Where to dive and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef

Immerse yourself in under-the-sea wonderment with our guide to precisely where to dive and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef.

One of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef is an otherworldly playground for wide-eyed exploration. The largest coral reef system on the planet, it measures in at more than 348,000 square kilometres, a breathtaking labyrinth of caves, caverns, pinnacles, ethereal monuments, boulders, vivid coral and, of course, marine life, just off the northeastern coast of Queensland. But while the delicate ecosystem can be accessed from various points across the state, knowing exactly where to dive and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef is going to showcase the most astonishing sights.

Spanning remote islands and ancient shipwrecks to famed bays, our guide to the best spots is here to elevate your next underwater expedition.

1. Agincourt Reef

divers exploring Agincourt Reef, Great Barrier Reef — This diver’s paradise is home to vibrant coral gardens. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

What it offers: 16 unique dive sites, caves, vibrant fish life and a mammoth wall dive.

Getting there: High-speed boats from Port Douglas depart frequently, and it’s a 90-minute ride each way.

While more than a dozen individual dive sites will keep water babies busy for days, Agincourt Reef’s main sites offer the stuff of dreams. Located about 65 kilometres northeast of Port Douglas, Agincourt Reef’s Barracuda Bommie (one guess what you’ll spy there), Castle Rock, The Channels (filled with swimmable tunnels), and The Chapel are hugely popular. Agincourt itself sits within the Ribbon Reefs – more on that wider Great Barrier Reef non-negotiable just below – but given this single location’s diverse appeal, it deserves a mention entirely of its own. Ask your guide to point you in the direction of Blue Wonder, too, a wall dive that travels more than 40 metres below the surface.

2. Lady Elliot Island

a sea turtle swimming at sunset on Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef — Swim with turtles on Lady Elliot Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

What it offers: Easy snorkelling and diving access, day-trip proximity from Brisbane, Hervey Bay, the Gold Coast and Bundaberg, marine-life encounters.

Getting there: Lady Elliot Island is roughly 90 km north-east of Bundaberg, accessible by air.

Located on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island is a haven for those in search of the majestic manta ray. For those who make the journey via a chartered flight from the mainland, a snorkelling or diving encounter with one of the gentle giants is most definitely on the cards. Just make sure you time your visit right – stick to the winter months when they flock to the island in search of cooler water temperatures. Additionally, the coral edges on the island’s western side offer the opportunity to swim alongside dolphins and turtles, with coral gardens visible from the moment you step off the beach. Need more convincing? Excellent year-round water visibility also makes this spot popular amongst families (easy snorkelling), while affordable accommodation at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort (especially compared to other Great Barrier Reef islands) helps seal the deal.

3. Ribbon Reefs

scuba divers exploring the Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef — The legendary dive site is renowned for its colourful coral gardens. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

What it offers: Brightly coloured anemones, the famed Clam Gardens, diverse marine life and crystal-clear conditions.

Getting there: The Ribbon Reefs consist of 10 individual reefs (including Agincourt, outlined above), accessible via a boat trip from Cairns or Port Douglas.

Beginning north of Cairns, and finishing east of Lizard Island, the Ribbon Reefs fringe along a 200-kilometre stretch of the Great Barrier Reef. They are relatively isolated and support a huge range of biodiversity, so a trip anywhere along here will reward you with the likes of huge plate corals, delicate anemones, channels, caves, clams, canyons and shallow coral gardens. It’s just about the clearest portion of the Great Barrier Reef to marvel at. Visitors also choose this place for the famous Cod Hole dive site, home to the massive and friendly potato cod – yet another once-in-a-lifetime photo opp in this neck of the woods. Don’t miss the Clam Gardens dive site, too, where soft corals, a vibrant mecca of fish and, of course, giant clams can be explored.

4. Milln Reef

a woman diving at Milln Reef, Great Barrier Reef — Milln Reef’s clear, turquoise waters offer shallow and deep dive opportunities. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

What it offers: Great beginner diving conditions, high visibility levels on the outer reef, night diving.

Getting there: Day boat tours depart regularly from Cairns and take about 1.5 hours each way.

