Coral Sea Is More Than Just a Jay Chou Song! Top 10 Dive Sites on Australia's Coral Sea Liveaboard

If you were born in the '80s or '90s, the name "Coral Sea" will almost certainly stir a faint sense of familiarity. Back then, most of us had no idea what scuba diving was, and the Great Barrier Reef was just some faraway place we'd never been. But "Coral Sea" was as ubiquitous as Jay Chou's name — woven into our everyday lives and blasted from every karaoke room.

Now we've grown up, earned our PADI certifications, and the poetry of distant places doesn't feel so far away anymore — yet "Coral Sea" is rarely mentioned. Until the day you encounter this dive site… and the memories hit you like a wave, pulling you straight back to 2005.

Today, I'd like to introduce what is quite possibly one of Australia's most extraordinary yet least-known dive destinations — the Coral Sea!

The Azure Coral Sea

In the music video for "Coral Sea," the setting is actually an aquarium shop where the female lead works.

Fang Wenshan poured all his romance into the lyrics he wrote for Jay Chou,

yet neither of them may have ever seen the real Coral Sea.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] You've heard Jay Chou sing about the Coral Sea — now do you want to experience the real thing in Australia?[/caption]

So Where Exactly Is the Coral Sea?

The Coral Sea is a body of water located to the east of Australia, bordered by the Tasman Sea and the Solomon Sea. Covering an area of 4.79 million km², with an average depth of 2,243 m, it is one of the largest and deepest seas in the world.

Within the Coral Sea lie numerous islands and reef systems, including the famous Great Barrier Reef. But don't make the mistake of thinking a visit to the Great Barrier Reef means you've ticked off the Coral Sea — you need to venture out to the open ocean to truly experience it. Those are the very dive sites we'll be introducing below!

The Coral Sea's waters fall under a tropical maritime climate, ideal for coral growth, and they attract an extraordinary variety of marine life. Six of the world's seven sea turtle species call this place home. Because of its remarkable biodiversity, the Coral Sea has long been designated as one of the priority monitoring areas by Australia's Department of the Environment.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] This article will take you through ten of the most renowned dive sites in Australia's Coral Sea.[/caption]

--- What secrets are hidden inside the shell --- Ancient mountain ranges rising from thousands of metres below…

Countless reef systems named yet still largely unstudied…

Beneath the Coral Sea lies a world that no one truly understands

yet everyone is utterly captivated by

Spirit of Freedom, is one of two liveaboards based in Cairns that regularly departs for the Coral Sea. We first take a small plane to Lizard Island, Australia's secluded luxury island retreat, and then sail overnight to Osprey Reef.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Dive itineraries can be tailored to different trip lengths, covering the Coral Sea and surrounding dive sites.[/caption]

Ten hours later, as the morning sunlight falls once more across the deck of the Spirit of Freedom, we arrive at the reef system that has left countless divers around the world in awe.

Below, allow me to introduce some of the dive sites you may visit on this liveaboard journey:

Top 10 Dive Sites on a Coral Sea Liveaboard

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 01 / North Horn

Want close encounters with sharks — lots of them? This is the dive site for you! Near the main reef you can clearly see a stretch of rock that gradually drops away to depths exceeding 1,000 m, with an abundance of massive soft corals between 25 and 40 m. At 32 m, a commemorative plaque can be found, dedicated to a beloved ocean enthusiast held dear by the local community. This site is also used by researchers to monitor shark behaviour.

Marine life: Greytip Reef Shark, Humphead Parrotfish schools, Whitetip Reef Shark, tuna, potato cod, Hammerhead Shark, parrotfish, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 02 / North Horn Wall

From the western wall of Osprey Reef all the way to North Horn, this is a breathtaking drift dive along a vertical reef wall that plunges 1,000 m. The site features shallow caves, drop-offs, sheer cliffs, vividly coloured soft corals, and fish of all sizes.

Marine life: Greytip Reef Shark, soft coral, Whitetip Reef Shark, manta ray, dogtooth tuna, Maori wrasse, Hammerhead Shark, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 03 / Half Way Wall

True to its name, Half Way Wall sits between North Horn and another site known as False Entrance. We moor at the edge of the reef, where numerous bommies rise from around 20 m. Be careful — you might glance down and find yourself staring into the abyss of the deep ocean, well over 1,000 m below.

Marine life: Greytip Reef Shark, bigeye trevally, Whitetip Reef Shark, dogtooth tuna, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 04 / Admiralty

Admiralty sits at the lagoon entrance on the southern end of Osprey Reef and is a popular afternoon and night diving spot. A labyrinthine reef structure here is home to an astonishing variety of marine life. The reef plunges from over 30 m down to depths exceeding 1,000 m. The site earned its name as the final resting place of an ancient marine anchor, which can be spotted while exploring the swim-throughs.

