Where is Osprey Reef?

Where is Osprey Reef?

Osprey Reef is a submerged atoll in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland, Australia. Osprey Reef is roughly oval in shape, measuring 25 by 12 km, and covers around 195 km2. The reef sits atop a seamount in deep water.

How deep is Osprey Reef?

Osprey Reef is roughly oval in shape, measuring 25 by 12 kilometres (16 by 7 mi), and covers around 195 square kilometres (75 sq mi). It has a perimeter of 69.5 kilometres (43.2 mi). The central lagoon is only 30 metres (98 ft) deep. The reef sits atop a seamount in deep water.

Why is Osprey Reef unique within the Great Barrier Reef System?

Osprey Reef is generally considered to represent the best diving in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef area. Since it is further offshore and not part of the continental shelf it enjoys clear and rich waters, 2 key factors needed for excellent diving conditions.

Is Osprey Reef a green zone?

One of the biggest changes is that Osprey Reef, 230km off Cooktown, has been included in a green zone, where the only commercial activities to be allowed include diving, snorkelling, and recreational boating.

Where in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef located?

Queensland
The reef is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea. The reef, which is large enough to be visible from space, is made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs. Much of the Great Barrier Reef is a marine protected area, managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority of Australia.

What state is the Great Barrier Reef in?

LOCATION. The Great Barrier Reef is located in the tropical waters of Far North Queensland. The marine park stretches over 3000km (1800 miles) almost parallel to the Queensland coast, from near the coastal town of Bundaberg, up past the tip of Cape York.

Where is the Osprey Reef in Coral Sea?

On an isolated seamount more than 300 kilometres from Cairns sits Osprey Reef, a jewel of the Coral Sea Marine Park. Its breathtaking corals, plummeting drop-offs and crystalline waters make this one of the best tropical dive sites in the world. In contrast to the more sheltered Great Barrier Reef, Osprey Reef is truly wild and remote.

Can You scuba dive in the Osprey Reef?

Osprey Reef is for experienced divers. Most sites can be dived year round with Coral Sea live-aboard dive expeditions. While it’s home to the world’s third-smallest fish, the stout infantfish, Osprey Reef is more famous for sharks.

What kind of fish are in Osprey Reef?

The slopes, pinnacles and mounds feature a lot of stony, leather and staghorn corals as well as crinoids in hues of yellow and black. Marine life includes schools of midnight snapper, red-tailed wrasses, goldstripe wrasses, lyretail hogfish and lyretail sandperch.

Which is the most northerly reef in the Coral Sea?

…Osprey Reef’s diving environment: healthy reefs, wall dives, drift diving, advanced divers, off the beaten track… Situated nearly 350 km away from Cairns, Osprey Reef is the most northerly of the reefs in the Coral Sea.