Leslie Massey
Australia is a scuba diver's dream, with countless sites to explore and a diverse range of marine life to discover. The Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly one of the most famous diving spots in the world, but there are plenty of other options to consider. From the east coast to the west, here are some of the top spots to fly to in Australia for scuba diving.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Best diving spots | Fish Rock, Great Barrier Reef, Yongala Shipwreck, Coral Bay, Lighthouse Bay, Flinders Pier, Shelly Beach, Cod Hole, Lord Howe Island, Neptune Islands, Ningaloo Reef, Rowley Shoals, Ribbon Reefs, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island, Manly Beach, Jervis Bay, Port Douglas, Cairns, Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, Cape Byron Marine Park |
| Marine life | Grey nurse sharks, stingrays, wobbegongs, gropers, lionfish, moray eels, manta rays, eagle rays, cuttlefish, crabs, sponges, weedy sea dragons, olive sea snakes, Maori wrasses, whitetip reef sharks, emperor angelfishes, triggerfishes, nudibranch, flat worms, frog fishes, scorpion fishes, stone fishes, Galapagos whalers, sea turtles, rainbow fish, great white sharks, dwarf minke whales, potato cods |
| Water temperature | 70-87 degrees |
| Visibility | 50-100 ft for day trips, up to 150 ft for liveaboard trips |
| Depth range | 30-60 feet |
| Best time to visit | The southern parts can have bad weather between May and October. The reefs are only accessible around October. |
| Accessibility | Brisbane Airport is the closest major airport to the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and receives some international flights. |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in the world. Stretching over 2,000km along Queensland's coastline, it is the largest expanse of living coral on the planet. The closest major airport to the Great Barrier Reef is in Brisbane, and Cairns is also a gateway to the reef, receiving some international flights.
The Great Barrier Reef offers a variety of dive sites, suitable for both beginners and experienced divers. The Cod Hole dive site, located in the north of Queensland, is famous for its friendly giant groupers, as well as large potato cods and Maori wrasses. Other popular spots include Pixies Garden, Agincourt Reef, and the Tangalooma Wrecks, a cluster of ships where coral is now forming, providing a haven for various marine species.
For those seeking a more cultural experience, the Museum of Underwater Art near Townsville features the Coral Greenhouse sculpture at John Brewer Reef, which can be explored through snorkelling or diving. Townsville is also the perfect base for diving the wreck of the SS Yongala, a ship that sank in 1911 and now lies 14-28m below the surface, teeming with marine life.
The outer parts of the Great Barrier Reef, such as the Ribbon Reefs and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, offer healthier coral ecosystems due to their remote locations. These spots are only accessible via liveaboard trips, providing divers with a more exclusive experience.
When planning a scuba diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef, it is important to consider factors such as the presence of box jellyfish, which are common from November to May, and investing in travel insurance specifically for scuba diving. Additionally, a "reef tax" of $20 per person is typically included in the cost of tours and island visits.
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Neptune Islands, South Australia
The Neptune Islands in South Australia is the only place in the country where you can get up close to great white sharks in their natural environment. Cage diving in the sheltered areas of Main and Action Bays, you can observe these majestic creatures as they curiously cruise past. The Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park, centred on these remote islands, includes a range of marine life and habitats, from sheltered seagrass to deep water habitats. The water temperature ranges from 14°C to 22°C, and visibility can reach up to 20 metres.
The Neptune Islands are located close to the entrance to Spencer Gulf in South Australia. A day trip from Port Lincoln, which is a 50-minute flight from Adelaide, will take you to the Neptune Islands for an adrenaline-pumping experience. You can climb aboard a charter and take the plunge in a cage, coming face-to-face with great white sharks.
The Neptune Islands are particularly renowned for their shark population. The fur seals' annual pupping and breeding season, from November to May, attracts a large number of sharks. The warmer weather during this period provides an opportunity to explore the islands and encounter other shark species, such as bronze whalers and mako sharks. From May to October, the main viewing season occurs as the growing seal pups start to venture out, providing a natural food source for the sharks. This results in more frequent predation events, and the chances of witnessing these events increase.
The Neptune Islands offer a unique diving adventure, allowing you to come face-to-face with not only great white sharks but also leafy sea dragons. The islands provide a spectacular coastline and the chance to explore famous wineries. The liveaboard experience is further enhanced by the opportunity to swim with playful Australian sea lions on your way to the Neptune Islands.
