Is Cod Hole a shore dive or a boat dive?

Cod Hole is a boat dive — access is by boat rather than from shore. No facilities are recorded at the site, and cell service is recorded as good. Entry details and parking notes, where known, are listed in the access section of this page.

Can beginners dive Cod Hole?

Cod Hole is rated as intermediate difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Access is by boat. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

IntermediateBoat entry

Cod Hole

Queensland, Australia

Open Water suggestedBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Cod Hole at a glance

Cod Hole is an intermediate boat dive site in Queensland, Australia. Typically most favorable Nov · from 3 years of archive data. Recent reports put the water around 25°C (77°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded just now

2.0 mwaves — about two meters expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 25°C · seasonal avg 25°C

Site hazards: Remote Ribbon Reef logistics, current, depth variation, boat procedures, reef contact, wildlife interaction rules, and limited immediate exit options.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Tue

Fri—

Sat7:00–18:00

Sun7:00–19:00

Mon7:00–19:00

Tue7:00–19:00

Wed7:00–19:00

Thu7:00–19:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:54 · Sunrise 6:15 · Sunset 18:12

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 6.9 km from site · graded just now

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Best time: Best planned through northern Great Barrier Reef operators or liveaboards when sea state, wind, visibility, itinerary, and reef access are suitable.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

Jan84%30°C0.7 m
Feb78%30°C0.8 m
Mar80%29°C0.8 m
Apr51%29°C1.0 m
May12%27°C1.3 m
Jun41%26°C1.1 m
Jul39%25°C1.1 m
Aug31%25°C1.1 m
Sep34%25°C1.2 m
Oct53%26°C1.0 m
Nov90%28°C0.8 m
Dec82%29°C0.7 m

November hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Epinephelus tukula recorded here Jun, Nov–Dec (4 records)
most recent 1996
Cheilinus undulatus recorded here Nov–Jan (3 records)
most recent 2013
Amphiprion percula recorded here Jan (1 record)
most recent 2013
Balistoides conspicillum recorded here Jan (1 record)
most recent 2013
Caranx ignobilis recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 1995
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 1995
Carcharhinus limbatus recorded here Nov (1 record)
most recent 1995
Chelonia mydas recorded here Jan (1 record)
most recent 2013

Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Featured Great Barrier Reef guide

Cod Hole Great Barrier Reef dive guide

Cod Hole is a practical Great Barrier Reef guide for divers planning iconic Queensland reef dives and potato cod encounters. This page turns the listing into a useful research brief covering remote boat logistics, reef-route expectations, marine life, conservation context, and conservative planning.

Open map Check conditions Compare nearby sites Read reviews

PickADive guides and forecast windows are planning context, not a safety clearance. Confirm current conditions, rules, training limits, and operator guidance before diving — the decision is yours.

Planning focus: Northern Great Barrier Reef
Access: Remote boat / liveaboard
Best for: Potato cod and reef life
Planning note: Itinerary-dependent; Confirm the route and alternatives before booking.
Difficulty: Intermediate; Suggested context: Open Water May Fit Some Guided Routes, But Remote Liveaboard Or Boat Logistics, Current, Depth, And Operator Requirements Should Be Confirmed Before Booking.
Depth: Depth varies; Confirm your plan against current conditions and training.

Why dive Cod Hole

Cod Hole is specific enough to be practical while still fitting a broader Great Barrier Reef trip. The guide answers what broad travel pages often skip: what kind of dive it is, why it is famous, how remote logistics shape the trip, and what to verify with the liveaboard or operator.

How to dive it

Plan Cod Hole as a remote boat or liveaboard dive on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Confirm the itinerary, expected depth, current, reef health, guide procedures, marine-life interaction rules, and whether the route fits your certification and recent experience.

Marine life and site character

Cod Hole is researched for large potato cod and northern reef life, but the better planning frame is the whole reef system: coral condition, visibility, current, fish activity, and operator stewardship. Treat any signature animal encounter as a possibility, not a promise.

Best season and conditions

Use operator seasonality, current reef reports, and weather windows together. Remote reef trips depend on vessel schedule, sea state, wind, visibility, current, and conservation rules. If the operator changes the site for conditions, that is part of a safe planning culture.

Hazards and diver readiness

Remote location, current, depth, boat procedures, wildlife interaction, reef contact, and limited immediate exit options all matter. Divers should be comfortable with boat diving and should follow conservation rules around protected reef life.

Local tips

Before booking, ask whether Cod Hole is guaranteed or conditions-dependent on the itinerary, how guides brief potato cod encounters, and what alternative Ribbon Reef sites are used if the main plan changes.

Common questions about Cod Hole

Why is Cod Hole famous?

Cod Hole is famous because divers associate it with large potato cod and northern Great Barrier Reef liveaboard itineraries. The actual dive still depends on conditions, reef health, and the operator route.

Can new divers dive Cod Hole?

Some routes may be manageable for less experienced divers in good conditions, but remote boat logistics, current, depth, and operator requirements matter. Confirm certification and recent experience expectations before booking.

Is Cod Hole usually a day trip?

Many divers encounter Cod Hole as part of a northern Great Barrier Reef liveaboard or extended boat itinerary. Check the exact departure point and schedule with the operator.

Does PickADive guarantee wildlife encounters?

No. PickADive helps with research and planning context. Wildlife, visibility, current, and site access can change, so verify expectations with current local guidance.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

recreational dive site in Australia, Australia

Remote Ribbon Reef logistics, current, depth variation, boat procedures, reef contact, wildlife interaction rules, and limited immediate exit options.

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