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MapSpeciesParksDiving
  1. Home
  2. Diving and snorkelling
  4. Australia
  5. Norman Reef
Platform reefUNESCO World HeritageMarine Protected Area

Norman Reef

Depth: 5–25 mLevel: Open WaterAll year round
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One of the most popular day-trip reefs from Cairns, with shallow coral gardens ideal for beginners.

Depth

5–25 m

Recommended level

Open Water

Average visibility

25 m

One of the most popular day-trip reefs from Cairns, with shallow coral gardens ideal for beginners.

Protection status

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (declared in 1975); around 99% of the World Heritage Area lies within the park

UNESCO designation

World Heritage Site (Great Barrier Reef, inscribed in 1981)

Sources consulted: UNESCO World Heritage Centre (ficha 154); GBRMPA (Reef Authority); DCCEEW (Gobierno de Australia); Dive The World; Divernet

Location

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Norman Reef: 51 documented species

Ecosystem

Reef

Similar dive sites

Which other dive sites are like this one?

Same country: Australia

Same country: Australia

Same country: Australia

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Based on what we already know about this dive site.

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Water temperature

26 °C

Current

Weak to moderate

Access

Boat

Best season

All year round

Recommended certification

Open Water

Approx. price

120 USD / dive

Plan your dive

Best season
All year round
Approx. price
120 USD / dive
See location

Same country: Australia

Australia · Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
See on the interactive map→
Giant ClamCritically Endangered

Giant Clam

Tridacna gigas

Giant AnemoneNot Evaluated

Giant Anemone

Stichodactyla gigantea

Disc AnemoneNot Evaluated

Disc Anemone

Discosoma nummiforme

Ritteri AnemoneNot Evaluated

Ritteri Anemone

Heteractis magnifica

Spotted Garden EelLeast Concern

Spotted Garden Eel

Heteroconger hassi

Harlequin Snake EelLeast Concern

Harlequin Snake Eel

Myrichthys colubrinus

Warty SlugNot Evaluated

Warty Slug

Onchidium verruculatum

Great BarracudaLeast Concern

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

SkipjackLeast Concern

Skipjack

Katsuwonus pelamis

Scarlet Cleaner ShrimpNot Evaluated

Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata amboinensis

Peacock Mantis ShrimpNot Evaluated

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Odontodactylus scyllarus

Spanner CrabNot Evaluated

Spanner Crab

Ranina ranina

See all 51 species found here
UNESCO
Coral reef

Heron Island

Australia

Up to 30 m · Open Water

Nesting green and hawksbill turtles · manta rays

See dive site
UNESCO
Coral reef

Lady Elliot Island

Australia

Up to 20 m · Open Water

Reef manta rays for much of the year · turtles

See dive site
UNESCO
Coastal reef

Ningaloo Reef

Australia

Up to 25 m · Open Water

Between 300 and 500 whale sharks a year; giant manta rays · turtles

See dive site
CountryAustralia
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More places in Australia
UNESCO
Coral reef

Whitsunday Islands (Chalkies Beach)

Australia

Up to 20 m · Open Water

Turtles · reef fish

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Ocean
World Heritage
Marine protected area