Admiralty Anchor
Admiralty Anchor is on the western side of Osprey Reef, with the mooring on a bommie at about 8 m. The reef is a cluster of large, closely spaced bommies whose gaps form canyons and gullies, from about 5 m on top to 20 m at the base, then sand sloping to 35 m with hundreds of garden eels before the wall plunges. At about 17 m a dark entrance leads to a Y-shaped tunnel with an old encrusted Admiralty anchor just inside, which gives the site its name. McFadyen advises starting near 35 m and working up. Located in the Coral Sea Marine Park (Australian Marine Parks); Parks Australia notes Osprey Reef is for experienced divers and is protected from fishing. Liveaboard guests need no personal permit (operators are authorised); confirm zoning and rules on the official Coral Sea maps.
Facts
- Region: Great Barrier Reef North
- Area: Osprey Reef & Coral Sea
- Depth: 5–35 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: low
- Type: reef, cave, wall
- Coordinates: -13.887, 146.5569
- Highlights: Admiralty anchor in cave, Y-shaped tunnel, garden eels, bommie canyons
- Tips: Take a torch for the tunnel; the entrance photographs well from inside looking out.