Night Time Diving on the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders and draws in millions of visitors every year.

While most keen divers explore the underwater world by day. However, there is also the opportunity to discover what lies beneath the surface at night, too. Night time diving tours of the Great Barrier Reef give you the chance to explore a different world. At night a unique set of creatures come out to play and surreal lights cast a glow on the surroundings.

What You’ll See When You Go Night Diving

Night diving brings a whole host of different sea creatures to the surface. You might catch a glimpse of large pelagic surface-dwelling fish, such as giant trevally, sunfish, and tuna.

Elsewhere, there’ll still be the chance to spot some of the local favourites, ;ook for whales, turtles, dolphins, and parrot fish. As well as painted lobsters and wonderful coral structures home to thousands more creatures.

The reef really does come alive at night. Swim alongside nocturnal fish that use your torchlight to help them hunt their prey. Look for glittering coral filled with shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans that appear at night.

This is the best time to see sharks, as they are most active when darkness falls. Move slowly as you watch them glide through the waters on the lookout for a feed.

With the help of your torch, you can pick out octopuses as they hide away between coral structures, capture glimpses of moray eels, and watch turtles sleeping.

The Best Places to Go Night Diving

While the Great Barrier Reef is filled with amazing hotspots to go night diving, there are some places that are better than others. If you’re looking to experience the rich array of marine life and explore the lively depths of the water after dark, try heading to the Norman and Flynn Reefs, or travel to the Ribbon Reefs or Osprey Reef which are set in the Coral Sea.

Night Diving is for Everyone

Night diving offers a completely different experience to daytime diving, but it is still great fun for divers of all abilities. Whether you’ve got a few dives under your belt or you’re entirely new to the process, you can get stuck in and experience the underwater world at this unique time.

Many of the dives are held in small groups, so you’ll also have the chance to learn about the rich marine life at night and discover insights into the Great Barrier Reef and its precious ecosystem.