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Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
Stretching along the Western Australian coast near Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef is one of the most incredible diving destinations in the world. The reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the north-west coastal region of Western Australia, approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) north of Perth, along the East Indian Ocean. It is Australia's largest fringing coral reef and the only large reef positioned very close to a landmass.
Ningaloo Reef is famous for its abundant corals and marine life, including graceful manta rays, turtles, humpback whales, and, most notably, whale sharks. The reef is part of the migratory routes for dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, and humpback whales during the winter months. The beaches of the reef are important breeding grounds and provide nesting and food for loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles. Ningaloo Reef is also home to an impressive variety of fish (500 species), corals (300 species), molluscs (600 species), and many other marine invertebrates.
The best time to visit Ningaloo Reef for diving and swimming with whale sharks is between March and July. The reef offers enjoyable weather and opportunities to swim with wildlife all year round. There are two main hubs on the reef: Coral Bay and Exmouth. To reach these destinations, you can fly into Learmonth Airport from any Australian state or territory. Exmouth is located 36 kilometres (22 miles) from the airport, while Coral Bay is 117 kilometres (73 miles) away. It is recommended to hire a car or join a guided tour for transportation within the region.
Ningaloo Reef is not just a natural wonder but also a culturally significant site. The Ningaloo/Nyinggulu Coastal Reserves are home to the Baiyungu and Jinigudira people, who have a strong connection to the ocean, waterways, and tidal landscapes of the region. Aboriginal artefact discoveries, including some of the oldest pieces of jewellery in the world, date back over 32,000 years, showcasing the long history of human occupation in the area.
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Lord Howe Island, Tasman Sea
Lord Howe Island is a crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea, located between Australia and New Zealand. It is about 600 km (370 mi) east of mainland Port Macquarie, 700-780 km (436-480 mi) northeast of Sydney, and around 770-900 km (480-560 mi) southwest of Norfolk Island. The island is around 10 km (6.2 mi) long and 0.3-2.0 km (0.19-1.24 mi) wide, with an area of 14.55 km2 (3,600 acres).
The island is named after Richard Howe, the 1st Earl Howe, and is the highly eroded remains of a 7-million-year-old shield volcano. It is one of a chain of islands on the western rim of an undersea shelf called the Lord Howe Rise, which extends from New Zealand to the west of New Caledonia. The Lord Howe Seamount Chain, defined by coral-capped guyots, stretches north of the island for 1,000 km (620 mi) and includes the Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs of the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve.
Lord Howe Island is a diverse and dynamic ocean area with high primary productivity, supporting a wealth of marine life. It is home to the planet's most southerly reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Reef, with over 60 dive sites to explore. The island's marine life is very diverse, with five major currents joining in. There are 90 species of coral and 500 species of fish to discover. The island has 11 beaches, including a semi-enclosed, sheltered coral reef lagoon with white sand on its west coast.
When planning a trip to Lord Howe Island, it is important to note that the currents can be strong, so bringing a surface marker buoy and a Nautilus Lifeline GPS is recommended. Additionally, having your own well-maintained dive gear can enhance your safety and comfort during your dives.
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Fish Rock Cave, New South Wales
Fish Rock Cave in South West Rocks, New South Wales, is one of the top ten dive sites in the world. The site is a small rocky outcrop off the coast of South West Rocks, featuring a 125-metre-long cave that can be accessed through the South West Rocks Dive Centre.
The cave dive is the only one of its kind in Australia, where you can swim through a mountain cave that starts at a depth of 24 metres and ends at 12 metres. The site is famous for its large schools of grey nurse sharks, which are a common sight for divers entering the water. You can also spot other species, including Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Turtles, and various pelagic fish. The town of South West Rocks is also known for its population of hammerhead sharks, which can be seen in large schools.
Fish Rock is also home to an abundance of other marine life, including dolphins, ocean turtles, bull rays, groupers, Spanish dancers, anemonefish, nudibranchs, moray eels, and cuttlefish. The site is accessible by a short flight from Sydney to Port Macquarie, followed by a one-hour drive, or through bus and railway services to Kempsey, where the dive centre provides a complimentary pickup service.
The best time to dive in Australia depends on the region, with many areas accessible year-round. However, the southern parts, including New South Wales, may experience bad weather between May and October. Water temperatures can vary between 70 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit, and visibility ranges from 50 to 150 feet, depending on the distance from the coast.
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