Great Barrier Reef Dive Sites

Ribbon Reefs: Clam Gardens

Clam Gardens is a fantastic dive site made up of 4 large coral bommies. Rising from a sandy seabed of 15m or so, they come to within a few metres of the surface. The shallow depth of the dive site makes for great photo opportunities as it allows in much more light, perfect for those with a camera. It also allows for longer bottom times.

As the name would suggest, clams are the main attraction at this dive site and you will have no trouble spotting them. Some of the clams grow up to 2m in length and can take over 150 years to reach that size. It is quite humbling to think that these creatures have such longevity and really can make you think about your place in the great order of things. Diving is not just about seeing pretty colours!

If you wish to snap out of such deep musings, the reef wall itself, which runs along the eastern end of the dive site, has plenty of overhangs for you to investigate and several small caves, all in the 5 to 6 metre range.

Clam Gardens rewards those who dive at a nice, slow pace. It would be easy to rush by and miss the amazingly colourful nudibranchs on the bommies, or to miss turtles resting in an overhang under one of the larger bommies, or even just a sleeping parrotfish in its protective bubble.

The large fields of staghorn coral act as nurseries for a diverse range of marine life with a gently sloping sandy bottom being home to great numbers of garden eels. You will undoubtedly have enough time to play with the garden eels if you wish. Drop down quietly onto the floor and watch as they slowly stretch out further and further into the water column. Then when you move up or exhale too loudly they nervously retract into the safety of their burrows.

The schooling action, which includes bumpheaded parrot fish, out in the deeper water at Clam Gardens, can be very entertaining, so when you are working your way around the various bommies remember to keep an eye out in the blue.

Clam Gardens Reef Basics: Coral Bommies
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 30m
Currents: None - gentle
Surface conditions: Generally calm
Water temperature: 25 - 30°C
Experience level: Beginner - intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving season: All year round
Distance: 125km north north-east of Port Douglas
Access: Australia liveaboards

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