South North Opal – is one of the most versatile sites on Opal Reef. Scuba IQ calls it pretty much the perfect dive site with something for everyone, with sharks, turtles and lionfish, and Calypso uses it as its second dive of the day, running certified divers to the reef wall by tender. Wavelength snorkels it and describes a dramatic wall with boulder corals that has recovered from past crown-of-thorns starfish damage. The wall drops from the reef top at about 5 m to sand at around 16–18 m. It is covered with boulder corals, sea fans and soft corals, and cut by ledges where lionfish hover and moray eels hide. Diveplanit's account of a Calypso dive here records a 16 m maximum and 48-minute dive with blue-lined rabbitfish, sea fans and several species of butterflyfish. Turtles are regular, often resting against the wall or feeding on sponges, and reef sharks patrol the base. The reef top is the other asset. Shallow, colourful and sheltered, it gives snorkellers excellent viewing and lets divers finish with a long, relaxed safety stop among reef fish – the Calypso crew note that on these Opal sites you can do your safety stop on a 5 m part of the reef. Sno's recovery from crown-of-thorns outbreaks is a good-news story; Wavelength's biologists point it out as an example of reef resilience, and coral cover has rebounded on the wall. The site suits all levels. New divers can stay shallow on the reef top and upper wall, while experienced divers can explore the base of the wall and look out for sharks. Visibility is usually 15–30 m. Along with Bashful Bommie, Sno is one of the core sites of the Calypso Opal 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.
Sno (Opal Reef) is recorded as Reef in Port Douglas. The listed access is boat (day trip). 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Sno (Opal Reef) suitable for my certification?
The record lists 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 Sno (Opal 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
Green turtles, whitetip and grey reef sharks, lionfish, blue-lined rabbitfish, butterflyfish (several species), moray eels, sea fans, boulder corals, soft corals
Location
The South North Opal (SNO) mooring, a wall and reef site at the southern end of North Opal Reef, reached on Calypso days by tender.
Facilities nearby
Departs Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, Wharf Street, Port Douglas – car parking, toilets, cafes and restaurants at the marina; dive shops in town for gear hire and air
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
diveplanit.comscubaiq.com.auwavelength.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.