The giant potato cod of the Cod Hole – temporarily displaced after cyclones and mass bleaching - are back in a sign of recovery and renewal at the most famous dive site on the Great Barrier Reef.

Removed from tourism brochures after their coral kingdom was hit by two cyclones, the Cod Hole on Ribbon Reef No. 10 has rebounded in stunning glory. 

New coral growth, vibrant marine life, and the return of its iconic potato cod have restored the site’s reputation as one of the world’s greatest dives.

The Reef Authority’s Nick Leigh, a Master Reef Guide who has documented the Cod Hole for 15 years, said the story is not just one of nature’s resilience, but also of tourism stewardship. 

• “It is fantastic to see the giant potato cod come back to the Cod Hole after they were left homeless when the site was smashed by cyclones ten years ago,’’ Mr Leigh said. 

“The Cod Hole was taken off tourism marketing campaigns because of the devastation, but today it is a beacon of coral recovery and renewal.” 

He said Mike Ball Dive Expeditions - who run liveaboard trips to the Cod Hole – are part of a Reef Authority program to harness the power of tourism to monitor, manage, and protect high-value reef sites.

• “The Cod Hole is protected as one of 26 stewardship sites through the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI),” Mr Leigh, the TRPI program manager said.

“As part of TRPI, tourism operators conduct reef health surveys, biodiversity monitoring, predator control, and assist coral recovery. 

“Their high-frequency visitation allows them to deliver pulse checks of reef condition, detect changes quickly, and contribute vital data to the Reef Authority’s Reef Health Updates and Outlook Report.”

Marine biologist, Master Reef Guide and cinematographer Pablo Cogollos, who conducts weekly surveys on the remote northern reefs in his work on the dive boat Spoilsport, said the Cod Hole was once unrecognisable. 

• “We now see spectacular corals and up to five giant potato cod in a dive,” Mr Cogollos said. 

“Occasionally we also get dwarf Minke whales, manta rays, and even whale sharks in the Cod Hole passage. 

“In coming months, we will see one of the largest fish spawning aggregations on the Reef with hundreds of sweetlips, coral trout and thousands of snapper.

“With reduced stress from bleaching and storms, vibrant corals are thriving, supporting diverse marine life and restoring balance to one of the planet’s most precious ecosystems. When given a chance, nature can heal.”

Veteran underwater photographer and marine biologist Laurence Buckingham said the Cod Hole was a perfect comeback story.

“The coral here was pounded into oblivion by Cyclones Ita in 2014 and Nathan in 2015 and then it was mercilessly bleached in the 2016 Bleaching Event,” Mr Buckingham said.

“After 2016, the ridge was literally a clean slate stripped of almost all its coral.

“The coral growth during the post-2016 recovery was dramatic. Mostly it is the fast-growing Acropora plate corals and staghorn corals. The outgoing currents on Ribbon Reef No. 10 act as a coral sink, helping this site recover faster than anyone thought possible.”

Since December 2022, 220 tourism staff through the TRPI program have completed a mammoth 23,000 Reef health monitoring surveys:

• taken and analysed 118,596 images
• conducted 3,259 days of coral predator control, removing 
  o    354,157 Drupella snails and 
  o    4,049 crown-of-thorns starfish
• recorded the first ever biodiversity assessments at 26 sites along the Reef
• facilitated 425 On Country visits for Traditional Owners
• led 115 school excursions for 1,592 students

• Top Five Cod Hole Factbox:
• The Potato Cod Experience - Home to giant, curious potato cod that can reach 2m long and weigh 100kg, offering divers unforgettable encounters.
• Remote Northern Ribbon Reefs - far from large crowds, the region boasts crystal-clear waters and spectacular coral reef structure with canyons, caves and bommies.
• Marine Biodiversity Hotspot - A thriving ecosystem with sharks, trevally, moray eels, nudibranchs, and schools of reef fish.
• Scientific & Historical Significance - In the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Great Barrier Reef in 1981, the Cod Hole was singled out as a site of natural phenomena and exceptional natural beauty. It is a living case study of reef resilience, used for decades to understand fish behaviour and reef ecology.
• Bucket-List Dive Destination - Restored to its status as one of the world’s top dive sites.

For stills and vision click here. 

Contact: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Media Hotline: (07) 4750 0846 | media@gbrmpa.gov.au