Boasting a collection of unique dive sites, each varying in scale and opportunity, Milln Reef’s clear, turquoise waters offer a relaxed entry point to the Great Barrier Reef. It’s about 56 kilometres southeast of Cairns and renowned as one of Cairn’s best dive sites. Navigate both shallow and deep dive opportunities, with depths varying from 10 to 20 metres depending on where you drop off. Its Whale Bommie dive site, found in Milln Reef’s Three Sisters cluster on the western side, is the pick for night dives with depths flowing deeper than 20 metres and sea turtles, lobsters, crabs, soft coral and black coral waiting to be discovered.

5. Lizard Island

a woman snorkelling at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef — The abundant reefs make Lizard Island a snorkelling paradise. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

What it offers: Excellent walk-in beach snorkelling, good access to Cod Hole

Getting there: Chartered flights regularly depart from Cairns and last about an hour each way.

Lizard Island is primarily an island national park, covering 1013 hectares in total. Completely isolated from the rest of the world, it offers one of the Great Barrier Reef’s most northern dive points, plus there are private white-sand beaches and easy snorkelling to help fill your days. More than 150 species of corals and an abundance of marine life can be found in the surrounding waters, while the fringing reef is typically colourful, healthy and vibrant. Divers can reach the likes of Cod Hole and the rest of the Ribbon Reefs via a short boat trip organised by the team behind Lizard Island’s luxurious accommodation offerings, making an overnight stay all too enticing.

6. Hayman Island

rock formations and white-sand beach on Hayman Island, Great Barrier Reef — There’s more to the beauty of Hayman Island beyond its white sand and rugged coastline. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

What it offers: Exceptional snorkelling suitable for families, good access to the Reefworld pontoon at Hardy Reef.

Getting there: Flights to Hayman Island depart from Hamilton Island airport.

Serving as the closest Whitsundays island to the outer reef, Hayman Island features an array of snorkelling opportunities to keep your entire clan entertained. Blue Pearl Bay, less than 1 kilometre from the island, offers stellar conditions as well as the chance to meet Priscilla, a giant Maori wrasse renowned for interacting with guests. For those wanting more, journey about an hour to Reefworld, located at Hardy Reef, for more than 1,400 species of brightly hued coral plus clownfish, rays and a friendly 2-metre-long groper named George who patrols the area.

7. S.S. Yongala Wreck

the S.S. Yongala Wreck, Great Barrier Reef — Descend to the resting place of *S.S Yongala*. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Scuba Diver Life)

What it offers: Intermediate to advanced diving conditions, historical insight and ample marine life.

Getting there: 30-minute boat trips depart from Ayr, near Townsville, but you can also get there via boat from Townsville, which takes three hours each way.

A mysterious and historically significant dive site teeming with marine life, the S.S. Yongala wreck is considered one of the world’s best dive sites. Sinking thanks to a cyclone in 1911, the S.S. Yongala’s structure can still be discovered — almost 75 per cent of the vessel remains intact. The 110 metre-long wreckage is covered with colourful coral and sponges, which have evolved into a magnificent artificial reef and haven for diverse marine life. Fishing and penetration diving bans have upped fish numbers and prevented corrosion, allowing both hard and soft coral to thrive alongside super-sized marine life.

8. Flynn Reef

What it offers: Swim-through coral fields, good beginner snorkelling and diving conditions, high chances for sea turtle spotting.

Getting there: 90-minute boat trips frequently depart from Cairns.

It’s easy to see why visitors from all over the world are drawn to Flynn Reef. Featuring expansive fields of hard coral and plenty of marine life, the underwater hot spot is what Great Barrier Reef postcards are made of. You’ll find it roughly 60 kilometres east of Cairns, sitting pretty as one of the closest reefs to the continental shelf and the Pacific Ocean. Once you’re there, navigate schools of clownfish, batfish, trout, cod, fusiliers, butterflyfish and angelfish along your journey and keep your eye out for sea turtles (including the prevalent green sea turtle), grey reef sharks, moray eels, octopus, lionfish, barracuda and nudibranchs.

Discover the best Great Barrier Reef tours

Adventure and refined Luxury combine at the stunning Rangelands Outback Camp.

