Great Barrier Reef
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Why dive in the Great Barrier Reef?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 10
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
The bumphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, known for the characteristic hump on its head. They are predominantly herbivores, grazing on coral reefs by scraping off algae and live coral, and are often seen in large schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGiant clam
Tridacna gigas
Tridacna gigas, commonly known as the giant clam, is the largest living bivalve mollusc, capable of reaching lengths of up to 1.5 meters and weights exceeding 300 kilograms. It inhabits shallow coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, primarily obtaining nutrients through filter-feeding plankton and from a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae in its mantle tissues. This sessile creature is diurnal, relying on sunlight for its algal symbionts, and can live for over 100 years in the wild.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Frequent sightingsOrange Clownfish
Amphiprion percula
The Orange Clownfish, also known as the Percula Clownfish, is a small, brightly colored reef fish found in the Indo-Pacific. It is famous for its symbiotic relationship with sea anemones, living unharmed among their stinging tentacles thanks to a protective mucus layer. These omnivorous fish feed on algae, plankton, and small crustaceans, and live in structured social groups within their host anemone.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPotato Grouper
Epinephelus tukula
The Potato Grouper is a large fish known for its spotted appearance, resembling the surface of a potato. It primarily inhabits coral reefs and is a solitary carnivore. Potato Groupers can grow to be quite large, reaching up to 2 meters in length and weighing over 100 kg.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 44
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Blacktip Reef SharkCarcharhinus melanopterus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Greyface MorayGymnothorax thyrsoideus
Hawksbill Sea TurtleEretmochelys imbricata
Humpback WhaleMegaptera novaeangliae
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Latticed ButterflyfishChaetodon rafflesii
LionfishPterois spp.
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta caretta
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
Maroon ClownfishPremnas biaculeatus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocellated Eagle RayAetobatus ocellatus
Olive Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys olivacea
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pickhandle BarracudaSphyraena jello
Purple Queen AnthiasPseudanthias tuka
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Spanish DancerHexabranchus sanguineus
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Stellate PufferArothron stellatus
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Valentin's Sharpnose PufferCanthigaster valentini
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Great Barrier Reef
Coral Sea · Australia
Frequently asked questions about Great Barrier Reef
When is the best time to dive in Great Barrier Reef?
The best time to dive in Great Barrier Reef is from May to October. In those months the water is between 22°C and 27°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Great Barrier Reef?
Divers can encounter 54 species in Great Barrier Reef. Highlights include Bumphead Parrotfish, Giant clam, Green Sea Turtle, Grey Reef Shark, Humphead Wrasse, and Orange Clownfish.
When can you see the Grey Reef Shark in Great Barrier Reef?
The Grey Reef Shark is most often seen in Great Barrier Reef from March to October.
When can you see the Reef Manta Ray in Great Barrier Reef?
The Reef Manta Ray is most often seen in Great Barrier Reef from April to October.
When can you see the Whale Shark in Great Barrier Reef?
The Whale Shark is most often seen in Great Barrier Reef from June to August.
What is the water temperature in Great Barrier Reef?
Water temperature in Great Barrier Reef ranges from 22°C in July to 30°C in January.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Great Barrier Reef?
Most divers wear a 5 mm wetsuit in July, when the water drops to 22°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in January, when it reaches 30°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Great Barrier Reef?
Visibility in Great Barrier Reef ranges from 10 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from June to September.
What are the currents like in Great Barrier Reef?
Divers in Great Barrier Reef can expect moderate, strong, or light currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Great Barrier Reef?
After dark, Great Barrier Reef reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Giant Moray, Greyface Moray, Lionfish, and Oriental Sweetlips.
Where is Great Barrier Reef located?
Great Barrier Reef is a dive destination in Australia, in the Coral Sea.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Great Barrier Reef. Spotted something that looks off?
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