Meet the site
West End is the western tip of Ribbon Reef No. 9, where steep walls drop to coral gardens at their base and are cut by small caves and crevices. Mike Ball's photographers' guide describes two distinct personalities here. The north-eastern wall carries large gorgonian fans and is a place where cuttlefish lay eggs. The western wall supports vast clusters of Acropora, and one large Acropora patch is topped with dense swarms of blue-green chromis, a classic Great Barrier Reef image.
The reef flat shallows show new coral growth and fresh plate corals after the cyclones of the 2010s, which makes the safety stop a pleasure. Large crevices in the walls shelter giant sweetlips and Queensland groupers, and Great Barrier Reef, spinecheek and pink anemonefish live in anemones along the top.
The site's special attraction is mandarinfish. Mike Ball's guides report them on the western wall at about 20 m in late afternoon, when light is poor and the fish emerge from rubble and branching coral to feed and court. They are small and shy, so a keen eye, patience and a dim torch are needed.
West End is a good all-round dive, combining walls, gardens and macro, and suits intermediate divers comfortable on a wall. Photographers can split their time: wide-angle on the chromis-covered Acropora and the fans, macro on the mandarinfish. It lies close to the Ribbon 9½ sites (Pixie Pinnacle, Challenger Bay, Gotham City), so it slots easily into a day of diving in the area, and it makes a good late-afternoon dive for anyone hoping to photograph mandarinfish without a night dive.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
West End (Ribbon Reef 9) is recorded as Wall in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 West End (Ribbon Reef 9) 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 West End (Ribbon Reef 9) 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
Gorgonian fans, Acropora gardens, blue-green chromis, cuttlefish (egg-laying), giant sweetlips, Queensland grouper, mandarinfish (western wall ~20 m, dusk), Great Barrier Reef, spinecheek and pink anemonefish, new plate corals
Location
The western end of Ribbon Reef No. 9, with steep walls, coral gardens at their base and small caves.
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 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.