Best Places for Scuba Diving in Australia

No list of diving in Australia is complete without the Great Barrier Reef. Stretching over 2,300 kilometers along the Queensland coast, it is the largest coral reef system on the planet and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Diving here means exploring vibrant coral gardens, dramatic drop-offs, and countless species of fish, turtles, reef sharks, and manta rays. Popular dive sites include the Cod Hole, where giant potato cod will swim right up to your mask, and Osprey Reef, a remote outer reef famous for shark dives. Liveaboard trips from Cairns or Port Douglas let you access pristine, less-visited areas of the reef where the visibility is excellent and the marine life is abundant. Night dives here are also surreal, as bioluminescent plankton light up the dark waters.

While the Great Barrier Reef gets most of the spotlight, Ningaloo Reef on the western coast is equally spectacular and less crowded. Stretching over 260 kilometers along the Coral Coast, this fringing reef is known for its megafauna. From March to July, Ningaloo becomes one of the best places in the world to dive with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea. These encounters are carefully regulated to protect the animals, ensuring an ethical and awe-inspiring experience. Other highlights include manta ray cleaning stations at Coral Bay and the chance to spot dolphins, dugongs, and turtles. The reef starts just meters from the shore, making it incredibly accessible for shore dives and snorkelers.

Located near Townsville, the SS Yongala is often ranked among the top wreck dives in the world. This passenger ship sank during a cyclone in 1911, and now rests on the sandy ocean floor at a depth of around 30 meters. The wreck is completely covered in coral and home to an astonishing variety of marine life. Expect to see enormous groupers, swirling schools of barracuda, sea snakes, eagle rays, and even the occasional bull shark or turtle. Because the wreck lies in open water, currents can be strong, and conditions may change quickly. It is recommended for advanced divers or those diving with certified guides. But if you are ready, it is a truly thrilling underwater adventure.

Located around 300 kilometers off the coast of Broome, Rowley Shoals is one of Australia’s best-kept diving secrets. This remote series of three coral atolls—Mermaid Reef, Clerke Reef, and Imperieuse Reef—offers some of the most untouched and vibrant diving in the country. Due to its isolation, dive trips to Rowley Shoals are usually done by liveaboard and are seasonal, operating primarily between September and December. The visibility here can exceed 60 meters and the coral is healthy, vibrant, and teeming with life. You may encounter reef sharks, trevallies, potato cod, and massive schools of pelagic fish. Drift diving through crystal-clear channels is an adrenaline-pumping experience, and the pristine environment is perfect for underwater photography.

For something a little different, head south to Port Phillip Bay, just outside Melbourne. While not tropical, the cooler waters of southern Australia offer completely unique dive experiences. One of the most popular dives here is with Australian fur seals. These playful creatures will dart and swirl around you like curious puppies, creating an incredibly interactive dive. Another standout species in these waters is the weedy sea dragon, a beautifully camouflaged relative of the seahorse found only in southern Australia. Diving here is more about macro life and strange, wonderful marine creatures. Sites like Blairgowrie Pier and Pope’s Eye Marine Reserve are excellent for spotting small critters, vibrant sponges, and kelp forests swaying with the currents.

Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Tasman Sea, offers dramatic volcanic seascapes and diving that blends both tropical and temperate marine life. Dive sites such as Ball’s Pyramid, the world’s tallest sea stack, drop steeply into the ocean and are home to schools of kingfish, Galapagos whalers, and unique species like the Lord Howe Island butterflyfish. This is diving on nature’s terms, often with currents and big ocean conditions, but with huge rewards. Because access to the island is limited and tightly regulated, you’ll enjoy uncrowded, pristine diving year-round.