Mackay Reef
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?
About this site
Mackay Reef sits in the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of far north Queensland, in the Coral Sea, within reach of coastal towns like Cape Tribulation and Port Douglas, in a part of the reef system known for its fringing coral formations close to the mainland. It is a reef-bottom site rated suitable for beginners, and eagle rays are a regular sighting here. Divers have also flagged the risk of stingers in the water from late October through May, so timing a trip matters more than usual at this site.
AI overviewMarine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Long-spined Crown-of-ThornsAcanthaster planciReported here · unconfirmed
Eagle rayEagle rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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