Great Barrier Reef
Australia · Queensland
The world's largest coral reef system, stretching over 2,300km off Queensland. Back-to-back mass bleaching events in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2024 have transformed large sections. Diving here documents what survives and where recovery is taking hold.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
The GBR is still the world's largest reef system and a world class diving destination. Northern sections around the Ribbon Reefs and Coral Sea outliers like Osprey Reef hold the best cover. Expect full reef colour in those areas. Central and southern GBR sectors show more bleaching legacy — seek operator recommendations on which specific sites are performing well.
Coral cover
Fish life
More fish than a healthy reef of its kind.
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.
Sources · AIMS long term monitoring · Reef Life Survey · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across 4 survey years from 2022 to 2025, live coral cover here has fallen from 34% to 29%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 34% |
| 2023 | 33% |
| 2024 | 38% |
| 2025 | 29% |
What you will see
53 species across the dive sites here
Green turtle
Seen 1 month ago
at Lady Elliot Island
Least concern
Loggerhead turtle
Seen 1 month ago
at Lady Elliot Island
Vulnerable
Reef manta ray
Seen 1 month ago
at Lady Elliot Island
Vulnerable
Leopard shark
Seen 1 month ago
at Lady Elliot Island
Endangered
Whitetip reef shark
Seen 1 month ago
at Cod Hole
Vulnerable
Humphead wrasse
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Yongala
Endangered
Giant trevally
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Yongala
Least concern
Olive sea snake
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Yongala
Least concern
Queensland grouper
Seen 1 month ago
at SS Yongala
Potato cod
Seen 1 month ago
at Cod Hole
Least concern
Bigeye trevally
Seen 2 months ago
at Steve's Bommie
Least concern
Clownfish
Seen 2 months ago
at Lizard Island
Grey reef shark
Seen 2 months ago
at North Horn (Osprey Reef)
Endangered
Green sea turtle
Seen 3 months ago
at North Horn (Osprey Reef)
Least concern
Pineapple Sea Cucumber
Seen 3 months ago
at Cod Hole
Endangered
Lionfish
Seen 3 months ago
at Pixie Pinnacle
Least concern
White-tip Reef Shark
Seen 3 months ago
at Lizard Island
Vulnerable
Leopard Coralgrouper
Seen 4 months ago
at Cod Hole
Least concern
Magnificent nudibranch
Seen 5 months ago
at Pixie Pinnacle
Fairy basslet
Seen 8 months ago
at Pixie Pinnacle
Least concern
Gigas Giant Clam
Seen 8 months ago
at Cod Hole
Critically endangered
Humpback whale
Seen 9 months ago
at Lady Elliot Island
Least concern
Two-Spot Red Snapper
Seen 10 months ago
at Cod Hole
Least concern
Dwarf minke whale
Seen Jul 2025
at Steve's Bommie
Least concern
Maori wrasse
Seen Jul 2025
at Cod Hole
Endangered
Lined Bristletooth
Seen Apr 2025
at HMAS Tobruk
Least concern
Sixband Parrotfish
Seen Apr 2025
at HMAS Tobruk
Least concern
Sixbar Wrasse
Seen Apr 2025
at HMAS Tobruk
Least concern
Cinnamon clownfish
Seen Oct 2024
at Steve's Bommie
Least concern
Reef stonefish
Seen Oct 2024
at Steve's Bommie
Least concern
Dogtooth tuna
Seen Oct 2024
at North Horn (Osprey Reef)
Least concern
Scissortail Sergeant
Seen Oct 2024
at HMAS Tobruk
Least concern
Steephead Parrotfish
Seen Oct 2024
at HMAS Tobruk
Least concern
Scalloped hammerhead
Seen Sep 2024
at North Horn (Osprey Reef)
Critically endangered
Longnose hawkfish
Seen Jul 2024
at Steve's Bommie
Least concern
Great barracuda
Seen Jun 2024
at SS Yongala
Least concern
Angelfish
Seen year round
at Lizard Island
Least concern
Grouper
Seen year round
at Lizard Island
Leaf scorpionfish
Seen year round
at Pixie Pinnacle
Least concern
Leafy scorpionfish
Seen year round
at Steve's Bommie
Least concern
Lyretail hogfish
Seen year round
at Admiralty Anchor (Osprey Reef)
Least concern
Midnight snapper
Seen year round
at Admiralty Anchor (Osprey Reef)
Least concern
Orange-fin anemonefish
Seen year round
at Pixie Pinnacle
Least concern
Peacock mantis shrimp
Seen year round
at Steve's Bommie
Silvertip shark
Seen year round
at North Horn (Osprey Reef)
Vulnerable
Spotted eagle ray
Seen year round
at SS Yongala
Endangered
Yellow-lined snapper
Seen year round
at Steve's Bommie
Least concern
Bull shark
Seasonal visitor
at SS Yongala
Vulnerable
Manta Ray
Seasonal visitor
at Lizard Island
Napoleon Wrasse
Seasonal visitor
at HMAS Tobruk
Endangered
Pacific Bullethead Parrotfish
Seasonal visitor
at HMAS Tobruk
Least concern
Dwarf nautilus
Rare sighting
at Admiralty Anchor (Osprey Reef)
Vulnerable
Eagle ray
Rare sighting
at Admiralty Anchor (Osprey Reef)
Endangered
Dive sites
Cod Hole
potato cod · maori wrasse · whitetip reef shark · green turtle
SS Yongala
queensland grouper · humphead wrasse · olive sea snake · bull shark
Lizard Island
clownfish · angelfish · grouper · white-tip reef shark
North Horn (Osprey Reef)
grey reef shark · whitetip reef shark · silvertip shark · scalloped hammerhead
Steve's Bommie
bigeye trevally · yellow-lined snapper · leafy scorpionfish · reef stonefish
Admiralty Anchor (Osprey Reef)
grey reef shark · whitetip reef shark · midnight snapper · lyretail hogfish