411 Dive Log Australasia April 2025

the big attraction is the glorious soft coral wall found between 20m to 30m. The wall is tightly packed with numerous red, orange and yellow soft corals. This is one of the most photographed sites you find on both Dive Queensland and MBDE’s social media pages. It is simply spectacular! To get the best out of it: #1 take a torch to illuminate the colours, #2 leave ample bottom time to absorb the brilliance and #3 get onboard photographer, Pablo to take your picture because that photo is going to end up on your wall at home. The drift dive is completed adjacent to Spoilsport’s mooring on North Horn and a safety stop in shallows reveals numerous species of hard corals, Angel Fish, Chromis, Coris, Anthias, Damsels, Coris, Chaetodons, Blennies, Gobis, Parrot Fish, Nudibranchs and Giant Clams. Back on board we had lunch and made preparations for the final dives at several other sites on Osprey before the exploration came to an end. There is always a sadness inside you when leaving Osprey and the Coral Sea. A combination of being at sea, the remoteness and the spectacular marine life is all inspiring and rekindles the adventurous spirit inherited from our ancestors. But it was time to head West overnight to Lizard Island where some of the divers would leave Spoilsport and board a plane to return to Cairns and onwards to places unknown.

For us, we were staying onboard for the return to Cairns down the magnificent Ribbon Reefs – another travel blog we have written in the past for DiveLog. Please subscribe to Dive Queensland’s Face Book and Instagram social media pages for the latest news on diving and snorkelling opportunities in Queensland.

Large Gorgonian Fans are common throughout the Coral Sea.

Hard and soft corals and sponges dominate the walls

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DIVE LOG Australasia #411- April 25