Liveaboard Diving in Flynn Reef
What To Expect On A Flynn Reef Liveaboard
Liveaboards to Flynn Reef, one of the Great Barrier Reef's most popular areas, gives divers a little bit of everything, with an abundance of marine life swimming amid a backdrop of an outstanding array of hard and soft corals. Diving here is great all year round, and indeed during all hours of the day - an ideal site to go for a night dive and experience how the reef comes to life in the dark.
The reef is situated around 30 minutes from Cairns in Queensland, which does make it accessible for day trips, however if you are onboard a Flynn Reef liveaboard diving you'll have access to a larger variety of the individual sites that Flynn Reef has on offer, such as Gordon's Mooring, Tennis Court, Tracy's Bommie and Coral Gardens. The water in these areas is glasslike with visibility commonly more than 25 metres, ensuring that you won't miss out on any marine animals quietly passing by. The range of sites at Flynn makes it perfect for both novice and experienced divers, and in the shallower areas the snorkelling is also fabulous, for those wanting to make full use of their surface intervals!
What You Can See
Flynn Reef has arguably the best variety of soft coral species in the Cairns area, together with an equally impressive array of hard corals. At appropriately named Coral Gardens, you'll see all manner of shapes and sizes of staghorn, table, boulder, fan and plate coral. Needless to say this abundance of healthy coral means that the marine life around it is just as diverse, with the full array of reef fish on show. All the main players are here to see, including Angel fish, Butterfly fish, Batfish, Clown fish, Fusiliers and Parrotfish. They'll commonly be joined by swift Grey Reef Sharks, graceful Lionfish, and if you are on the lookout Moray Eels are almost always found lurking in small crevices. Looking out into the blue, it's not uncommon for Dolphins and Whales to turn up for the party aswell!
Most liveaboard crews will plan a night dive here, when alot of the action happens - particularly as this is a great time and place to see sharks and barracuda on the hunt.
Conditions for diving are good all year round, with warm water, great visibility, and only mild currents. A once in a lifetime sight is the annual coral spawning, which is a spectacle not to be missed if you are visiting during November to December.
Getting To Flynn Reef
Most Australian liveaboard diving trips to Flynn Reef last for 3 days/2 nights, which gives you ample time to dive all of the best sites. Day trips from Cairns are possible, but time at the reef will be limited and so in order to make the most of this beautiful reef, an Australia liveaboard departing from Cairns is recommended. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit some of the other reefs in this area.
Located to the North of the Australian state of Queensland, Cairns is the easiest place to jump on a liveaboard bound for the GBR. It has a fantastic international airport, served by a huge number of international airlines, making it easy to fly directly here from overseas. You can of course catch one of the many daily flights from other cities such as Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, if your Australian itinerary involves these places.
On the day of your liveaboard trip, most operators will pick you up from your accommodation, and will also drop you off at the end of the cruise.
Flynn Reef Diving Reviews
- 9.4 Superb
- 54 Verified Reviews
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Melvin L
![United States]()
United States
Water warm, occ murky, some current., lots of coral variety, anemones.
Diving Flynn Reef in November on the ScubaPro I
- 9.6 Exceptional
- David V
![United States]()
United States
Spectacular of course. Beautiful and healthy looking coral. Sharks. Turtles. Giant clams. Clown fish. Hundreds of other species of fish. What more could you ask for than to dive the great barrier reef?
Diving Flynn Reef in December on the ScubaPro I
- 9.2 Superb
- Kyra P
![United States]()
United States
Saw reef sharks and turtles.
Diving Flynn Reef in December on the ScubaPro II
- 9.2 Superb
- Cameron S
![United States]()
United States
Very good, some particles in the water (can't be helped because of rain, etc.) but the sea life was amazing.
Diving Flynn Reef in February on the ScubaPro I
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Zachary G
![United States]()
United States
I think this was where I saw my first shark. Fantastic!
Diving Flynn Reef in December on the ScubaPro II
- 8.8 Fabulous
- Brooke E
![United States]()
United States
Loved Flynn reef the most. Easy to navigate and lots of life!
Diving Flynn Reef in May on the ScubaPro I
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Nicole W
![United States]()
United States
Probably the best dive site of all.
Diving Flynn Reef in June on the ScubaPro I
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Anastasia D
![United States]()
United States
Some of the most beautiful coral formations that I've seen.
Diving Flynn Reef in September on the ScubaPro I
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Emilia H
![United States]()
United States
Flynn Reef definitely had some of the best marine life, including turtles, sharks, and clownfish
Diving Flynn Reef in January on the ScubaPro I
- 7.6 Good
- Bevlynn R
![United States]()
United States
My favorite reef of the three we visited. Lots of full beautiful bommies.
Diving Flynn Reef in May on the ScubaPro II
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Mary B
![United States]()
United States
Flynn was probably my favorite reef! Lots of turtles and biodiversity in our night dive too.
