Two Towers is a world-class snorkel and dive site perched at the northern tip of Ribbon Reef 10 on the Great Barrier Reef. Named for its cluster of towering coral bommies (pinnacles) that rise from the deep, this site is a remarkable story of reef resilience — after severe cyclone damage in 2013 and 2014, the shallow coral cover has rebounded into dense, vibrant gardens. It's also a renowned nursery for dwarf minke whales during the winter months, offering rare encounters with these curious, gentle giants. Schools of trevally, barracuda, and snapper swirl around the bommies, while soft corals and gorgonian fans thrive in the crystalline waters.
Two Towers
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Wave Height 0.3 mSwell Period 5.8 sWind Speed 11 knPrecipitation 3.0 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Strong ocean currents
The site is located offshore on the outer Ribbon Reefs, exposed to open ocean swells and strong tidal flows that can create challenging conditions for snorkelers.
Low risk: Minke whale aggregation season
Dwarf minke whales aggregate here June–July, attracting tour boats; while generally safe, unexpected close encounters with large marine mammals can be startling.
Low risk: Remote location
The site is remote, over 200 km from Cairns with no immediate access to emergency medical facilities.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Two Towers is located on the northern tip of Ribbon Reef 10, approximately 200 km north of Cairns, Queensland. Access is exclusively by liveaboard dive vessel (e.g., Mike Ball's Spoilsport or Spirit of Freedom) or chartered day boat from Cairns or Port Douglas. No land-based access exists.
Parking & facilities
No on-site parking. Parking is available at Cairns or Port Douglas marinas for private vehicles.
Access is via multi-day liveaboard trips or chartered boat tours; prices vary by operator and trip duration (typically AUD $1,500-$4,000+ for multi-day expeditions).
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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