Hastings Reef

Hastings Reef sits on the outer Great Barrier Reef off Cairns in Far North Queensland, one of the reef systems commonly visited on day trips out of the city. It is a coral reef site with a mix of bommies and sloping coral gardens, reaching a maximum depth of around 20 metres and rated a beginner dive, which suits the day-boat crowds that include newer divers alongside snorkelers. Clownfish and sea turtles are regularly seen here, and divers have also reported angelfish, butterflyfish, leaf scorpionfish, lionfish, pufferfish, and reef sharks on the reef. Jellyfish have been noted as a hazard at times. Visibility and conditions vary with weather and season, as is typical for outer reef sites in this part of Queensland.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Sea turtleSea turtleConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• Reef sharkReef sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• ButterflyfishButterflyfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Striped SurgeonfishAcanthurus lineatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Bird WrasseGomphosus variusReported here · unconfirmed
• Sixband ParrotfishScarus frenatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Jewel DamselStegastes lacrymatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Steephead ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinosReported here · unconfirmed
• Brown TangZebrasoma scopasReported here · unconfirmed
• Speckled DamselPomacentrus bankanensisReported here · unconfirmed
• Speckled ButterflyfishChaetodon citrinellusReported here · unconfirmed
• Bluespot ButterflyfishChaetodon plebeiusReported here · unconfirmed
• Scaly DamselPomacentrus lepidogenysReported here · unconfirmed
• ClownfishClownfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• PufferfishPufferfishReported here · unconfirmed
• AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed