Liveaboard Diving in Cod Hole
What To Expect On A Cod Hole Liveaboard
When anyone looks into liveaboards in Australia and the best and most well-known sites for diving on the Great Barrier Reef, they'll inevitably come across the famous Cod Hole sooner rather than later. As its name suggests, this unique place has become world-renowned due to its resident family of huge Potato Cod, making this site their permanent home. Along with the main attraction, you'll see a wealth of underwater life and be gliding through the water with visibility commonly over 25 meters with only gentle currents.
Cod Hole is located around 100 kilometers north of Cairns in Queensland, at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef, and forms part of the Ribbon Reef section (reef number ten). Being so far away from the coast, the only realistic way to experience the best of Cod Hole is via liveaboard, lasting a few days. Most liveaboard diving tours that visit Cod Hole will also cruise through many other beautiful diving spots in the Ribbon Reefs over the duration of the trip. The conditions allow year-round diving, with water temperatures ranging from 22 to 29 degrees Celcius.
What You Can See
Many of our Australian liveaboard operators offer itineraries that visit Cod Hole as part of the dive schedule.
Even though they expect it, divers are constantly wowed by the sheer size and presence of the giant Potato Cod that has made this one of the most talked-about dive sites worldwide. They have become used to human contact and are comfortable near people, allowing a great opportunity for detailed photos of these beautiful creatures. Weighing up to a massive 60 kilograms, feeding of these fish has been sanctioned by the Queensland government, and feeding time initiates a wave of activity as other animals such as Solomon's Sweetlips, Coral Trout, and Trevally all try to get their fair share. You'll likely encounter large numbers of Maori Wrasse here, also known as Humphead Wrasse, another huge specimen - sometimes growing to 2 meters long and a whopping 180 kilograms.
If you're visiting during the Australian winter (July/August), you may be lucky and have the rare experience of viewing Dwarf minke whales. They are curious characters and often hang around when divers and snorkellers are about - a truly unique and wonderful spectacle. Your liveaboard operator may be involved in Minke Whale research and monitoring, and there may be a possibility of you participating in this.
How To Get To Cod Hole
This stunning area of the Coral Sea is situated to the very north of the Great Barrier Reef, in a remote spot far from the nearest coastal town. As such, it's only possible to visit Cod Hole on an Australia liveaboard, which will sail you in comfort to this and other outer sections of the GBR. Cairns, the most common port for departing cruises, is the best place to board your liveaboard cruise. Some Liveaboard.com operators include a stunning low-level reef flight as part of their package to commence or end the trip.
Cairns has a busy airport served by many large international carriers, making it easy to fly directly from many overseas locations. If this is not possible, you can catch a domestic flight from one of the larger Australian cities, such as Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney.
As with most liveaboard cruises, your operator will likely pick you up from your chosen accommodation (and take you back afterward), as part of their service.
