Outer Great Barrier Reef · Marine Park Green Zone
Taylor Reef
Spectacular bommie formations, resident manta rays and barracuda schools — one of the most dramatic reef structures in tropical North Queensland.
About This Reef Site
Dramatic Bommies & Pelagic Action
Taylor Reef is one of the Great Barrier Reef's most visually dramatic dive sites — a series of towering coral bommies (pinnacles) rising from a sandy seafloor at 20–22 m up to within 8 m of the surface. Located approximately 60–90 minutes east of Mission Beach, Queensland, Taylor Reef sits within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Green Zone — completely protected from extraction since the Marine Park's inception.
The bommie structure creates a complex underwater landscape of overhangs, swim-throughs, ledges and sandy valleys that support an extraordinary diversity of marine life. Each pinnacle is encrusted with colourful hard and soft corals, sea fans, whip corals and sponges, creating a multi-layered habitat from top to base.
Taylor Reef is best known for its seasonal manta ray visitations (June–October) when reef manta rays gather at the bommie cleaning stations, and for its resident barracuda and trevally schools that circle the pinnacle structures in impressive formations.
8 – 22 m
Depth Range
20 – 30 m
Visibility
Intermediate
Difficulty
Bommies & Coral Garden
Site Type
Mild (seasonal)
Current
June – October
Manta Season
What Lives Here
Marine Life at Taylor Reef
The bommie habitat of Taylor Reef supports exceptional pelagic action alongside resident reef species — making every dive unique.
Reef Manta Rays
SeasonalJune – October
Reef manta rays visit Taylor Reef's bommie cleaning stations from June through October. Multiple mantas are often present simultaneously, gliding gracefully to have parasites removed by cleaner wrasse.
Eagle Rays
RegularSpotted eagle rays cruise the sandy valleys between bommies throughout the year, often in pairs or small groups. Their wingspan can reach over 2 m.
Barracuda Schools
CommonDense schools of great barracuda and chevron barracuda orbit the upper sections of the bommies in tight formations, creating spectacular visual corridors for divers passing through.
Giant Trevally
CommonGiant trevally (GT) and bluefin trevally patrol aggressively around the bommie structure, ambushing smaller reef fish. Encounters are exciting and up close.
Nudibranchs
CommonThe encrusted bommie walls are exceptional for nudibranch spotting — an astounding diversity of species inhabit the coral and algae surfaces throughout the site.
Octopus
RegularCommon octopus and day octopus are frequently spotted tucked into bommie crevices, occasionally venturing across the sandy floor between structures.
Hawksbill Turtles
RegularHawksbill turtles are resident at Taylor Reef, frequently observed feeding on sponges in the deeper bommie sections and resting on coral ledges.
Coral Trout & Groupers
CommonLarge coral trout and leopard coral grouper occupy the bommie overhangs in considerable numbers — a sign of the reef's fully protected Green Zone status.
8+
Coral bommie formations across the site
Jun–Oct
Peak manta ray season at the cleaning stations
Green Zone
Marine Park protection — pristine fish biomass
Practical Information
Dive Information & Logistics
Everything you need to know before diving Taylor Reef with Mission Beach Dive.
Location & Access
- •Outer Great Barrier Reef, 60–90 minutes by boat from Clump Point Marina, Mission Beach
- •Only accessible by boat — no shore diving possible
- •Mission Beach Dive operates regular day trips combining Taylor Reef and Beaver Reef
- •GPS coordinates: approx. 17°43'S, 146°23'E (Marine Park Green Zone)
Who Can Dive Here
- •Open Water certified divers and above — recommended as a minimum certification
- •Advanced Open Water divers for deeper bommie exploration (20–22 m)
- •Not suitable for Discover Scuba — the deeper profile and mild currents require a certified diver
- •Snorkelling possible over the shallower tops of the bommies (8–10 m from surface)
- •Excellent site for advanced students completing deep dives and navigation dives
Dive Profile
- •Typical dive duration: 45–55 minutes
- •Bommie tops: 8–10 m — ideal for extended exploration and photography
- •Bommie mid-section: 12–16 m — best coral diversity and nudibranch hunting
- •Sandy base: 20–22 m — eagle ray and manta encounters, reef shark sightings
- •Night dives available on multi-day liveaboard departures
- •Multiple bommies allow two distinct dives on a single day trip
Best Conditions
- •Excellent year-round with best conditions April–December
- •Manta ray season: June–October (most reliable July–September)
- •Visibility 20–30 m in dry season conditions
- •Mild seasonal currents — beneficial for pelagic sightings
- •Water temperature: 24–30°C year-round
- •Avoid in strong north-easterly conditions — operator will assess conditions before departure
What to Bring
- •3 mm wetsuit (5 mm in winter for extended deeper dives)
- •All SCUBA equipment provided by Mission Beach Dive
- •Reef-safe sunscreen only — chemical sunscreens banned in Green Zones
- •Underwater camera — bommies offer outstanding macro and wide-angle opportunities
- •Buoyancy skills — good buoyancy control important around bommie structures
- •Seasickness medication if susceptible — 60–90 minute ocean crossing each way
Marine Park Regulations
- •Taylor Reef is a Green Zone — no fishing, collecting, spearing or extracting
- •Do not touch, rest on or disturb coral formations or any marine life
- •Maintain respectful distance from manta rays — never intercept their flight path
- •No feeding of any marine animals
- •Marine Park day permit included in Mission Beach Dive trip prices
- •Reef-safe sunscreen mandatory in Green Zone waters
Common Questions
Taylor Reef FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about diving and snorkelling Taylor Reef.
Dive Taylor Reef with
Mission Beach Dive
We run regular outer reef day trips combining Taylor Reef and Beaver Reef from Clump Point Marina, Mission Beach. All equipment, Marine Park permits and expert local guiding included. Small groups only — maximum 12 guests.
Departure Point
Clump Point Marina,
Mission Beach QLD 4852