Reef Locations

Reeftrip.com uses years of marine experience to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef tours and operators advertised herin take you to the best snorkelling and diving reef locations based on current conditions, to ensure comfortable and fun water activities.

Norman Reef, Saxon Reef, Hastings Reef, Michaelmas Reef and Breaking Patches are all reef locations located along the outer edge of Australia’s Continental Shelf, and are some of the world’s most exotic and beautiful diving and snorkelling reef locations.

Office and Wharf (Departure) Locations
For a more detailled map of our Booking Office and where you can find our boats on the wharf
click here.

If you require any assistance or have questions about any of our reef locations please do not hesitate to contact us (+61 7 4051 5777).

Norman Reef

Norman Reef is located 70 kilometres off the east coast of Australia on the very outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef along the continental shelf. Our furthest North Outer Barrier Reef location for day trippers, Norman Reef is easily one of the most prized snorkelling and diving reef locations out of Cairns. The snorkelling and diving around Norman is known for its crystal clear waters with incredible visibility often up to 30 metres! (100 feet)
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Saxon Reef

Saxon Reef is located in between Norman Reef and Hastings Reef and is a haven of marine life and thriving coral colonies.

Relatively smaller in size than our other great barrier reef locations, at just 1.9 square kilometers, Saxon is a spectacular location. Not often frequented by many other tour operators, Saxon Reef is therefore is a pristine, untouched snorkelling and diving paradise. Saxon Reef offers an abundance of diverse reef locations to explore for both snorkelers and scuba divers.
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Hastings Reef

South of Norman and Saxon Reef is a 10 square kilometre patch of beautiful coral that is home to a multitude of exotic fish known as Hastings Reef. Hastings Reef is one of our most well protected reef locations for all weather conditions and guarantees calm snorkelling and diving conditions.

Hastings Reef is most famous for its ‘coral gardens’. Home to some of the most diverse hard and soft corals that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer, the sheltered sanctuaries offer awe inspiring seascapes and breathtaking scenery to snorkelers and divers alike.
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Breaking Patches

Breaking Patches is an exclusive Outer Barrier Reef locations for Reef Experience and Compass Cruises! A shallow reef locations only 18 metres (60 feet) maximum depth, Breaking Patches has an abundance of clustered plots of coral offering exquisite snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities.

Situated not far from Michaelmas Cay, a protected sand island, snorkelers and divers swim with sea turtles on most visits here. Surrounding the patches of coral reef are sandy bays where you’ll find blue spotted, lagoon stingrays basking in the rays of the sun.
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Michaelmas Cay

Michaelmas Cay is a sand island surrounded by coral reef. A postcard perfect, picturesque reef locations, Michaelmas Cay is famous as a protected sea bird sanctuary and has an abundance of resident sea turtles in the surrounding waters.

This is the largest reef locations that our boats frequent and when conditions are rough at other reefs, here divers will find a sheltered, clear and calm place for diving and snorkelling.
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