Oyster Reef is a patch reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, Queensland, known for its vibrant coral bommies, sandy lagoons, and clear tropical waters. Surrounded by deeper ocean channels, this site offers snorkelers a chance to explore healthy hard and soft coral gardens teeming with reef fish. Often visited by half-day and full-day tour operators, it provides a quintessential outer-reef experience with excellent visibility, making it a popular stop among Cairns' reef tour itineraries alongside nearby sites like Upolu Cay and Pretty Patches.
Oyster Reef
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 4.2 sWind Speed 8.1 knPrecipitation 11 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Tidal Currents
Outgoing tidal currents can be strong around outer reef patches, especially near channels between bommies.
Moderate risk: Marine Stingers (Box Jellyfish)
Stingers (box jellyfish) may be present in northern GBR waters during the warmer months (November to May).
Low risk: Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks can occur on the Great Barrier Reef; contact with spines causes painful stings.
Low risk: Sun Exposure
The strong tropical sun and water reflection increase UV exposure risk year-round.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
Oyster Reef is an outer Great Barrier Reef site accessed by day-tour boats departing from Cairns or Port Douglas, Queensland. Trips typically take 1-2 hours to reach the reef.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at Cairns Marina and Port Douglas marinas, where tour operators depart from. Fees apply for long-term parking lots near the terminals.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports