Queensland - Cairns GBR

COD HOLE
Location              Ribbon Reef 10 - Famous dive on the east coast of Australia
Max Dive Depth   5-12 MT

Features:  The giant groupers which are very inquisitive and can weigh anywhere from 80 to 200kg.  Be sure not to touch the groupers as it removes the mucus which covers their body.  The mucus is key to protecting them from infections.  The ellusive Moray eels can also be seen on this dive.

TEMPLE OF DOOM
Location              Small Bommie on Ribbon Reef 3
Fish Market is another dive also located on Ribbon Reef 3
Max Dive Depth  20 meters

Features:  Fusiliers, Snapper, Yellow fin mullet, Moorish Idols, Angel Fish and a range of Butterfly fish

AGINCOURT REEF
Location             North of Port Douglas, usually accessed from Cairns. Fixed Mooring is available
Max Dive Depth   15 meters (Best depth is 3-8 meters)

Features:  A variety of hard corals, bioherma coral. Some small sea fans.  The variety of fish is quite varied at this site, Chromis, Triggerfish, Parrot fish and a few different varieties of Snapper.  Cuttlefish are also common in this location.

CHALLENGER BAY
Location             Ribbon Reef 9
Max Dive Depth   10 meters

Features:  Fantastic dive and snorkel location.  Great opportunity to take some photos of the reef using a
disposable underwater camera as the depths are less than 10 meters.  This also means that the light is great.

CLAM GARDENS
Location             Fixed Buoy at Ribbon Reef 5
Max Dive Depth  15 meters (Best depth is 5-10 meters)

Features:  Giant clams of various colors and sizes, great photo opportunity given that the clams don't move around, watch out for your shadow as you take the photo.  Also consider taking different perspectives to give a different result.

STEVES BOMMIE
Location             Between Ribbon Reef 2 & 3
Max Dive Depth  30 meters

Features:  Laminar Corals between 10-20 meters, great photo opportunity of green and pale pink sponges.

PIXIE PINNACLE
Location            Fixed Mooring at Southern End - Ribbon Reef 10
Max Dive Depth 10-15 meters

Features:  Small sea fans, anemones, a wide array of fish, Anthias, Chromis, both small fish species.  Yellow Snapper and schools of mangrove jacks, barracuda and surgeon fish.  This location offers are great night dive location.  Good location for macro lens photography.

HOLMES REEF
Holmes Reef has a number of different features, dives such as the Abyss, bommies, swim throughs, schools of mangrove jacks and you could be lucky to spot some hammerhead sharks off in the deeper water.  Enormous Alcyonarians, quite similar to Flinders reef.

THE ABYSS
Location            Southern - Holmes Reef - Drift Dive
Max Dive Depth Good at 10 meters, Great at 40 meters

Features:  This dive is the one which gives Holmes reef is notoriety.  The coral wall drops perpendicular down to 500 plus meters.  You definitely don't have to go that deep; there are great features at 10 meters.  However if you venture down to the 40 meter depth you will be more likely to see the larger gorgonians (sea fans) and a few oceanic predators such as hammerhead sharks.

AMAZING
Location            Western - Holmes Reef - Fixed Mooring point
Max Dive Depth  40 meters

Features:  Successive ledges that lead towards greater depths.  Series of canyons and tunnels.  Don't bother going below 40 meters as all the key features are between 5-40 meters

THE CATHEDRAL
Location            Southern - Holmes Reef - Fixed Mooring Point
Max Dive Depth 45 meters

Features: 1st ledge is at 25 meters, 2nd ledge drops from 40-60 meters, at 45 meters are the large gorgonians and alcyonarians.  If you do decided to dive down to the 45 meter mark, be sure to aim the camera up towards the surface to capture all of the available light.