Breaking Patches, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Breaking Patches

  • Exclusive Reef Experience and Reef Encounter Site – Breaking Patches is a private reef site accessible only by Reef Experience and Reef Encounter, ensuring a crowd-free, premium snorkelling and diving experience.

  • Located 42km Northeast of Cairns – Sitting west of Michaelmas Cay, Breaking Patches is a stunning coral reef system in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, easily reached by boat from Cairns.

  • Shallow Depths Perfect for Snorkelling and Diving – With a depth range of 0–14 metres, Breaking Patches is perfect for snorkellers and beginner divers, offering easy reef access and up-close marine encounters.

  • Excellent Visibility for Underwater Adventures.  The site boasts 15 to 20 metres of visibility, allowing divers and snorkellers to fully appreciate the vibrant coral formations and marine life.

  • Thriving Coral Gardens and Marine Life.  Breaking Patches is teeming with colourful coral bommies, home to clownfish, parrotfish, giant clams, and even the occasional sea turtle.

  • Ideal for Certified Divers and First-Time Explorers—With its calm waters, shallow reef edges, and deeper drop-offs, it is suitable for all experience levels, making it a great site for training and leisurely exploration.

  • A Hidden Gem of the Great Barrier Reef As a lesser-known reef site, Breaking Patches offers an uncrowded, pristine underwater world, making every dive and snorkel session an intimate and unforgettable experience.

Discover Breaking Patches

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Breaking Patches, situated just west of Michaelmas Cay, lies approximately 42 km northeast of Cairns. You’ll discover this charming coral garden in waters less than 14 metres deep, making it an ideal location for duck diving. The shallow depths of Breaking Patches provide a thriving habitat for soft corals, which gracefully sway with the currents as you snorkel. Keep an eye out for spaghetti coral, elephant ear coral, and leather mushroom corals among the abundant fleshy corals.

Hard corals are also abundant, with the giant boulder coral a common sight. Many divers enjoy searching for Christmas tree worms within these corals. These tiny invertebrates sport Christmas tree-shaped arms, which they use to capture passing food in the water column, making them a favourite subject for underwater photographers.

Christmas Tree Worms

Additionally, numerous sandy patches on the seabed are where you can observe resting reef sharks and small lagoon rays.

Marine Life

This reef wall is adorned with diverse corals, including long whip coral, vibrant fan coral, and fire coral. And for all you Finding Nemo lovers, you’ll easily spot him in his anemone in this reef.

Given the reef’s relatively shallow depth, scuba divers and snorkelers will encounter giant clams at this site.

Breaking Patches is renowned for its friendly sea turtles, and it’s common to encounter several gentle creatures in this area.

For visitors hoping to find Nemo, this Reef location is an ideal spot to witness a profusion of clownfish.

Map

FAQ’S

What are Breaking Patches?
It is a shallow coral Reef in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park off the coast of Cairns, Queensland. The name “Breaking Patches” comes from how the waves break over the shallow coral patches during high tide.  The shallow reefs are home to an incredible diversity of marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkelling and diving.

How do I get to Breaking Patches?
Visitors can reach this reef by boat from Cairns. One tour operator offers guided snorkelling and diving tours to this area on a liveaboard and a day tour.

What marine life can I expect to see at Breaking Patches?
A diverse range of marine life, including over 150 species of coral and various fish, turtles, and other sea creatures. Visitors can expect to see colourful fish, such as clownfish, parrotfish, and angelfish, and larger species, such as reef sharks and manta rays. It’s also possible to spot dolphins and whales during certain times of the year.

 

What activities are available at Breaking Patches?
  Breaking Patches is primarily a snorkelling and diving destination. Most tour operators offer guided tours, including equipment rental and transportation to and from the Reef.  For those who prefer to stay dry, glass-bottom boat tours offer a unique reef perspective without getting wet. It’s important to note that visitors are not allowed to stand on or touch the coral, as it is a protected ecosystem.

When is the best time to visit Breaking Patches?
  The best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. During this time, the weather is generally sunny and dry, with low humidity and minimal rainfall.  The water is also more transparent during the dry season, making it easier to see marine life and coral.  It’s important to note that Breaking Patches can be affected by strong winds and currents, so it’s always best to check weather conditions before booking your trip.

In conclusion,

Breaking Patches is a unique and stunning destination within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park that offers a range of activities for visitors of all experience levels.  By choosing a reputable tour operator and following all safety guidelines, you can have a safe and unforgettable experience exploring the shallow coral reefs and incredible marine life.

Great Barrier Reef Tours Reef Encounter and Reef Experience hold exclusive rights to Breaking Patches.

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