Where to dive in Australia in December
Early summer: warm water on every coast, mantas and leopard sharks arriving in the subtropics, and the wet season in the north.
December is warm everywhere. The NSW coast is at 21–24 °C with the first leopard sharks and mantas arriving in the north; Cocos (Keeling) enters its calm doldrum season; the southern states are pleasant if not yet at their best; and Perth's summer sea breeze means dawn dives on the metro reefs. The Great Barrier Reef is in the wet season, hot and humid with stinger suits required, but the outer reef is uncrowded and the cyclone risk is still modest before January.
Where to go in December
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The calm season begins on the atoll.
Byron Bay
First leopard sharks at Julian Rocks.
Geographe Bay
Easterly mornings, the Swan and Busselton Jetty in warm water.
Sydney South & Botany Bay
Warm water at Bare Island and Kurnell; early starts.
Sites whose best season includes December1341 sites
Drawn from each site's “best season” field, so only sites with a stated seasonal window appear; year-round sites are on the regional pages.
Queensland 303
- 1770 (Hastings Reef) · Max 20 m · Cairns
- Angel Bommie (Hastings Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Barolin Rocks · Max 10 m · Bundaberg & Agnes Water
- Barracuda Bommie (Agincourt Reef 2) · Max 22 m · Port Douglas
- Bashful Bommie (Opal Reef) · Max 18 m · Port Douglas
- Blue Buoy (Opal Reef) · Depth not published · Port Douglas
- Blue Lagoon (Hastings Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Blue Lagoon (Thetford Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Castle Rock (Agincourt Reef 1) · Max 24 m · Port Douglas
- Cathedral (Thetford Reef) · Max 30 m · Cairns
- Caves (Norman Reef) · Max 25 m · Cairns
- Challenger Bay · Max 30 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- City Hall (Moore Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Clam Gardens (Lizard Island) · Max 6 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Clipper & Super Cat (Norman Reef) · Max 22 m · Cairns
- Cod Hole · Max 32 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Coral Gardens (Flynn Reef) · Max 30 m · Cairns
- Coronation Corner (Agincourt Reef 3) · Max 25 m · Port Douglas
- Fish Bowl (Hastings Reef) · Max 15 m · Cairns
- Fitzroy Island · Max 12 m · Cairns
- Gordon's Mooring (Flynn Reef) · Max 22 m · Cairns
- Great Adventures Pontoon Reef (Moore Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Green Island · Max 21 m · Cairns
- Harry's Bommie (Agincourt Reef 4) · Max 16 m · Port Douglas
- Horseshoe Reef (Agincourt Reef 2) · Max 20 m · Port Douglas
- Lighthouse Bommie · Max 30 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Little Tracey (Flynn Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Low Isles · Max 8 m · Port Douglas
- Manta Bommie · Max 18 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Marine World Wall (Moore Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- Michaelmas Cay · Max 12 m · Cairns
- Monkey Beach (Great Keppel Island) · Max 6 m · Capricorn Coast & Keppel Islands
- MOUA Coral Greenhouse (John Brewer Reef) · Max 18 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Nurse Rock · Max 22 m · Sunshine Coast
- Nursery Bommie (Agincourt Reef) · Max 24 m · Port Douglas
- Petaj Mooring (Milln Reef) · Max 20 m · Cairns
- Phil's Reef (Agincourt Reef 3) · Max 16 m · Port Douglas
- Pixie Pinnacle · Max 30 m · Ribbon Reefs & Lizard Island
- Plate Top (Norman Reef) · Max 25 m · Cairns
- Playground (Norman Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
New South Wales 148
- Big Seal Rock · Max 45 m · Forster & Seal Rocks
- Blackburn Island · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Comet's Hole · Max 7 m · Lord Howe Island
- Dragon Rock (Tollgate Islands) · Max 25 m · Batemans Bay
- Erscott's Blind · Max 20 m · Lord Howe Island
- Erscott's Hole · Max 8 m · Lord Howe Island
- Favourite wreck (North Bay) · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Neds Beach · Max 15 m · Lord Howe Island
- North Bay · Max 5 m · Lord Howe Island
- Old Settlement Beach · Max 4 m · Lord Howe Island
- Sylph's Hole · Max 5 m · Lord Howe Island
- Terrigal Haven · Max 15 m · Central Coast
- Big Ben (Newcastle) · Max 24 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Bluefish Valley · Max 16 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- Burrill Rocks · Max 24 m · Ulladulla
- Deacon's Delight · Max 22 m · Lord Howe Island
- ex-HMAS Adelaide · Max 32 m · Central Coast
- Gaol Reef / Turtle Wall (Trial Bay) · Max 10 m · South West Rocks
- Horseshoe Reef · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Lighthouse Bay (Montague Island) · Max 16 m · Narooma & Montague Island
- Liv's Crack · Max 20 m · Lord Howe Island
- Malabar · Max 21 m · Lord Howe Island
- Malabar Landslide · Max 21 m · Lord Howe Island
- Malabar Third Reef · Max 21 m · Lord Howe Island
- Malabar West · Max 16 m · Lord Howe Island
- Merewether Ocean Baths shore dive · Max 9 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Merewether Reef (The Mowie Hole) · Max 15 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Newcastle Ocean Baths shore dive · Max 9 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Nine Mile Reef · Max 30 m · Tweed & Byron Bay
