Passions sail to two unique outer reef locations with a choice of private moorings. Each day we select the site best suited to the weather conditions in order to give our guests the best possible experience. Our exclusive moorings include:
The name says it all. A long length of solid coral extending about 200 meters split in the middle. Harbouring a great swim-through for the divers it also features a really unique drop off at the western end comprised of large hard coral formations where schooling fish abound. We can only access this site in calm weather due to its exposure but when we do, our passengers love it.
You guessed it. Named after the original Passions of Paradise back in 1995, the area was formerly a great fishing spot for coral trout, red emperor and other popular dinner fish. When the reef was declared a green zone the fishing stopped and the area now abounds with these types of fish. Good wall to 18 meters for the divers and shallow reef for the snorkelers, plus several fun bommies close by, Paradise Reef is a small spec of reef away from the larger reefs and exclusive to Passions of Paradise.
Located on Flynn Reef, one of Cairns’ most prized reefs due to its water clarity and fish life, Little Tracey’s is a superb location for both snorkellers and divers. Shallow walls and crevices in the reef provide snorkellers with a wonderland of coral and small colourful fish, while divers will experience larger pelagic fish life, and beautiful coral bommies tempting both newly certified and experienced divers. It is a good spot to see turtles, small reef sharks and cruising tuna.
When the winds are from the north, Point Break offers excellent protection. With a current wrapping around the end of the reef, this mooring is safely tucked inside the eddy providing calm clear water and lots of small bommies covered in fish life and coral.
Located along the central part of Hastings Reef, 1770 is very well protected from strong winds and offers great diving and snorkelling in a shallow lagoon. For the more experienced diver, they can be boat dropped with a guide at the “Twins”, a couple of bommies rising up from 20 meters that provide a fantastic adventure dive back to the boat. Expect to see some pelagics, maybe a shark or turtle, definitely some schools of juvenile fish, and some great coral formations.
Gold Clubs is our second “wildside” Hasting Reef site and is a great mooring to avoid strong westerly winds. Golf Clubs has a wrap-around reef that both snorkellers and divers can follow with predominantly hard corals covering the wall. The boat backs up very close to the reef making the area very easy to access.
Named for the cove that indents into the reef. Pirates Cove provides good protection from the summer northerly winds. Located along the southern section of Hastings, the fish life and coral sprawl between the two edges of the reef. Divers will find many strange tongue like coral formations at around 14 to 18 meters, the result of the prevailing winds. Snorkellers can access a large area of reef safely protected from strong winds.
Located at the very southern end of Hasting Reef, this mooring is named after the many bommies that are “split” away from the reef and a swim-through located in about 12 meters of water. As the swell can wrap around the bottom of Hastings Reef, we travel to this mooring in light winds. However, due to its southern proximity to the reef, fish collect in the current line and it is common to see small reef sharks and pelagics gliding through the water.
One of our signature moorings and as the name suggests, this mooring has numerous coral bommies “stepping” out from the boat. This is a great dive, particularly in strong winds because certified divers can travel between 3 or 4 bommies in one dive, stay close to the boat and experience a wide diversity of coral and fish life in safe conditions. Snorkellers also have access to all the brilliant shallow reefs that make Hastings one of Cairns most popular reefs. We really enjoy this mooring as it offers something for everyone.
One of our all time favourite diving and snorkelling locations, Club 10 has acres of beautiful shallow coral where you’ll dive and snorkel with the most dazzling colourful fish. Certified divers are treated to two large coral draped bommies, shared with garden eels, trevally and other pelagic fish. This location is perfect for all levels of experience and will showcase the very best the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.
This is one of our moorings we use when the wind is from the North. Dropping on a steep angle from the reefs edge, it is located near the southern end of Milne, and is home to many interesting formations cut over time into the reef from wind and wave action. A great dive and snorkel to see hard coral.
The most southern mooring on Milne, The Edge, is located, as its name implies, along the edge of the reef where the coral wall is draped in life and fish action. This area is a recognised fish aggregation area. Snorkellers can swim over the reef flats near the very end of the reef while divers do a wall dive. For those with advanced qualifications, a row of deep bommies, called the “Pinnacles”, offers schools of barracuda and resident sharks and a drift dive.
A unique bommie with a shallow top creating the effect of a Whales “blowhole” during low tide. The Whale can be dived or snorkelled and is great for all experience levels. The Whale is located close to the edge of the reef making snorkelling easy. For those with Advanced Certification, Little Whale (further out and in 24m of water) offers deeper diving and swim throughs.
Recognised as one the truly great dives on the Great Barrier Reef, The Three Sisters offers everyone something to excite. Each of the “Sisters” (or coral bommies) are different. Ranging in depth from 12 to over 30 meters, they cater to all levels of diving and the abundant fish life is brilliant. Sleeping sharks, turtles and schooling fish are common, and for the snorkellers, Milne Reef offers clear water and lots of shallow walls draped in coral.
Five Ways offers divers the best swim-through experience in Cairns. As the name suggests, it is several bommies made up of five difference swim throughs. These are easy to navigate and lots of fun. Average depth within the swim-throughs is about 12 meters, so perfectly suited to all levels of experience. The bommies have great coral cover and make a fun playground for snorkellers who can watch the divers from above as they navigate the swim-throughs.
Named after one of the founders of the company (who “found” this location), Alan’s wall is a spectacular deep water dive site with many crevices and swim-throughs alongside an 18 meter drop. Snorkellers will enjoy snorkelling along the edge of the wall and into the two shallow bays on each side. Lots of fish life including sharks and maori wrasse and clear water. Norman Reef is one of Cairns’ best.
When the gentle northerlies blow from the equator this is our site of choice when we are at the popular Norman Reef. Big wall, as the name suggests, starts at a shallow 4 to 6 meters before descending down to 28m. Snorkellers can follow the walls edge and the unique finger like formations created by wind and wave action while certified divers can explore the depths. As part of Norman Reef, small sharks, turtles, and pelagics are common.
Will I see a shark? Probably. Shark Mountain is named after them and it is very common to see a shark while snorkelling or diving. The “Mountain” is a large coral bommie that is a great certified dive down to 20 meters or more. There is even a small shipwreck at around 14 meters, the result of a fishing boat catching on fire and sinking down to the reef many moons ago. The steelwork and engine components are still visible. Snorkellers are in for a treat as Norman Reef is well known as one of Cairns best reefs. Lots of fish, coral, and clear water make this area a great reef experience.
A very pretty isolated patch reef located between Arlington Reef and Michaelmas Cay. We are one of only two companies with a permit to access this reef. Very untouched and travelled to only in light summer winds. Turtles are common. Coral cover is great and the many tightly grouped bommies make for great diving in depths up to 18 meters. When the weather is right, we love travelling to this outcrop of isolated reef.
This site is a stunning lagoon surrounded by coral. Snorkellers have a fantastic range of bommies rising up from 12 to 18 meters to snorkel over, while divers can experience swim-throughs, pinnacles, and schools of grazing fish. As the name suggests, this is a mooring where the boat can swing “360” degrees and is a great location in variable winds.
A new mooring added in 2016, this mooring sits in a prime location at the very “Eastern” end of Thetford Reef where it is protected from summer northerly winds. East meets West is where Thetford Reef breaks from a solid wall (the West) into many small bommies (The East). A great place for calm water snorkelling and diving.
Upolu is the closest reef to Cairns and home to many varieties of soft coral. Extasea mooring is a swing mooring in a shallow sandy lagoon fringed by coral in about 5 meters of water. Behind the boat, the reef drops down to 18 meters. Upolu is a popular destination frequented by sailboats because of its close proximity to Cairns.
