Breaking Patches

Breaking Patches Reef dive sites stand out even in the Great Barrier Reef‘s greatness. One of the reasons it stands out is it is different from its neighbours.

A little background information first about Breaking Patches

Breaking Patches Reef is located west of Michaelmas Reef. It is just outside of the Michaelmas Cay Locality. Michaelmas Reef is a crescent shape reef, and Breaking Patches sits inside the crescent.

Michaelmas Cay is directly south of the Breaking Patches.

The effect starts the process of calming the sea.

Behind the barrier reefs are areas referred to as lagoons.

We use the word lagoon to describe a small bay of calm water on a coral island, and the lagoon of a Barrier reef is similar. However, it can all be underwater.

The nature of the lagoon allows it to develop coral and marine life that is different from the ocean side.

There is a type of mid-shelf reef that can develop in the protected waters of a barrier reef, is called a patch reef. The Breaking Patches Reef that we have been discussing is of that type.

Make-Up

To confuse things further, The Breaking Patches Reef, located by Michaelmas Cay, is a fragmented reef.

While the lagoon of a barrier reef is relatively calm, the water directly behind a patch reef is even more tranquil.

Marine Life

On Breaking Patches Reef, you will find over 400 types of coral, those found on barrier reefs and those found in coral gardens.

Breaking Patches is famous for sea turtles and black coral trees.

Scuba Dive Sites

As mentioned previously, there is a total of seven moorings located at this reef site.  These are also only visited by two companies.

The four moorings/dive sites visited by the MV Reef Encounter and Reef Experience provide the calmest conditions and the best variety of marine life and structure.

These conditions give snorkelers and resort divers an experience usually unavailable to them. While suitable for beginners, the more advanced diver will find chutes and fingers that they will find interesting.

As an all-around scuba dive destination, this location is a destination to look forward to exploring.

Nearby Reef sites