Hastings 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.
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About this site
Hastings Reef is an outer Great Barrier Reef site located in Yirrganydji Sea Country, reached by boat from Cairns Marina. The reef features a distinctive coral structure including bommies — isolated coral formations — along with a reef wall, an inner lagoon area, and exposed sections known as the "Wild Side," giving divers several distinct trails to follow.
The mooring descent line brings divers down to around 8 metres where the first bommie sits immediately adjacent to the mooring blocks; the verified maximum depth is 12 metres. Dive options include the sheltered "Lagoon" and "Fish Bowl" route, which runs along the reef wall and inside the reef's edge and suits recently qualified or returning divers, and the one-way "Wild Side" drift dive entered from a tender and finished back at the vessel, which is better suited to more experienced certified divers.
The reef holds a wide range of marine life: tiny reef sharks, epaulette sharks, rays, turtles, painted crayfish (lobster), anemone fish, lionfish, puffer fish, live conch shells, enormous giant clams, and schools of thousands of small reef fish, alongside walls of coral. Caves sheltering small fish are also noted along the route.
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Entry is by boat with a mooring descent line in use; two dives can be completed in the time available. Jellyfish are a hazard year-round in tropical waters, with the more concerning species more prevalent during stinger season from November to May; protective lycra suits are available on the vessel. Divers must hold an internationally recognised scuba certification and complete an onboard medical declaration before diving.
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 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 · 3 independent sources
AngelfishAngelfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
PufferfishPufferfishReported here · unconfirmed
Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
SweetlipsSweetlipsReported here · unconfirmed
DamselfishDamselfishReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed
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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