Not many people get the chance to scuba dive on Osprey Reef. Travelling almost due north of Cairns, and well outside the Great Barrier Reef, you eventually encounter this isolated reef system. Separated from Australia's continental shelf by a deep water trough, this long oval atoll was first discovered in 1803. It covers around 100 square kilometres and it's outer walls drop sharply to great depth. They are broken by several deep cuts that lead into a central lagoon but there is no real land and the only inhabitants are a large population of sea birds.

What makes this destination a must for divers is that it is one of Australia’s best locations for shark sightings and there are plenty of them. North Horn is the most popular dive site as whitetip sharks, grey whalers and grey reef sharks are common. At different times of year there are also hammerheads and tiger sharks. Schooling pelagics – tuna, mackerel and jacks – are seen frequently as are turtles plus there is the occasional manta ray.