Diving Flynn Reef in July on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Samuel C
![United States]()
United States
Flynn Reef was wonderful, lots of turtles and fish.
Diving Flynn Reef in September on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Mercedes Q
![United States]()
United States
The sea life was spectacular
Diving Flynn Reef in October on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Brittny M
![United States]()
United States
Flynn reef was my favorite dive site. Saw barracuda, sharks, many species of fish.
Diving Flynn Reef in January on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Scott P
![United States]()
United States
The flynn reef has beautiful mazes of sunken coral islands(bommies), some reaching close to 20M/60ft tall. Quite a few turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, and giant clams can be seen here besides along with tons of other sea creatures.
Diving Flynn Reef in February on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 9.2 Superb
- Sarah W
![United States]()
United States
Nice! We saw sharks and turtles
Diving Flynn Reef in February on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Andrew W
![United Kingdom]()
United Kingdom
Excellent diving for all levels of diver
Diving Flynn Reef in July on the ScubaPro III
- 8.0 Very good
- Edward F
![Australia]()
Australia
Pristine reef, tons of life loved every minute.
Diving Flynn Reef in August on the ScubaPro II
- 9.2 Superb
- Alvaro P
![Australia]()
Australia
Unforgettable, especially because every dive brings a new point of view, never the same...
Diving Flynn Reef in August on the ScubaPro II
- 9.2 Superb
- Sangwoo H
![South Korea]()
South Korea
Absolutely stunning corals and fish in the Flynn. Seeing Brian the turtle was the highlight.
Diving Flynn Reef in October on the ScubaPro I
- 9.2 Superb
- Craig B
![Canada]()
Canada
Great variety of coral and sea life.
Diving Flynn Reef in October on the ScubaPro III
- 10.0 Exceptional
- David E
![Canada]()
Canada
Site was very diverse with lots to see. More than one can see on two tanks. Many dives could be made here without repeating.
Diving Flynn Reef in November on the ScubaPro I
- 8.0 Very good
- Norbert O
![Germany]()
Germany
great easy dives lots of fish
Diving Flynn Reef in December on the ScubaPro II
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Rebecca T
![Australia]()
Australia
Flynn reef was stunning. So much to see. The early morning and night dives here provided so much activity to see.
Diving Flynn Reef in December on the ScubaPro III
- 9.2 Superb
- Mardi G
![Australia]()
Australia
My favourite, many memorable encounters with wildlife.
Diving Flynn Reef in January on the ScubaPro I
- 10.0 Exceptional
- SHIYUN C
![China]()
China
not too bad due to the visibility underwater
Diving Flynn Reef in February on the ScubaPro II
- 8.4 Very good
- Mark G
![Australia]()
Australia
Flynn reef was the highlight for me. Sharks, Ray's, and too many other fish and corals to mention here.
Diving Flynn Reef in May on the ScubaPro I
- 8.8 Fabulous
- Gary B
![United Kingdom]()
United Kingdom
Such a diversity of fish and the calmness of the waters , fantastic for noobs like me
Diving Flynn Reef in December on the ScubaPro I
- 8.4 Very good
- Vorayos R
![Thailand]()
Thailand
It was very beautiful. I wish I can stay there for hours each dive.
Diving Flynn Reef in April on the ScubaPro I
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Greg M
![Australia]()
Australia
Flynn and Milln are two of the furtherest reefs from shore. There was hardly another boat to be seen which meant you had the dive sites to yourself.
Diving Flynn Reef in September on the ScubaPro III
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Julie P
![France]()
France
Great as well, we saw our first shark :)
Diving Flynn Reef in April on the ScubaPro II
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Nick S
![United Kingdom]()
United Kingdom
Compact easy to navigate but so much to see.
Diving Flynn Reef in May on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Amber B
![United Kingdom]()
United Kingdom
Fantastic - lots of variation of corals and fish. We saw turtles and reef sharks.
Diving Flynn Reef in July on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 10.0 Exceptional
- Jane H
![United Kingdom]()
United Kingdom
I liked the mix of sites, working towards the most spectacular at Flynn, it was jam packed with life!
Diving Flynn Reef in January on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 9.2 Superb
- Blaine R
![Canada]()
Canada
Ski slope on Flynn was a great dive....good viz and corral formation Abundant Life and some great surprises ... Manta and eagle Ray's as well as turtles.... fabulous
Diving Flynn Reef in January on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Marco-Bruno P
![Austria]()
Austria
Nice with an awesome sight of up to 25m.
Diving Flynn Reef in January on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 9.2 Superb
- Amenda E
![Canada]()
Canada
Beautiful, loved seeing the sharks
Diving Flynn Reef in January on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 9.6 Exceptional
- Nicki S
![Australia]()
Australia
Good, fantastic fish life!
Diving Flynn Reef in November on the Pro Dive Cairns
- 8.8 Fabulous
- Peter B
![Australia]()
Australia
More suited to diving than snorkeling
Diving Flynn Reef in September on the Pro Dive Cairns
