DestinationsThe North Horn dive site is located in the Coral Sea at Osprey Reef, a remote atoll in the Coral Sea Marine Park beyond the Great Barrier Reef. North Horn is actually one of the best and most famous dive spots of Australia. It is known for shark encounters and exposed offshore reef diving. Wildlife sightings and specific activities depend on the trip and conditions; no itinerary can guarantee every shark species.
Osprey Reef on film
Meet the sharks of Osprey Reef in this film by underwater filmmaker Tom Park. North Horn lies at the northern tip of this offshore reef in the Coral Sea.
Film: Tom Park · Watch on YouTube
Conditions and experience
Osprey Reef is remote and exposed. Current, sea state and visibility vary; the crew may change or omit sites. Confirm your certification, recent diving and comfort with open-water descents before choosing a Coral Sea itinerary. A short Cairns outer-reef trip and a Coral Sea expedition are different products.
Marine Life
The Marine Life at North Horn is just amazing. This spot is famous for its resident population of Sharks and sightings vary from dive to dive.
The most common at North Horn are the Grey Sharks and the even more impressive Silvertip Sharks. It is sometimes also possible to spot a Hammerhead Shark! The place is also full of the smaller Whitetip reef Sharks.
North Horns attracts numerous pelagic fishes too. You can see Barracudas, Giant Trevallies, mackerel, Rainbow Runners, and Big Dogtooth Tunas! The feeding attracts Big Potato Cods too!
The magnificent Eagle Rays and Manta Rays are can also sometimes glide by if you’re lucky! be spotted, so keep your eyes open!
Boat access and itinerary choice
This is an offshore boat dive. Parks Australia places Osprey Reef more than 300 km from Cairns. Choose a liveaboard itinerary that explicitly lists Osprey Reef and confirm the departure arrangements; a generic Great Barrier Reef booking does not ensure a visit.
Mike Ball Dive Expeditions advertises Cairns departures to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Compare the named route and operating dates. Cod Hole is in the northern Ribbon Reefs and is not interchangeable with North Horn.
Start with our Cairns diving guide and Great Barrier Reef travel guide.
Checked 13 October 2026: Parks Australia: Osprey Reef; Mike Ball Dive Expeditions.
You can dive North Horn all year long. Access: from the Shore. See the map of North Horn on the right for the exact location.
Fishes you may spot while diving North Horn
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Angel Fish
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Barracuda
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Batfish
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Boxfish
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Frogfish
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Goatfish
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Lion Fish
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Moray Eel
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Parrotfish
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Whitetip Shark
... and more fishes & sea life, Nurse Shark, Wobbegong Shark
Photos
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Huge Hammerhead Shark patrolling the reef in French PolynesiaPhoto by Yann Hubert -
Lion Fish swimming in crystal clear waterPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
FrogfishPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Yellow Moray EelPhoto by Yann Hubert -
Batfish Blue SeaPhoto by Rich Guest -
Batfish School Beautiful SettingPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Yellow BoxfishPhoto by Rich Guest -
Barracuda Alone In The Blue SeaPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Whale CloseupPhoto by Matthieu Billaud -
Moray Eel IndonesiaPhoto by Jihye Lee
It is an mazing experience to dive with dozens of grey reef Sharks aroud you… The water is very clear too.
Dived the North Horn with Taka Diving. One of the best dives I have ever done (I am a DM and dived all over the world). 40m+ Vis, vibrant corals and ridiculous amounts of sharks…
I have also dived there with Taka Diving in 2010 and i must say i doubt i will ever get dives like it again.(unless i will the lotto) I had the most fantastic dives i ever had and to this day i still rave about it to anybody that will listen
Does any one know the water salinity of the north horn dive site?
AMAZING EXPERIENCE! WILL DEFINETLY COME AGAIN!!!!