- No-Name Rock · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Noddy Island · Max 20 m · Lord Howe Island
- North Head Bommie · Max 18 m · Lord Howe Island
- North Reef (Newcastle) · Max 27 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- North Rock · Max 30 m · Lord Howe Island
- Octopus Garden · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Phillip Rock · Max 37 m · Lord Howe Island
- Roach Island / Flat Rock · Max 30 m · Lord Howe Island
- Roach Wall · Max 30 m · Lord Howe Island
- Rupert's Reef · Max 24 m · Lord Howe Island
- Shark Gutters (Montague Island) · Max 35 m · Narooma & Montague Island
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Victoria 178
- ex-HMAS Canberra · Max 32 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Flinders Pier · Max 6 m · Mornington Peninsula
- J4 Submarine · Max 28 m · Port Phillip Heads
- J5 Submarine · Max 36 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary · Max 10 m · Surf Coast & Great Ocean Road
- Middle Island, Warrnambool · Max 15 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- Old Aquarium (Breakwater Rock) · Max 14 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- PS Ozone · Max 4 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Seal Rocks (Phillip Island) · Max 20 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
- SS Coogee · Max 35 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Stingray Bay · Max 12 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- Batman · Max 46 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Berrys Reef · Max 12 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
- Beverwijk 19 · Max 46 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Cape Paterson (Bay Beach) · Max 10 m · Bass Coast
- Cape Woolamai Reef · Max 15 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
- Casino · Max 9 m · Surf Coast & Great Ocean Road
- Cowes Jetty · Max 15 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
- Dunloe · Max 46 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Eagles Nest (Inverloch) · Max 15 m · Bass Coast
- Euro · Max 50 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Fawkner · Max 46 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Flat Rocks (Inverloch) · Max 10 m · Bass Coast
- Flynns Reef · Max 8 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
- Geoffs Scallop Hole · Max 17 m · Mornington Peninsula
- George Kermode · Max 20 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
- H.C. Piggot · Max 48 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Harmers Haven · Max 8 m · Bass Coast
- Hopkins Reef · Max 12 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- Hurricane · Max 12 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- J1 Submarine · Max 38 m · Port Phillip Heads
- J2 Submarine · Max 39 m · Port Phillip Heads
- JL's Scallop Beds · Max 17 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Kitty Miller Bay · Max 12 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
- La Bella · Max 15 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- Lawrence Rocks · Max 30 m · Portland & the West
- Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary · Max 12 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Napier · Max 8 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- New Zealander & Lighthouse Reef, Nuns Beach · Max 4 m · Portland & the West
- Newhaven Jetty · Max 10 m · Phillip Island & Western Port
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Tasmania 189
- Cathedral Cave · Max 21 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Tinderbox Marine Reserve · Max 12 m · Hobart & Derwent
- Waterfall Bay Wall · Max 25 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Blackmans Bay · Max 12 m · Hobart & Derwent
- Deep Glen Bay North Wall · Max 40 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Eaglehawk Neck Jetty (Pirates Bay) · Max 12 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Fortescue Bay · Max 20 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Kingston Beach (Handfish site) · Max 8 m · Hobart & Derwent
- Little Waterfall Bay · Max 24 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Patersons Arch · Max 22 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Sisters Rocks · Max 45 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Sloping Island Kelp Forest · Max 12 m · Tasman Peninsula
- 27B (Bicheno) · Max 23 m · Tasmania East Coast
- 5 Mile Reef (North-West) · Max 50 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Adventure Bay (Bruny Island) · Max 25 m · Bruny Island & D'Entrecasteaux Channel
- Betsey Island · Max 25 m · Hobart & Derwent
- Bird Rock (Bicheno) · Max 20 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Burnie Breakwater / Blackmans Point · Max 10 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Cape Hauy / The Candlestick · Max 40 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Devonport Breakwater · Max 4 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Don Heads · Max 9 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- East Sandy Point (Bridport) · Max 12 m · Tasmania North-East
