Wildlife · Destination Guide

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Tropical gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, minke whales, and rainforest-to-reef adventures

Updated Oct 29, 2025 • 13 sources

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Wildlife In Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Browse the full species list linked to approved dive spots in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.

Green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), Moorea, French Polynesia

Turtles

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

7 linked spots

Saltwater Fishes

Clownfish

5 linked spots

Sharks

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

5 linked spots

Molluscs

Nudibranch

4 linked spots

Saltwater Fishes

Butterfly Fish

3 linked spots

Saltwater Fishes

Parrotfish

3 linked spots

Saltwater Fishes

Angelfish

2 linked spots

Saltwater Fishes

Barracuda

2 linked spots

Rays

Moray Eel

2 linked spots

Rays

Stingrays

2 linked spots

Saltwater Fishes

Triggerfish

2 linked spots

Crustaceans

Crab

1 linked spot

Molluscs

Cuttlefish

1 linked spot

Sharks

Grey Reef Shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

1 linked spot

Saltwater Fishes

Grouper/Basslets

1 linked spot

Turtles

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

1 linked spot

Saltwater Fishes

Jackfish

1 linked spot

Saltwater Fishes

Lionfish

1 linked spot

Molluscs

Octopus

1 linked spot

Seahorses and Pipefishes

Pipefish

1 linked spot

Crustaceans

Shrimp

1 linked spot

Saltwater Fishes

Snapper

1 linked spot

Saltwater Fishes

Sweetlips and Grunts

1 linked spot

Saltwater Fishes

Trumpetfish

1 linked spot

Sharks

Wobbegong

1 linked spot