Challenger Bay Dive Site

Challenger Bay Dive Site in Cairns is located on Ribbon Reef No.10, north of Cairns.

It is a picturesque sandy bay with small bommies and coral gardens, making it an excellent underwater playground for divers. The site is home to dozens of cleaning stations where fish like sweetlips, triggerfish, coral trout, rock cods, and angelfish gather to be cleaned. Schooling fish such as trevally, barracuda, snappers, and humphead parrotfish can also be seen at Challenger Bay.

Aside from fish, divers can also encounter reef sharks, stingrays, cuttlefish, Maori wrasse, moray eels, nudibranchs, and a large colony of garden eels. The dive site offers opportunities to explore caves and stunning wall formations adorned with vibrant coral and other marine life.

The best time to visit Challenger Bay is during the dry season, from June to October, when visibility is optimal and temperatures range from 22°C to 30°C. To reach Challenger Bay Dive Site, visitors can take a boat from Cairns Marina. It is advisable to book ahead of time to secure a spot on the boat. The boat ride is approximately 80km and takes about two hours. Most tours include diving equipment, snacks, lunch, and refreshments.

Challenger Bay Dive Site in Cairns offers divers an opportunity to explore the fascinating underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. With its abundance of marine life and stunning coral formations, it promises to create unforgettable memories for visitors.