Michaelmas Reef

Michaelmas Reef is a coral reef off the North Queensland coast near Cairns, Australia, made up of reef structures and sand cays that together provide good shelter from prevailing south-easterly winds and swell — particularly because Arlington Reef lies behind it, adding a further buffer. The reef sits within a green zone, meaning spearfishing is not permitted.

The terrain consists of reef walls, overhangs, and isolated coral pinnacles (bommies), with the shallowest point reaching up to the surface and a maximum depth of around 8 metres. The bottom is rock, and large coral pinnacles rise through the water column; at around 8 metres down, some pinnacles carry a multitude of large gorgonian sea fans. Reef walls and overhangs host carnation corals growing in clumps and tree-like formations.

The reef holds a strong cast of marine life: giant trevallies, batfish, surgeonfish, and fusiliers are common around the bommies, while feather stars (crinoids), gorgonian sea fans, and carnation corals in shades of pink, magenta, orange, red, and purple are particular highlights. The verified species list also includes nudibranchs, bluespotted rays, shovelnose rays, cowtail rays, green sea turtles, hard corals, soft corals, and surgeonfish.