Best time to go
September to November
Glassy mornings, warm water around 27°C to 29°C and good visibility.
Main caution: Wet season squalls, higher humidity, tropical lows possible.
Outer reef day boats, minke whales, and ancient rainforest on one doorstep
Updated Oct 30, 2025 • 21 sources
Top species linked to approved dive spots in Port Douglas.
Quick shortlist before you jump into the full planning page.
Pontoon outer reef off Cairns with sharks and turtles
DiveJourney destination guides are living documents built from local knowledge, operator experience, and publicly available sources. Conditions, regulations, and logistics can change. Each guide shows its last update date and sources used.
Last updated: October 30, 2025 • 21 sources
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Overview
Base yourself in Port Douglas for fast runs to the northern Great Barrier Reef. Day boats reach the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs and Opal Reef for walls, bommies, and clear-water snorkel lagoons, while Low Isles delivers gentle coral gardens minutes offshore. Winter brings rare swim-with dwarf minke whales on Ribbon Reefs liveaboards. The town sits between Four Mile Beach and World Heritage rainforest, with Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation within easy reach. Expect warm water, professional operators, and strict reef protection rules that keep coral healthy for divers, freedivers, and snorkelers.
Speedy day boats from Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina reach Agincourt and Opal Reef sites for three-stop itineraries.
Green Zones and no-anchoring areas safeguard coral; tours use public moorings and strict codes of practice.
June-July liveaboards to the Ribbon Reefs offer rare in-water encounters under a certified code of practice.
Low Isles offers sandy cay entries and shallow coral gardens close to shore.
Trip Planning
External Booking PartnerThis destination works either as a land-based plan or as a longer liveaboard itinerary. Use the guide for local planning, or compare boats if the remote circuit is the priority.
Land-based guide
Base areas, day boats, local operators, and shore logistics
Liveaboard planning
Boats, departures, and longer expedition-style routes
DiveJourney may earn referral revenue from the external booking partner. Liveaboard bookings are handled by the partner and operator under their terms.
Triaenodon obesus
14 linked spots
Best time to go
September to November
Glassy mornings, warm water around 27°C to 29°C and good visibility.
Main caution: Wet season squalls, higher humidity, tropical lows possible.