The Outer Reef sites in the Whitsundays sit on the edge of the continental shelf within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, around seventy kilometres from the mainland near Airlie Beach. Hardy Reef, Bait Reef, and the Chimney at Bait Reef offer a wide range of terrain, from shallow coral gardens accessible to beginners to deep wall drop-offs and a narrow vertical cave passage reaching twenty-five metres that demands advanced skills. Depths across the four sites span from the surface to seventy-five metres, and currents can be moderate to strong, particularly at the Chimney and on drift sections of Bait Reef. Spotted eagle rays, common coral trout, and blue tuskfish are among the species recorded here.
2 areas
Monthly water temperature across Outer Reef's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Temperatures range from around twenty-three degrees in August to twenty-nine degrees in February and March. Being well offshore, visibility tends to remain reasonable throughout the year, though conditions at any specific site should be checked before diving given the potential for strong currents.
1 operator
Australia
Water temperature around Outer Reef ranges from about 23°C in July to 29°C in February, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 29°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Outer Reef; in the coldest months (about 23°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 4 sites in Outer Reef (4 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both), organised into 2 areas.
2 more sites to explore
