Hastings Reef is an outer Great Barrier Reef site in the Coral Sea, accessible by boat from Cairns. The six sites in our database include shallow coral gardens, walls, drop-offs, caves, and a site with shore-entry options, covering depths from just one metre down to thirty metres. All sites are listed as beginner-friendly, and visibility is generally good, with site descriptions recording ranges comfortably above fifteen metres on most dives. Species recorded include green sea turtles, Napoleon wrasse, whitetip reef sharks, harlequin tuskfish, and a variety of parrotfish and wrasses. Operators are based in Yorkeys Knob, and the dry season from mid-autumn to mid-spring tends to bring the clearest water.
Monthly water temperature across Hastings Reef's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water is warmest through the wet season from late spring to early autumn and coolest in mid-winter, though temperatures remain comfortable year-round. The dry season generally brings the clearest conditions, making it the preferred period for divers focused on visibility.
4 operators
Water temperature around Hastings Reef ranges from about 24°C in July to 30°C in February, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 30°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Hastings Reef; in the coldest months (about 24°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 6 sites in Hastings Reef (5 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Hastings Reef's dive sites, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
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