Marine life: Greytip Reef Shark, black trevally, Whitetip Reef Shark, manta ray, octopus, Lionfish, moray eel, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 05 / False Entrance

This site gets its name from the large crevices in the reef that look like a foreboding entrance. A large U-shaped gully begins in the lagoon area and descends gradually to around 30 m. The architectural structure of this dive site is truly remarkable.

Marine life: Greytip Reef Shark, bigeye trevally schools, Whitetip Reef Shark, Maori wrasse, triggerfish, needlefish, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 06 / Around The Bend

This dive has it all! It typically begins as a drift dive along a wall that plunges 1,000 m, allowing you to drift "around the bend" and back to the mooring line. For more experienced divers, an isolated bommie 32 m from the wall serves as a manta ray cleaning station and regularly draws in large pelagic fish. Towards the end of the dive, you can explore shallow caves near the mooring line, where a channel provides an ideal spot for your safety stop and the discovery of countless small creatures.

Marine life: Hammerhead Shark, dogtooth tuna, Greytip Reef Shark, soft coral, gorgonian / sea fan, Whitetip Reef Shark, manta ray, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 07 / Castles

Running along the western wall between Admiralty and North Horn, this dive is truly extraordinary — it is made up of a network of gullies weaving between the reef formations. Its fascinating topography and diverse marine life have made it legendary among seasoned divers. The area is riddled with caves of all sizes, and a towering canyon draped in gorgonians / sea fans.

Marine life: Queensland Giant Grouper, Whitetip Reef Shark, moray eel, Clownfish, bigeye fish, catfish, gobies, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 08 / Silver City

This popular dive site is just a few hundred metres from the Castles mooring. The reef wall here slopes at 45 degrees, gradually descending to 100 m. You'll find volcano-like bommies and remarkable caves, with regular fissures through the reef allowing you to swim between lagoon zones as you explore.

Marine life: bigeye fish, Whitetip Reef Shark, triggerfish, silverfish, Greytip Reef Shark, bigeye trevally schools, Maori wrasse, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 09 / Secret Caves

Secret Caves is located at the lagoon entrance on the northern end of Osprey Reef and is a preferred afternoon and night diving spot during the summer months. It consists of a vertical reef wall and an inclined wall that gradually extends into the nearby shallow lagoon area.

Marine life: Greytip Reef Shark, Clownfish, barracuda, Whitetip Reef Shark, manta ray, and an assortment of small fish tucked within the coral, and more

Coral Sea Liveaboard Dive Site 10 / Rapid Horn

Located at the southern end of Osprey Reef, this site is only accessible during summer when the northerly winds prevail. It consists of a sheer vertical cliff face dropping 1,000 m, allowing divers to drift along the wall all the way to the southern tip, where dense schools of fish of all sizes congregate.

Marine life: Greytip Reef Shark, reef shark, barracuda, Humphead Parrotfish, bigeye trevally, scorpionfish, sweetlips, and more

--- Facing the sea breeze, the love is salty ---

The Spirit of Freedom departs Cairns every Thursday

bound for our "private" dive sites in the Coral Sea

But a few days each year

we push a little further, dare a little more

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1048"] The Coral Sea shipwreck draws many diving enthusiasts on a pilgrimage.[/caption]

The SS Yongala — Forever Sunken in the Coral Sea

Yes, you can trust your eyes and your instincts — this is the shipwreck that has remained in the Coral Sea for eternity: the SS Yongala.

In 1911, the Yongala set sail from the Queensland town of Mackay bound for Townsville, but just five hours later, she vanished at sea along with 122 souls. It wasn't until 1958 that her final resting place was first confirmed. (For the full story, see: 《Diving the Mysterious Australian Shipwreck in Strong Currents — S.S. Yongala》)

The SS Yongala wreck is widely regarded as one of the top ten dive sites in the world. The fish life here is extraordinarily rich, blanketing virtually every surface of the hull. You may also encounter Tiger Sharks, Bull Sharks, manta rays, and more — though due to the strong currents, this site is recommended only for divers with at least 50 logged dives.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] The Spirit of Freedom visits the SS Yongala wreck in the Coral Sea.[/caption]

In November 2020, the Spirit of Freedom will, for the first time, organise a combined SS Yongala + Coral Sea liveaboard itinerary. Over seven days, participants will explore this century-old shipwreck in a way that only a handful of people have ever experienced.

In addition to the Yongala, we will also be hosting a Coral Sea Far East Expedition liveaboard in November of next year. With a spirit of adventure, we'll bring you to reef systems that have barely been touched, for eight days of discovery and exploration.

