Australia
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Where to dive in Australia
Great Barrier Reef
Coral Sea
TEMPERATURE22°C - 30°CVISIBILITY10 - 30 m
Lady Elliot Island
Coral Sea
TEMPERATURE17°C - 30°CVISIBILITY20 - 40 m
Ningaloo reef
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE21°C - 30°CVISIBILITY10 - 25 m
Osprey Reef
Coral Sea
TEMPERATURE20°C - 29°CVISIBILITY9 - 40 m
Phillip Island
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE11°C - 22°CVISIBILITY5 - 18 m
Ribbon Reefs
Coral Sea
TEMPERATURE22°C - 30°CVISIBILITY12 - 35 m
Top species 26
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
The bumphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, known for the characteristic hump on its head. They are predominantly herbivores, grazing on coral reefs by scraping off algae and live coral, and are often seen in large schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsCommon Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
The Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) is the smallest of the rorqual whales, characterized by its sleek, dark gray to black body with a white underside and a distinctive white band on its flippers in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a cosmopolitan species, found in all oceans, preferring cooler coastal and offshore waters but migrating to warmer waters for breeding. Primarily a filter feeder, its diet consists mainly of krill and small schooling fish, and it typically travels alone or in small groups, though large aggregations can occur in rich feeding grounds.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsDugong
Dugong dugon
The dugong is a large marine mammal, often called a 'sea cow' due to its herbivorous diet, primarily consisting of seagrass. They inhabit warm coastal waters across the Indo-West Pacific, playing a crucial role in maintaining seagrass meadows. These shy creatures are typically solitary or found in pairs, but can occasionally gather in large herds.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsFur Seals
Arctocephalinae
Arctocephalinae is a subfamily of pinnipeds known as fur seals, characterized by their dense underfur, external ear flaps, and ability to rotate their hind flippers forward for terrestrial locomotion. They are marine predators, primarily feeding on fish, squid, and krill. Fur seals exhibit strong sexual dimorphism and are highly social, forming large breeding colonies on rocky coastlines and beaches, though their conservation status varies widely among the nine species within the subfamily.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large, powerful predatory fish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Known for its steep head profile and robust body, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and 80 kg in weight. This apex predator feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods, often hunting in solitary or small groups, though juveniles form schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGiant clam
Tridacna gigas
Tridacna gigas, commonly known as the giant clam, is the largest living bivalve mollusc, capable of reaching lengths of up to 1.5 meters and weights exceeding 300 kilograms. It inhabits shallow coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, primarily obtaining nutrients through filter-feeding plankton and from a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae in its mantle tissues. This sessile creature is diurnal, relying on sunlight for its algal symbionts, and can live for over 100 years in the wild.
BEST SEASON
Crepuscular Great Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna mokarran
The great hammerhead is the largest hammerhead species, recognizable by its wide, flat head and tall, curved dorsal fin. As a migratory apex predator, it uses its unique head for enhanced sensing and pinning down prey.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Great White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
The Great White Shark is the largest known predatory fish, characterized by its torpedo-shaped body, conical snout, and large, serrated triangular teeth. It is an apex predator found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, playing a crucial role in marine ecosystems. This species exhibits regional endothermy, allowing it to maintain a body temperature higher than the surrounding water, which aids in its active predatory lifestyle.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsHumpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a large baleen whale known for its distinctive body shape, long pectoral fins (up to one-third of its body length), and knobbly head. These migratory cetaceans are filter feeders, consuming krill and small schooling fish. They are also famous for their acrobatic surface behaviors like breaching and complex vocalizations, particularly the male's elaborate songs.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Killer Whale
Orcinus orca
The Killer Whale, also known as Orca, is the largest member of the dolphin family, recognizable by its distinct black and white coloration. They are apex predators with a highly diverse diet, adapting their hunting strategies to local prey availability, and are known for their complex social structures, living in stable, matrilineal family groups called pods. These intelligent marine mammals are found in all oceans, from polar regions to tropical seas, and are active both day and night.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsLoggerhead Sea Turtle
Caretta caretta
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is a large, hard-shelled marine reptile known for its massive head and powerful jaws, which it uses to crush hard-shelled prey. This highly migratory species inhabits temperate and tropical waters worldwide, utilizing coastal areas, open oceans, and coral reefs. While generally solitary, females gather on beaches at night for nesting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Frequent sightingsOrange Clownfish
Amphiprion percula
The Orange Clownfish, also known as the Percula Clownfish, is a small, brightly colored reef fish found in the Indo-Pacific. It is famous for its symbiotic relationship with sea anemones, living unharmed among their stinging tentacles thanks to a protective mucus layer. These omnivorous fish feed on algae, plankton, and small crustaceans, and live in structured social groups within their host anemone.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPotato Grouper
Epinephelus tukula
The Potato Grouper is a large fish known for its spotted appearance, resembling the surface of a potato. It primarily inhabits coral reefs and is a solitary carnivore. Potato Groupers can grow to be quite large, reaching up to 2 meters in length and weighing over 100 kg.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Ribbon Eel
