Queensland
Diving in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
The Ribbon Reefs are ten long, narrow reefs on the edge of the shelf north of Cairns, reached by liveaboard. They hold the Great Barrier Reef's most famous sites: the Cod Hole and its potato cod, Steve's Bommie's single fish-covered pinnacle, Pixie Pinnacle, the Lighthouse Bommie and Challenger Bay, with dwarf minke whales joining divers in June and July. Lizard Island, a national park with a research station and a resort, sits at the northern end.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 43 published site records in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island. The recorded categories include reef (22), pinnacle/bommie (8), wall (7), drift (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island 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 Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 43 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 Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island 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
ReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
No Name Reef
Sand, coral bommies and a wall drop-off with mandarinfish and mantis shrimp for macro fans.
IslandRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
North Direction Island
Historic Cook navigation landmark with a macro-rich sandy bottom and resident eagle rays.
ReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Pixie Gardens
Resident leafy scorpionfish among shallow bommies – a macro photographer's delight.
Cave/CavernRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Pixie's Caves
A labyrinth of sunlit caves and chimneys along a sloping reef.
ReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Summer Bay
Colourful shallow Acropora gardens where cuttlefish lay their eggs.
Pinnacle/BommieRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Temple of Doom
A kidney-shaped bommie with hunting bluefin trevally and turtles resting under overhangs.
Shore/Rock PlatformRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Watsons Bay (Lizard Island)
Walk off a national-park beach onto fringing reef and the Clam Gardens; best at high tide.
ReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Wonderland
A big coral mound cut by ridges, channels and small caves, with leafy scorpionfish and cuttlefish.
DriftRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Yonge Reef
Colourful outer-reef drift for divers and snorkellers north of Lizard Island.
ReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Acropolis (Ribbon Reefs)
A seldom-documented Ribbon Reef mooring from Spirit of Freedom's longer itineraries.
Details need confirmationPinnacle/BommieRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Andy's Postcard
A photogenic coral pinnacle with schooling trevally and barracuda on the southern Ribbons.
Details need confirmationWallRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Big Softy
A soft-coral-covered wall dived as a drift with reef sharks and seasonal mantas.
Details need confirmationReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Blue Lagoon (Ribbon Reefs)
A shallow southern Ribbon Reef coral garden with big Porites boulders and cuttlefish.
Details need confirmationShore/Rock PlatformRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Casuarina Beach (Lizard Island)
Snorkel with resident green turtles grazing in the shallows.
Details need confirmationReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Circle of Life
A seldom-described southern Ribbon Reef mooring on Mike Ball's itinerary map.
Details need confirmationReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Fish Market
A seldom-described southern Ribbon Reef mooring on Mike Ball's itinerary map.
Details need confirmationWallRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Gorgonian Wall
A rarely visited Ribbon Reef wall on Mike Ball's Far Northern Reefs expedition.
Details need confirmationReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Kate's Cathedral
A seldom-described mooring on Mike Ball's Ribbon Reef No. 10 itinerary.
Details need confirmationReefRibbon Reefs & Lizard Island
Table Tops
A seldom-described northern Ribbon Reef mooring on Mike Ball's itinerary map.
Details need confirmation