Saxon Reef (16.4607° S, 145.9900° E) is a patch reef on the Outer Barrier Reef. It is located approximately 55km Northeast of Cairns.
Saxon Reef is a well-known dive and snorkeling site located in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, northeast of Cairns, Australia.
Diving and Snorkelling
- Depth: The reef has a range of depths suitable for snorkelers and divers, with shallow areas ideal for beginners and deeper spots for more experienced divers.
- Visibility: Typically good, offering clear views of the reef’s colorful marine life and coral formations.
- Features: Saxon Reef is known for its diverse coral gardens and abundant marine life, making it a popular choice for underwater photography.
Saxon Reef is a fantastic destination for exploring the beauty and diversity of the Great Barrier Reef, offering something for snorkelers and divers of all experience levels.
Dive sites
- Reef Main: A popular spot featuring diverse coral formations and abundant marine life. This site is known for its vibrant coral gardens.
- Coral Gardens: Renowned for its extensive and colorful coral formations.
- Pinnacle: A dive site that features a prominent underwater pinnacle or coral outcrop, often attracting a variety of fish species and sometimes larger marine animals.
Commonly found marine life at Saxon Reef:
- Clownfish (often found in anemones)
- Parrotfish
- Butterflyfish
- Angelfish
- Reef Sharks (such as the White-Tip Reef Shark)
- Turtles (Green and Hawksbill turtles)
- Giant Clams
- Giant Trevally (a large predatory fish)
- Damselfish
- Surgeonfish
- Nudibranchs (colorful sea slugs)
- Moray Eels
- Lionfish
- Coral Species (including staghorn, brain, and plate corals)