Breaking Patches, Great Barrier Reef

Breaking Patches is a popular reef destination where you can see colourful coral swaying with the currents.

Located just over 40 kilometres from Cairns, Breaking Patches is a shallow reef that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef. Breaking Patches is close to other well known reefs, including Hastings Reef, Jorgensen Patch, and Michaelmas Cay.

See more of the reef

Despite its shallow depth, Breaking Patches is a favourite spot for snorkelling, scuba diving, and glass bottom boat tours. The reef is shallow, with a maximum depth of 14 metres, providing ample opportunity to observe diverse marine life!

The reef’s shallow depths are ideal for spotting the vibrant, soft coral while snorkelling. For a more extensive exploration and the chance to swim alongside marine creatures, consider scuba diving. If you prefer to stay dry, glass bottom boats and semi submarines are available, allowing you to view the marine life without getting wet.

These activities are typically included in a Great Barrier Reef tour!

Look for the marine life

At the sandy patches on the seabed of Breaking Patches, you can often see white tip reef sharks and blue spotted lagoon rays. There are also numerous fish species, such as butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish, to observe.