What awaits us may be the dream dive sites we've always longed for — or perhaps nothing at all, save for our deep, salty love of the sea.

--- You say you can't let go --- Who could stay calm when face to face with a shark

Who could forget the sound of a whale's song

We know that, right now

you can no longer erase the Coral Sea from your mind…

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] The Coral Sea liveaboard offers stunning natural scenery including sunrise and sunset views.[/caption]

So let me wrap up with some practical information about the Coral Sea liveaboard — the dates, itineraries, and everything else you've been wondering about.

Coral Sea Liveaboard — Detailed Information

Coral Sea Liveaboard — About the Vessel

At 37 m in length, the Spirit of Freedom is a purpose-built diving vessel equipped with the latest navigation and communication systems, offering the highest standards of safety. We gave her a Chinese name — 深海自由號 (Spirit of Freedom) — symbolising every diver's dream to explore freely in the boundless deep ocean.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] The Spirit of Freedom operates Coral Sea liveaboard itineraries.[/caption]

The Spirit of Freedom accommodates up to 26 passengers and 10 crew members, and is equipped with two spacious dive decks to ensure everyone can enter and exit the water comfortably and efficiently. Where connectivity permits, unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi is also available onboard.

For dining, the onboard chef prepares nutritious, locally inspired Australian cuisine every day to help you replenish your energy and make the most of every moment underwater. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style, while dinner is cooked to order, and you are welcome to enjoy complimentary drinks throughout the evening meal.

A good night's sleep is just as vital to a memorable dive trip. Our cabin options include double, twin-share, and quad configurations, all with air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms, with daily cabin housekeeping service. What could be better than returning from a full day of diving to find your meal already prepared and your bed already made?

If you'd like to elevate your diving skills, the Spirit of Freedom also offers Advanced Open Water Diver and nitrox diving courses onboard.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] The Spirit of Freedom offers not only liveaboard itineraries but also onboard certification courses.[/caption]

Coral Sea Liveaboard — 5 Days / 4 Nights: Departing Every Thursday

The Spirit of Freedom departs Cairns every Monday at noon and spends eight days at sea before returning. You can choose the first three nights, the last four nights, or the full seven nights of the liveaboard experience based on your diving level — the four-night and seven-night options both include the Coral Sea.

Beginning with a flight to Lizard Island, the Coral Sea liveaboard will send any experienced diver's adrenaline soaring. From there, we sail a further 220 km, first stopping at the beautiful Ribbon Reefs for two dives before heading overnight to the remote Osprey Reef.

Osprey Reef is an ancient volcanic atoll, renowned for its crystal-clear waters with visibility ranging from 30 to 100 m. Here you'll come face to face with an array of gorgonians / sea fans, sea whips, and brilliantly coloured soft corals that have grown upward from the deep, forming coral walls that plunge a thousand metres. Most of the dive sites mentioned above are located at Osprey Reef.

Weather permitting, before returning to Cairns we will head south to Bougainville Reef, a site celebrated for its unusual underwater landscapes, caves, and sunken shipwreck remnants.

This five-day Coral Sea itinerary gives you the opportunity for up to 15 dives.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="550"] This article covers the different liveaboard duration options available for the Coral Sea.[/caption]

Coral Sea Liveaboard — 8 Days / 7 Nights: Departing Every Monday

This itinerary combines three nights at Cod Hole with four nights in the Coral Sea. Cod Hole is the most popular option on our Great Barrier Reef offshore itinerary. The journey departs Cairns and heads north for 240 km to reach the Ribbon Reefs, situated on Australia's continental shelf.

Here you'll encounter the resident potato cod family, rare giant clams, friendly sea turtles, enormous schools of tropical fish, and of course the spectacular splendour of soft coral reefs in all their glory. Between June and July each year, you may also have the chance to encounter dwarf minke whales!

The itinerary covers classic dive sites including Pixie Pinnacle, Steve's Bommie, Challenger Bay, Two Towers, Lighthouse Bommie, and Snake Pit. If currents allow, you may also witness schools of sharks at Dynamite Pass. And of course, all of the Coral Sea dive sites mentioned above are also on the agenda.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Magnificent coastal scenery[/caption]

There's a lot to take in today — because whenever the Coral Sea comes up, none of us can seem to stop talking. Whether it's the crew, the chef, the guests, or me here typing away at my keyboard. We want to share our beloved Coral Sea with you, and we hope that when you finally unstrap your scuba tank and say goodbye, you can't help but hum: Turn and walk away, the words to say goodbye won't come…

Further reading:

• SPIRIT OF FREEDOM Official Website