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The Best Big-Animal Dives in Australia

Reliability of the encounter at the specific site, and how close divers get.

Grey nurse sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, fur seals, sea lions, potato cod, great whites, humpbacks and giant cuttlefish: Australia's megafauna encounters are among the most reliable in the world, because so many of them happen at fixed aggregation sites on a known calendar. This list gives the site to go to for each animal and the month to be there.

  1. 1. Ningaloo – Exmouth · WA

    Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim

    Whale sharks, March–July, Exmouth. Spotter planes make the encounter close to guaranteed.

    DriftDepth not publishedIntermediateSnorkel/AnyMore in Ningaloo – Exmouth →

  2. 2. Lady Elliot Island · QLD

    Lighthouse Bommies (Lady Elliot Island)

    Manta rays at the cleaning station, May–August, with mantas present most of the year.

    Pinnacle/BommieMax 18 mBeginnerOpen WaterMore in Lady Elliot Island →

  3. 3. South West Rocks · NSW

    Fish Rock Cave

    Grey nurse sharks in the gutters at both ends of the cave, year-round, most in winter and spring.

    Cave/CavernMax 25 mAdvancedAdvanced Open WaterMore in South West Rocks →

  4. 4. Sydney South & Botany Bay · NSW

    Magic Point

    Grey nurse sharks 20 minutes from Sydney's CBD.

    Cave/CavernMax 22 mIntermediateAdvanced Open WaterMore in Sydney South & Botany Bay →

  5. 5. Rainbow Beach · QLD

    Wolf Rock

    Pregnant grey nurse sharks year-round at the east coast's only known gestation site.

    Pinnacle/BommieMax 38 mAdvancedDeep/Advanced + experienceMore in Rainbow Beach →

  6. 6. Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island · QLD

    Cod Hole

    Potato cod up to 1.5 m that approach divers at Ribbon Reef 10.

    ReefMax 32 mBeginnerDeep/Advanced + experienceMore in Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island →

  7. 7. Coral Sea · External Territory

    North Horn (Osprey Reef)

    Grey reef, silvertip and hammerhead sharks on a Coral Sea seamount.

    WallMax 40 mIntermediateDeep/Advanced + experienceMore in Coral Sea →

  8. 8. Narooma & Montague Island · NSW

    Montague Island Seal Colony

    Several hundred fur seals off Narooma, playful in the shallows in summer and autumn.

    IslandMax 15 mBeginnerOpen WaterMore in Narooma & Montague Island →

  9. 9. Eyre Peninsula · SA

    Hopkins Island – Australian Sea Lions

    Australian sea lions off Port Lincoln, the 'puppies of the sea'.

    IslandMax 30 mBeginnerAdvanced Open WaterMore in Eyre Peninsula →

  10. 10. Turquoise Coast · WA

    Essex Rocks Sea Lions (Jurien Bay)

    Jurien Bay's sea lion colony, two hours from Perth.

    IslandMax 8 mBeginnerSnorkel/AnyMore in Turquoise Coast →

  11. 11. Eyre Peninsula · SA

    Neptune Islands – Great White Shark Cage Diving

    Great whites from a cage, the only such operation in the country.

    IslandMax 22 mBeginnerAdvanced Open WaterMore in Eyre Peninsula →

  12. 12. Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf · SA

    Marek's Reef (Whyalla)

    Tens of thousands of giant cuttlefish, May–August.

    Artificial ReefMax 12 mIntermediateOpen WaterMore in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf →

  13. 13. North Stradbroke Island · QLD

    Manta Bommie

    Mantas and leopard sharks off North Stradbroke Island in summer.

    Pinnacle/BommieMax 18 mBeginnerOpen WaterMore in North Stradbroke Island →

  14. 14. Townsville & Magnetic Island · QLD

    SS Yongala

    Giant gropers, bull rays and sea snakes on the country's greatest wreck.

    WreckMax 30 mAdvancedAdvanced Open WaterMore in Townsville & Magnetic Island →

  15. 15. Ningaloo – Exmouth · WA

    Ningaloo Humpback Whale Swim

    Humpback swims off Exmouth, August–October.

    DriftDepth not publishedIntermediateSnorkel/AnyMore in Ningaloo – Exmouth →

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