Rhinomuraena quaesita
The Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) is a slender, distinctive moray eel known for its vibrant colors, which change throughout its life from black (juvenile) to blue (male) and eventually yellow (female). It possesses expanded anterior nostrils and high dorsal fins, giving it a unique appearance. This species typically resides in sand burrows and crevices within coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific, where it ambushes small fish and crustaceans.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsSilvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
The Silvertip Shark is a large, streamlined requiem shark identifiable by the prominent white tips and trailing margins on all its fins. It is an aggressive apex predator, often dominating other sharks during feeding, and can be found in various tropical Indo-Pacific marine habitats from the surface to considerable depths. While often solitary or in pairs, it can also form small groups or mixed-species aggregations and exhibits variable activity patterns throughout the day and night.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsSouthern Right Whale
Eubalaena australis
The Southern Right Whale is a large baleen whale distinguished by its robust, black body, lack of a dorsal fin, and distinctive callosities on its head. It is a filter feeder, consuming vast quantities of krill and copepods in the Southern Ocean. These migratory whales travel to warmer coastal waters for breeding and calving.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsTiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large apex predator recognized by the dark vertical stripes along its body, especially visible in juveniles. It inhabits tropical and subtropical waters and has a highly varied diet, feeding on fish, rays, turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsZebra Shark
Stegostoma tigrinum
The Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is a docile, bottom-dwelling carpet shark found in tropical Indo-Pacific reefs. Juveniles display a striking pattern of dark stripes on a light background, resembling a zebra, which transitions to dark spots on a pale background in adults. This nocturnal species primarily preys on molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish, often resting on the seabed during the day.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 83
BarracudaSphyraena spp.
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Blacktip Reef SharkCarcharhinus melanopterus
Blacktip SharkCarcharhinus limbatus
Blue SharkPrionace glauca
Blue WhaleBalaenoptera musculus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluespotted Ribbontail RayTaeniura lymma
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Broadnose Sevengill SharkNotorynchus cepedianus
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant Oceanic Manta RayMobula birostris
Glider FlyingfishCheilopogon atrisignis
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Greater AmberjackSeriola dumerili
Greyface MorayGymnothorax thyrsoideus
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
John DoryZeus faber
Jointed RazorfishAeoliscus strigatus
Latticed ButterflyfishChaetodon rafflesii
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Live SharksuckerEcheneis naucrates
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidus
Maroon ClownfishPremnas biaculeatus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Ocellaris ClownfishAmphiprion ocellaris
Olive Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys olivacea
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pelagic Thresher SharkAlopias pelagicus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pickhandle BarracudaSphyraena jello
Purple Queen AnthiasPseudanthias tuka
Pygmy SeahorseHippocampus bargibanti
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Reticulate WhiprayHimantura uarnak
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Sand Tiger SharkCarcharias taurus
Scalloped Hammerhead SharkSphyrna lewini
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Short-tail StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata
Shortfin Devil RayMobula kuhlii
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spanish DancerHexabranchus sanguineus
Spinner DolphinStenella longirostris
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Stellate PufferArothron stellatus
StonefishSynanceia verrucosa
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Valentin's Sharpnose PufferCanthigaster valentini
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Explore Australia on the map
Frequently asked questions about Australia
What are the best dive destinations in Australia?
Australia has 6 dive destinations, including Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island, Ningaloo reef, Osprey Reef, Phillip Island, and Ribbon Reefs.
When is the best time to dive in Australia?
It depends on where you dive in Australia: Great Barrier Reef from May to October, Lady Elliot Island from April to October, Ningaloo reef from April to August, Osprey Reef from April to November, and Phillip Island from January to April.
What marine life can you see diving in Australia?
Divers can encounter 109 species in Australia. Highlights include Bumphead Parrotfish, Common Minke Whale, Dugong, Fur Seals, Giant Trevally, and Giant clam.
When can you see the Common Minke Whale in Australia?
The Common Minke Whale is most often seen in Australia from June to October.
When can you see the Humpback Whale in Australia?
The Humpback Whale is most often seen in Australia from June to October.
When can you see the Southern Right Whale in Australia?
The Southern Right Whale is most often seen in Australia from July to August.
What is the water temperature in Australia?
Water temperature across Australia ranges from 11°C at Phillip Island to 30°C at Great Barrier Reef.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Australia?
The water across Australia ranges from 11°C to 30°C, so pack anything from a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty to a 7 mm semi-dry or a drysuit depending on the site and the season.
What is the visibility like when diving in Australia?
Visibility in Australia ranges from 5 m to 40 m. The clearest water is found at Lady Elliot Island.
What can you see on a night dive in Australia?
After dark, Australia reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Zebra Shark, Blue Shark, Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, and Fimbriated Moray.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Australia. Spotted something that looks off?
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