Home › Best Diving Spots in the World › Australia
It's an overused metaphor, but many of the dive sites in Australia and New Zealand rank among some of the most stunning scuba diving destinations found anywhere on the planet.
For that reason, this section contains useful information about the top dive spots in Oceania that are popular with divers and snorkelers, especially the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
The Southern Hemisphere offers an overabundance of amazing dive sites for new divers and for those with certifications in scuba.
In particular, we're highlighting places in Australasia and many of the Pacific islands (e.g. Micronesia, Fiji, and New Zealand).
Here's the thing:
The Australian continent, along with Tasmania and numerous smaller islands, lies between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
Regions that are world famous for coral reefs and marine biodiversity.
Most divers who visit Australia will be flying into Sydney - situated on the southeast coast. It's fair to say that the quality of diving destinations on the south and eastern coastlines of Australia are second to none.
For example, scuba diving around the south coast (e.g. New South Wales) will put you in some top-quality places to encounter sea dragons, reef sharks and sea turtles.
Simply put, they are some of the best locations where you can swim with seals and go scuba diving at the world's largest coral reef system - the Great Barrier Reef.
So, when is the best time to dive in Australia? In fact, you can see the fascinating marine species that inhabit the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Islands all year round. The hot weather also tends to trigger coral spawning events from November.
Even so, June until the end of November tend to be the driest months and usually attract graceful manta rays to many of the tropical dive sites.
Ningaloo Reef, located off the mid-north coast of Western Australia (WA), is popular from March through to July.
This is a superb place to go swimming with gigantic whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) near Exmouth at the North West Cape.
But wait - there's more:
The water around New South Wales, Southern Australia, and Tasmania can be cold in the winter time. Hence, the summer begins in December and runs through to the end of March.
These months tend to offer clearer underwater visibility and warmer conditions for scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts.
The best time to spot humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) is around August and September. This is when they migrate northwards up the east coast of Australia from Antarctica.
Pro Tip: We also have another section dedicated to sea wildlife with further information about the characteristics, habitats, and behavioural traits of marine vertebrates and aquatic invertebrates.
This section outlines some of the top dive sites found in the pristine waters of Australia, New Zealand, and even further beyond, such as the remotest regions in Oceania.
Some of the diving destinations in New South Wales still remain relatively untraveled. Even so, a rugged coastline that stretches two thousand (2000) kilometres creates superb habitats for a diversity of marine ecosystems.
The best dive sites in Queensland are healthy, lively, and largely unspoiled. In fact, the largest coral reef system in the world (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is located in the northeastern state of Australia.
With almost three thousand kilometres of reef, this is the place for global travelers to enjoy some of the most popular diving locations on the planet, especially:
Divers and snorkelers will find a superabundance of colourful marine life, exotic tropical fishes, huge pelagic species, and sunken shipwrecks to explore.
Most of the dive sites in South Australia rely on seasonal upwelling currents to provide nourishment and rejuvenation for the resident sea life.
As a consequence of that, these destinations are the ideal spots to enjoy underwater encounters with a wide range of soft-bodied mollusks and saltwater crustaceans.
One of the primary reasons to make a trip to the dive spots in Tasmania is to encounter the kelp forests that cover much of the rugged coastline.
This is a region that will not disappoint divers who enjoy taking underwater photographs and exploring sea caves formed by years of erosion.
The best dive sites in Victoria include areas where cold-water diving in sheltered environments is standard procedure.
Most of this rugged southern coastline contains captivating underwater topography oozing with giant kelp forests, a biodiversity of unique marine life, and some famous sunken shipwrecks.
The section that contains information about the dive sites in Western Australia contains extra details about the unique aquatic animals that inhabit these waters.
For example, Ningaloo Reef tends to be less crowded than many of the other Australian diving destinations.
Yet, this area of rich biodiversity creates the ideal environment for reef sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays (Myliobatiformes).
Note: Another section contains more information about the best places to scuba dive in Asia with some of the popular tropical locations for beginners and experienced divers to explore.
Note: Would you like to help us develop this section? Can you share interesting and practical details about how, when, and why you went scuba diving in Australia or Oceania?
If so, we would like to feature personalised dive descriptions and comments. Articles written by divers who regularly dive the site, or local experts on the topography and marine life, will have preference for inclusions in this section.
Please use the contact form to send us any useful comments or information and "Scuba Steve" will reply personally by email.