Queensland
Diving in Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait
North of Lizard Island the Great Barrier Reef is almost unvisited. Great Detached Reef, Raine Island (the world's largest green turtle rookery), Tijou Reef and the Cod Hole's remote northern equivalents are dived only by a few liveaboards each October and November, when the wind drops and the boats can make the long passage. Expect walls, big sharks, untouched coral and no other boats.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 24 published site records in Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait. The recorded categories include reef (11), wall (4), wreck (4), aircraft wreck (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.
Research operators in Queensland →Ask before booking
- Which port and vessel will run our trip?
- Is the named reef a likely itinerary or a confirmed destination?
- What changes if our island transfer or boat departure moves?
Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Questions, answered
How do I choose a dive in Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 24 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.
When should I visit Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait for diving?
Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.
Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?
No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.
Regional planning context: Tourism and Events Queensland — accessing the Great Barrier Reef ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Dive sites in this region
WreckFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
HMS Pandora wreck
The 1791 wreck of the Bounty-hunting frigate HMS Pandora – a permit-only historic shipwreck at 30–33 m.
WreckFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
RMS Quetta wreck
A coral-encrusted 1890 royal mail steamer teeming with fish, often compared with the Yongala – dived only at slack water.
ReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Endeavour Reef
The reef where Cook's Endeavour ran aground in 1770 – a remote, historic mid-shelf reef off Cooktown.
WallFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Great Detached Reef
Remote 46 km shelf-edge reef system with steep gorgonian walls, pinnacles from 60 m and pristine coral.
WreckFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
HMAS Warrnambool wreck
Intact 1947 WWII corvette on its port side in 25 m – the only RAN ship lost to a mine.
ReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Raine Island
The world's largest green turtle rookery – dozens of turtles per dive and a chance of tiger sharks on pristine outer reef.
WallFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Tijou Reef
Remote shelf-edge walls with large fans, soft corals and pelagics.
ReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Aladdin's Cave (Far Northern GBR)
Soft-coral walls and coral gardens, paired with the Stanley Island rock-art excursion.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Auriga Bay (Southern Small Detached Reef)
Sheltered checkout dive on Southern Small Detached Reef at the start of far-north expeditions.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Big Woody (Great Detached / Wood Reef)
Reef peninsula with a cave, soft-coral walls and a current-swept point.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Boulder Reef (Cooktown)
Almost undived reefs off Australia's closest mainland port to the Great Barrier Reef.
Details need confirmationWallFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Cat Reef
Remote fan-covered walls with pelagics beside Tijou Reef.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Catchers Mitt (Tijou / Cat Reef)
Hard-coral gullies full of fish on the remote Tijou/Cat reefs.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Creech Reef
Shelf-edge reef with upwellings drawing pelagics, sharks and mantas.
Details need confirmationAircraft WreckFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Horn Island WWII sites
Scattered B-17 bomber debris in the tidal shallows off a WWII airfield – history rather than scenery.
Details need confirmationAircraft WreckFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Japanese Zero wreck (Hammond Island)
A 1942 Japanese Zero fighter in 4 m off Hammond Island – rare WWII aviation history in the shallows.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Mantis Reef
Little-documented far-northern expedition reef.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Pirate's Cove (Far Northern GBR)
Soft-coral walls on a rarely visited far-northern reef.
Details need confirmationWallFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Pussy Galore (Tijou Reef)
A particularly beautiful fan- and whip-covered wall on the remote Tijou/Cat reefs.
Details need confirmationPinnacle/BommieFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
The Pinnacles (Great Detached Reef)
Twin pinnacles from 60 m to 4 m and 14 m – silvertips, barracuda and a chance of whale sharks.
Details need confirmationDriftFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Three Mile Opening (TMO)
Shelf-edge upwellings with schooling pelagics, sharks and mantas around a maze of bommies.
Details need confirmationDriftFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Torres Strait Outer Reef Channels
Fast tidal channels and fringing reefs of the southern Torres Strait islands – experienced, locally guided diving only.
Details need confirmationReefFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Turmoil (Great Detached Reef)
Vast hard coral fields sloping to 30 m on remote Great Detached Reef.
Details need confirmationWreckFar Northern Reef & Torres Strait
Volga wreck
Rarely visited iron-ship debris field in the shallows, patrolled by schooling fish.
Details need confirmation