Sites that work for snorkellers as well as divers: shallow reefs, lagoons, piers and sheltered bays where a non-diving companion can join in. Many are also the best first dives.
30 sites
Cocos (Keeling) Islands · External Territory
Calm, shallow lagoon snorkelling off one of Australia's most celebrated beaches, right beside The Rip.
Norfolk Island · External Territory
Calm, sheltered lagoon snorkel over coral outcrops with Norfolk's endemic fish, in a World Heritage convict setting.
Christmas Island · External Territory
Arguably Australia's best shore dive: a pristine coral slope and wall 50 m from the car park, endemic and hybrid reef…
Sheltered sand-and-coral lagoon snorkel beside Kingston, with night snorkelling possible and the Sirius wreck site…
A fast, coral-lined drift channel from the ocean into the lagoon, full of sharks, humphead parrotfish and Napoleon…
A dense garden eel colony and easy shallow reef right off the beach; the island's go-to training and night dive.
Easy shallow coral garden to 10 m with a sandy floor – a perfect buoyancy-practice and snorkel site, often with turtles…
Quieter Kingston snorkel beside the convict cemetery; best at mid to high tide on calm days.
An 1868 composite barque burnt and run aground in 1889, its iron-framed bow and midships still upright in 4 m – snorkel…
A tiny historic cay in the eastern lagoon surrounded by shallow nursery reefs full of juvenile fish.
Walk across the reef flat from Scout Park and drift around a palm-covered islet with clams, turtles, octopus and baby…
A calm, sheltered beach snorkel in a no-take National Park zone – ideal for children and beginners.
Shallow coral reef with anemone fields off a remote rainforest beach, where whale sharks and dolphins are regular…
A small, crystal-clear rock pool at Point Ross – one of Norfolk's favourite shallow dives when the swell is down.
A 40 m keel and keelson line from an unidentified 19th-century North American ship – possibly the Gudden Barstow (1839)…
A remote palm-fringed reef beach with turtle nesting, rock pools and a freshwater stream – snorkel and camp.
A colourful sloping reef off one of Australia's best beaches – the island's wet-season shore dive and a red crab…
A sheltered ocean pool below a steep staircase, with nesting turtles and one of the best red crab spawning spectacles.
Easy swimming and snorkelling off the Home Island foreshore beside the ferry jetty.
Uninhabited palm island with WWII six-inch guns and shallow lagoon snorkelling, surrounded by some of Cocos' best dive…
Historic convict-built pier – departure point for boat dives and a shallow reef-and-wall shore dive.
A safe, sandy-bottomed rock pool in a dramatic keyhole cove, with the island's best picnic facilities.
Sheltered pocket of submerged rock formations and rock pools at the southern end of Flying Fish Cove – a…
Coral Sea · External Territory
A remote crescent reef with vast coral meadows, turtles and a Second World War Liberty ship wreck.
The collapsed remains of a Second World War Liberty ship on a remote Coral Sea reef edge.
A tiny sea cave pool of crystal-clear, mixed fresh and salt water, 30 m from the road.
A lagoon reef stop on glass-bottom boat tours.
Shallow seagrass snorkelling with feeding green turtles on Home Island.
Shallow, warm lagoon water steps from West Island accommodation, with juvenile blacktips and turtles.
A calm, sheltered west-coast reef of gullies and coral heads below a boat-access-only beach.
Other ways to find a dive