Skip to content
OpenWaterAtlas
A stunning underwater scene featuring bubbles, a diver, and coral reefs.
📷 Francesco Ungaro · Pexels

Moore Reef - 5 Ways

3.5 — based on 15 community signals
4.2 12 species 19 contributors

Moore Reef – 5 Ways is a year-round Great Barrier Reef dive site in Australia with 12 documented species and no current coral stress.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Great Barrier Reef World Herit… updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
MPAPhotoFriendlyFamily-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Manta ray, Blacktip reef shark

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Moore Reef - 5 Ways location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
22.2 kn
Wave
1.58 m
Water
23.3°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: SE (68%)
Now: SE (130°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.98m

Next: High at 05:00 (+0.58m)

+1.8 m0 m-0.2 m
▲ 05:00 · +0.58m ▼ 10:00 · +0.21m ▲ 18:00 · +1.37m ▼ 00:00 · +0.24m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV8.5 · very high Air PM2.516 · moderate 06:07 18:10
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 24 1.68 9 1mm
09-20 18.2 1.32 6 0mm
09-21 14 0.88 7 0mm
09-22 16.6 1.02 6 3mm
09-23 16.9 1.06 9 8mm
09-24 19.8 1.1 9 10mm
09-25 19.7 1.14 6 1mm

About this spot

Moore Reef – 5 Ways sits within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, one of the planet's most protected coral ecosystems. The site draws divers year-round, making it accessible for most planning windows. The reef hosts 12 recorded species observations, suggesting a solid mix of fish and coral life typical of the broader reef system. The site operates under World Heritage protections, which means dive operations follow strict conservation guidelines. This status ensures the reef receives active management and monitoring. Community contributions include three dive videos, offering real-world glimpses of conditions and marine activity at the location. Coral stress monitoring shows no current bleaching concerns, a positive indicator for reef health. Divers visiting now find a reef in stable condition. The protected status and documented species diversity make this a solid choice for reef exploration within the Great Barrier Reef system.

📖 Guide: Diving in Australia: 61 Sites from Coral Reefs to Cold-Water Wrecks

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Manta rayBlacktip reef shark

Dive types

ReefBoat

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type I · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 15174km · ~3490kg · €63

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 53/100
  • Visa: e-Visa · 90 days max
  • Flight: 16h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 9h east · 6 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Moore Reef – 5 Ways?

The site is diveable year-round. Australia's tropical north has seasonal variations—summer (Dec–Feb) brings warmth but higher rainfall, while winter (Jun–Aug) offers clearer water and cooler temperatures. Check local conditions before booking.

What depth and difficulty level should I expect?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not documented for this site. Contact local dive operators in the Great Barrier Reef region for current information on bottom depth, wall structure, and recommended certification levels.

What marine life can I see at Moore Reef – 5 Ways?

Twelve species have been recorded at this site. The Great Barrier Reef system typically features hard and soft corals, reef fish, rays, and occasional larger pelagics. Community videos provide visual reference for actual sightings.

Are there permits or access restrictions?

Moore Reef – 5 Ways is within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Marine Park. Dive operations must comply with World Heritage and marine protection regulations. Book through authorized local operators familiar with current access rules and zoning.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Moore Reef - 5 Ways

0 km
Dive centre

Moore Reef - Labyrinth

2.3 km
Dive centre

Horseshoe

7.1 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

34 records · 25 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Leptopoma perlucidum

Gastropoda · Cyclophoridae
GBIF
Last seen:
24 Jan 2026
×2records

Pateobatis fai

Elasmobranchii · Dasyatidae
GBIF
Last seen:
22 Jan 2026
×1records

Bufonaria rana

Gastropoda · Bursidae
GBIF
Last seen:
19 Jan 2026
×1records

Neosarmatium fourmanoiri

Malacostraca · Sesarmidae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Jan 2026
×8records

Tubuca coarctata

Malacostraca · Ocypodidae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Jan 2026
×2records

Telescopium telescopium

Gastropoda · Potamididae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Jan 2026
×1records

Tubuca dussumieri

Malacostraca · Ocypodidae
GBIF
Last seen:
12 Jan 2026
×1records

Triboniophorus graeffei

Gastropoda · Athoracophoridae
GBIF
Last seen:
5 Jan 2026
×1records

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

Elasmobranchii · Carcharhinidae
GBIF
Last seen:
5 Jan 2026
×1records

Nanomia bijuga

Hydrozoa · Agalmatidae
OBIS
Last seen:
25 Oct 2024
×1records

Oikopleura (Vexillaria) dioica

Appendicularia · Oikopleuridae
OBIS
Last seen:
22 Feb 2024
×1records

Maxillopoda

Maxillopoda
OBIS
Last seen:
15 Feb 2021
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Certified on Moore Reef, 5 Ways, Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia: 10/3/2016

Dee Emswiler

DIVING INTO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF | Quicksilver Port Douglas

Sir Davidoff
💬 3 top comments
  • Never tried it before and I'm kind a afraid of water but seems like you have a load of fun ❤

    @mrhakimi5275 · 👍 4
  • Congrats of you certificate of recognition 👏

    @KarloEG · 👍 1
  • Miami of Australia, never thought of it.Just need Cuban restaurants & music & there you have it.

    @KarloEG · 👍 1

Diving @ Moore Reef.

Harry North
wind peaks May-Apr-Aug, calmest Oct-Dec-Nov, dry May-Nov.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Sep (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

Nearby spots

Moore Reef - Labyrinth Australia Diving
🇦🇺 Australia

Moore Reef - Labyrinth

Moore Reef Labyrinth is a year-round dive site in Australia's Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, featuring healthy coral and diverse marine life.

Intermediate 25m Jan·Feb·Mar+
Plate Top Australia Diving
🇦🇺 Australia

Plate Top

Plate Top is a year-round dive site within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, offering access to healthy coral systems and diverse marine life.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+
Clipper Australia Diving
🇦🇺 Australia

Clipper

Clipper is a year-round dive site within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Healthy coral and consistent marine life make it a reliable choice.

Beginner 25m Jan·Feb·Mar+

Similar spots

Same activity, shared marine species or similar profile.

Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Sabolon besar dive site

Sabolon Besar offers year-round diving around a remote island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, with documented marine biodiversity and accessible conditions for most skill levels.

Beginner
Entrence base Maldives Diving
🇲🇻 Maldives

Entrence base

Entrance Base in Kaafu Atoll offers year-round diving near Eriyadhoo island, with documented marine life and active community content.

Beginner 25m Jan·Feb·Mar+
Raja Ampat — Manta Sandy Indonesia Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Raja Ampat — Manta Sandy

Two cleaning stations in Dampier Strait where reef mantas queue up to be cleaned by wrasses. Coral Triangle classic.

Intermediate 8–22m 20m Jan·Feb·Mar+
Manta Point Indonesia Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Manta Point

Manta Point in Indonesia's Gili Islands marine reserve offers reliable manta ray encounters year-round in a protected area.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+

Suggest an operator

Know a great dive shop, kite school, or local guide at this spot? Tell us — we'll review and add it.

Up to 500 characters
Plan
View →