Iconic Australian red dirt, ancient rocky landscapes and bursts of greenery and wildflowers all make the small town of Winton, and its surrounds, a sight to behold. Escape the ordinary and unwind in the Queensland outback, where ancient landscapes and off-grid luxury await at Rangelands Outback Camp.

cosy seats in Rangelands Outback Camp — Unwind in the ancient outback.

About Rangelands Outback Camp

Unforgettable 360-degree views of this 95-million-year-old land await at Rangelands; bathed in style and positioned on top of a jump-up (or mesa), your tented camp seamlessly blends into its outback setting.

Set on the 53,935-square-kilometre Rangelands Station – a working cattle property – the abundant wildlife are your only neighbours; kangaroos, echidnas, eagles and other birdlife all call Rangelands home.

Bathed in style, your tented camp seamlessly blends into its outback setting. Indulge with carefully curated menus, personalised service and supersized luxury tents that guarantee a private experience. This exclusive camp only has a maximum of 12 guests at a time.

Here, the aim is pampering. From tasty menus to supersized tents with all the creature comforts, to a range of guided tours around the property and beyond.

Guests are transferred from Winton or Longreach by a dedicated Rangelands driver.

aerial shot of Rangelands Outback Camp tent — Soak in 360-degree views.

Rangelands Outback Camp tours

Join small-group tours and enjoy exclusive access to the ancient Rangelands Rifts with your Rangelands hosts. These incredible rock formations were formed by millions of years of erosion, leaving dramatic channels through the rock. Or explore the surrounds with Rangeland’s touring partner, Red Dirt Tours .

Get sunset birds-eye views over dramatic mesa country in a helicopter, from Queensland’s own Three Sisters to Corey’s Range, stopping at the best lookouts along the way.

Get up close and personal with this rugged land on four wheels, with expert drivers and guides leading guests through famous Bladensburg National Park, visiting Gondwana Stars Observatory and more.

The Winton area is famous for its boulder opals (the second-rarest opal in the world, after black opals), and a stop at the mining community of Opalton sheds a fascinating light on the unique fossicking method used to find them.

A trip to dinosaur country is a must, as this is the place that ramped up Australia’s dino contribution after a fossilised footprint was found in 1962; after more exploration, the discovery of 3300 footprints made it clear this was the world’s only evidence of a dinosaur stampede. Those same footprints are still on display today at Lark Quarry Conservation Park , a 90-minute drive from Winton. Also check out Australia’s largest collection of Australian Dinosaur fossils Australian Age of Dinosaurs, just 30 minutes from Winton. Here, join a tour through a working laboratory, dinosaur canyon and more.

A twice-daily transfer into downtown Winton is offered to guests, where they can explore the Royal Outdoor Theatre, opal shops, Waltzing Matilda Centre and more.

tour being led through Rangeland rifts — Have an exclusive adventure through the Rangeland Rifts. (Image: TEQ)

Sleeping in luxury

After a day of exploring, return to your tranquil tent for a blissful open shower and uninterrupted views from your private deck.

Designed to integrate guests into the surrounding nature, each tent feels like its own private haven. While being off-grid in the outback (in fact, each tent is powered by its own solar panels, with the added support of a backup generator), guests can also luxuriate in comfortable amenities like air conditioning, a supremely comfortable king-size bed and stylish designer touches.

Guests can stroll to the open-air Sunset Deck for breathtaking panoramic views, or to the main lounge and dining tent, where books, on-demand coffee and drinks make it the perfect place to relax after a day in the outback.

inside Rangelands Outback Camp bedroom — Enjoy plenty of space inside, and stunning views outside.

Rangelands Outback Camp dining

As the sun starts to dip below the horizon, gather for drinks and canapés on the expansive Sunset Deck, watching the sun drench the landscape in pinks and oranges as it sinks below the horizon.

Later, head to The Mahal lounge area and dining tent where mealtime magic happens. Savour a gourmet meal made fresh by Rangeland’s onsite chef. The meals use local produce to elevate classic outback dishes, and don’t worry, dietary requirements are happily accommodated.

Enjoy an open bar filled with an expansive hand-selected list of wines and premium beers, with wine pairings offered by Rangelands hosts come dinner time.

Discover more and book your luxurious stay at rangelandscamp.com.