The Best Dive Sites in Australia for Beginners
Rated Beginner in the database, suitable for Open Water divers, sheltered and shallow, and with something worth seeing.
New divers want three things: shelter, shallow water and something to look at. These sites deliver all three on a normal day, and every one of them is used by local dive shops for training and first ocean dives. They are ordered roughly north to south. Conditions still change: read the weather notes on each page and dive with a shop or an experienced buddy for your first few.
1. Lady Elliot Island · QLD
The Lagoon (Lady Elliot Island)
Lady Elliot's lagoon: 3 m of water, turtles and reef fish, and a walk-in entry from the resort beach.
2. Brisbane & Moreton Bay · QLD
Tangalooma Wrecks
Fifteen wrecks in 2–12 m off a Moreton Island beach, with trevally and turtles.
3. Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD
SS Moltke Wreck (Geoffrey Bay)
A shallow wreck and coral garden swum from a Magnetic Island beach.
4. Sydney Northern Beaches · NSW
Shelly Beach / Cabbage Tree Bay (Manly)
Sydney's first-dive beach: sand entry, a reef along the northern side and big blue gropers.
9. Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay · VIC
Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary
Melbourne's bayside sanctuary in 3–8 m.
11. Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor · SA
Second Valley
A granite cove on the Fleurieu with caves and seadragons in 9 m.
Shore/Rock PlatformMax 9 mIntermediateOpen WaterShore accessMore in Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor →
13. Perth · WA
Omeo Wreck & Coogee Maritime Trail
Perth's shore-dive wreck and sculpture trail in 7 m.
