Norman Reef

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australiareef12 m maxbeginner

Conditions & tides

Norman ReefGreat Barrier Reef

Good · 5/5

conditions visualisation

Good5/5

Calm and diveable right now — best window today 7 AM–5 PM.

Wind4 kn ENE

Current~0.6 kn SSE · model

Swell

0.6 m · 5s · ENE

Water

28 °C

Max depth

12 m

Conditions through the day

6 AM6 PM

Calmest current near slack — 14:30 & 02:15 local

Sunrise 05:36 · Sunset 18:23 local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.3 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

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

Norman Reef is an outer Great Barrier Reef site reached by boat from Cairns Marina, sitting alongside Saxon Reef and Hastings Reef as one of the designated dive and snorkel locations on day trips departing the B Finger berth. The reef tops out at a maximum depth of 10 metres, making it a natural fit for beginner divers and snorkellers.

The site hosts a strong cross-section of reef life, including green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtles, blue-spotted stingrays, humphead Maori wrasse, black-tipped and white-tipped reef sharks, anemonefish, and trout, all set among corals. Jellyfish are a noted hazard, and the best overall conditions run from April to September, with humpback whales present in the June-to-September window.

Access is by boat; vessels moor at the reef and divers and snorkellers enter from the boat. Visibility at Norman Reef is rated great, and the shallow maximum depth means natural light penetrates well across the reef structure.

AI-written site guide

Marine life here

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

Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
Spotted ParrotfishCetoscarus ocellatusReported here · unconfirmed
Steephead ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinosReported here · unconfirmed
Pacific Orange-spine UnicornfishNaso lituratusReported here · unconfirmed
Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesusReported here · unconfirmed
Two-spot Red SnapperLutjanus boharReported here · unconfirmed
Striped SurgeonfishAcanthurus lineatusReported here · unconfirmed
Reticulated DamselfishDascyllus reticulatusReported here · unconfirmed
Sixband ParrotfishScarus frenatusReported here · unconfirmed
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescensReported here · unconfirmed
ClownfishClownfishReported here · unconfirmed
SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
Whale SharkRhincodon typusReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Manta rayManta rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
WhaleWhaleConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
FusilierFusilierReported here · unconfirmed
Garden eelGarden eelReported here · unconfirmed