Great Barrier Reef Maps: An Exploration From Ocean to Space

Exploring the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is one of the most mesmerizing experiences you could have. Whether you are on a boat trip, snorkeling, or taking your hand at SCUBA diving on the GBR, this gigantic organism is the largest reef system in the world, and cannot be missed – even from space.

Although we all wish we could explore this biodiverse wonder, taking a trip to the east coast of Australia is out of reach for many of us.

That said, with the help of some pictures and Great Barrier Reef Maps, we can still get a sense of how this incredible habitat operates.

Introducing The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef, also called the GBR, is the largest living organism on Earth and the largest coral reef system on the planet.

This array of millions of individual polyps makes up a reef system so vast that its stretch of 1,400 miles (2,300 kilometers) across the northeast coast of Australia can be seen from space.

Within this reef system, the Great Barrier holds over 2,900 individual reefs, hundreds of individual islands and coral clays, and countless dive sites to explore.

Great Barrier Reef Location Map

The Great Barrier Reef, as mentioned above, runs along the northeast coast of Australia, more specifically along the coast of Queensland.

Although the reef is still growing and therefore, expanding, the reef system runs from the northern tip of the Cape York peninsula and along the coast until it reaches Bundaberg.

The reef system covers a total of approximately 133,000 square miles.

The Great Barrier Reef from Space

With the Great Barrier Reef stretching over such a vast area, there should be no surprise that it can be seen from space.

When we look at satellite images from Google Maps, the sheer size of the reef system becomes more evident.

Looking at the above satellite image of Australia, we can easily see the darker areas of the ocean that hold the Great Barrier Reef.

When we further zoom out to the maximum distance allowed on Google Maps, the Great Barrier Reef still remains visible.

Although individual reefs, islands, and clays cannot be seen from this distance, it is still clear that there is a reef underlying the waters along the coast.

Great Barrier Reef Regions

As the GBR extends over 1,429 miles, it should be no surprise that it can be accessed from different regions of Queensland.

The great barrier reef map below indicates some major towns or cities that you could consider making a home base when you set out to explore the wonders that the reef has to offer.

Because the reef crosses different regions, as well as its sheer size, different regions of management are responsible for different sections of the reef.

It is also these management areas that are used when describing SCUBA diving sites on the Great Barrier Reef.

These four management regions, which include the Northern management area, the Cairns and Cooktown, Townsville/Whitsunday, and Mackay/ Capricorn management areas, are each responsible for seeing various logistics along their assigned section of the reef.

Some of these tasks will include, but are not limited to:

• Sustainable management in the fishing industry
• Tourism and related logistics
• Conservation and environmental protection
• Marine Education
• Scientific exploration

Great Barrier Reef Dive Site Map

If diving is your passion and you wish to explore some of the 145 plus dive sites that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer, then whether you are an avid SCUBA diver, or more experienced in the underwater world, the below map will be your new best friend.

Although there are several more detailed maps of various dive regions available on the internet, the one above, as far as we can tell, has the best overall view of what the giant reef has to offer.

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