What is FNQ’s best dive spot
Reef photographer singles out favourite site on Barrier Reef
A 30M tall coral bommie off the coast of Cooktown has been declared the best dive site in the Far North.
Brisbane-based underwater photographer and author Nigel Marsh has launched his guide to the best diving spots along the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea. His book, Coral Wonder
land, provides detailed information on more than 170 sites, ranging from those with unique marine life through to shipwrecks.
It is a follow-up to Dive Sites of the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea, which he compiled with Neville Coleman 20 years ago.
Mr Marsh, who has logged nearly 1000 dives along the natural attraction in 33 years of diving, said his favourite spot in the Far North was Steve’s Bommie on the southern part of the Ribbon Reefs.
“It’s a spectacular bommie that rises up from 36m to 6m (under the sea surface),” he said.
“It’s completely covered in
the most amazing fish life. Every time I dive, I’m left absolutely gobsmacked by the sheer volume of marine life on it.
“There’s masses of fish, sea snakes, sharks and also lots of good small stuff as well.
“It’s an all-round brilliant dive every time you do it.”
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which covers 344,400sq km, is home to 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and about 150 inshore mangrove islands.
It is between 60km and 250km in width.
Mr Marsh, who has also dived around the world, said the Reef still astonished him every time he headed underwater.
“It’s just so spread out,” he said.
“It’s not like there are some dive destinations and they’ve got a handful of reefs.
“I’ve been diving the Reef for 35 years and I still haven’t dived everywhere there.
“I would probably have to live 10 lifetimes to explore it all.”
The natural attraction has suffered significant coral bleaching following elevated sea temperatures earlier this year.
Mr Marsh, however, believed the coral would be able to easily bounce back.
“The good thing is the Reef is pretty resilient,” he said.
“Even if you do have a bleaching event, I think 80-90 per cent of the corals can recover.
“And luckily the water temperature did start dropping in April, so it wasn’t a long-term effect.”