- Fourth Sister (Ulverstone) · Max 18 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Golden Bommies · Max 39 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Governor Island Wave Deflection Wall · Max 6 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Hippolyte Rocks · Max 65 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Horseshoe Reef (Devonport) · Max 18 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Ile des Phoques · Max 30 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Iron Pot Reef · Max 15 m · Hobart & Derwent
- Lookout Bluff – The Split · Max 9 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Low Head Shore · Max 6 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Magic Garden (Bicheno) · Max 33 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Mersey Bluff (Devonport) · Max 9 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Mount Everest (Bicheno) · Max 40 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Muirs Rock · Max 18 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Munro Bight · Max 40 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Ninepin Point Marine Reserve · Max 10 m · Huon & Far South
- O'Hara Bluff Kelp Forest · Max 20 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Paradise Reef · Max 33 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Penguin Island (Adventure Bay) · Max 15 m · Bruny Island & D'Entrecasteaux Channel
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
South Australia 162
- Port Noarlunga Reef & Jetty · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- Port Noarlunga Reef Underwater Trail · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- Rapid Bay Jetty · Max 10 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Baird Bay – Sea Lions and Dolphins · Max 4 m · Eyre Peninsula
- Ewens Ponds · Max 10 m · Mount Gambier Sinkholes & Caves
- Ex-HMAS Hobart · Max 30 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Glenelg Barge · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- Glenelg Dredge (SS South Australian) · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- HA Lumb Wreck · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- MV Andrew Wilson Wreck · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- MV Seawolf Wreck · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- Port Noarlunga Southern Reef · Max 8 m · Adelaide Metro
- Second Valley · Max 9 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Second Valley Jetty · Max 5 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Star of Greece Wreck · Max 6 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- The Bluff (Rosetta Head) · Max 18 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Aldinga Drop-off · Max 21 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Aldinga Pinnacles · Max 18 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Christies Beach Ledges · Max 5 m · Adelaide Metro
- Glenelg Blocks · Max 6 m · Adelaide Metro
- Glenelg Tyre Reef · Max 18 m · Adelaide Metro
- Haystack Reef · Max 22 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Hog Bay – Frenchmans Rock Reef · Max 6 m · Kangaroo Island
- Horseshoe Reef · Max 6 m · Adelaide Metro
- Hougomont Wreck · Max 10 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Lasseter's Reef · Max 8 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Moorara Wreck · Max 4 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Noarlunga Tyre Reef · Max 20 m · Adelaide Metro
- Norma Wreck · Max 15 m · Adelaide Metro
- Port Willunga Reef & Jetty Ruins · Max 6 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Rapid Head · Max 12 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Seacliff Reef · Max 15 m · Adelaide Metro
- Snapper Point (Aldinga Reef) · Max 7 m · Fleurieu Peninsula & Victor Harbor
- Songvaar Wreck · Max 10 m · Yorke Peninsula
- SS Australian Wreck · Max 12 m · Yorke Peninsula
- SS Investigator Wreck · Max 4 m · Yorke Peninsula
- SS MacIntyre Wreck · Max 10 m · Yorke Peninsula
- SS Willyama Wreck · Max 12 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Stenhouse Bay Jetty · Max 10 m · Yorke Peninsula
- Western River Cove · Max 18 m · Kangaroo Island
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Western Australia 249
- Boyinaboat Reef · Max 7 m · Perth
- Busselton Jetty Underwater Sculpture Park · Max 8 m · Geographe Bay & Busselton
- Cottesloe Pylon · Max 4 m · Perth
- Denton Holme Wreck · Max 7 m · Rottnest Island
- Essex Rocks Sea Lions (Jurien Bay) · Max 8 m · Turquoise Coast
- Fay's Bay · Max 5 m · Rottnest Island
- Geordie Bay · Max 8 m · Rottnest Island
- Greens Pool & Elephant Rocks (William Bay) · Max 5 m · Albany & Great Southern
- Hamelin Bay Jetty & Stingrays · Max 4 m · Margaret River & Augusta
- Injidup Natural Spa · Max 2 m · Margaret River & Augusta
- Little Armstrong Bay · Max 5 m · Rottnest Island
- Little Parakeet Bay · Max 4 m · Rottnest Island
- Little Salmon Bay · Max 6 m · Rottnest Island
- Longreach Bay · Max 5 m · Rottnest Island
- MAAC Dive and Snorkel Trail · Max 6 m · Perth
- Meelup Beach · Max 4 m · Geographe Bay & Busselton
- Mettams Pool · Max 7 m · Perth
- Omeo Wreck & Coogee Maritime Trail · Max 7 m · Perth
- Parker Point Snorkel Trail · Max 12 m · Rottnest Island
- Peters Pool (North Cottesloe) · Max 5 m · Perth
- Pinky Beach · Max 5 m · Rottnest Island
- Roe Reef · Max 18 m · Rottnest Island
- Rottnest Wreck Trail · Max 10 m · Rottnest Island
- Salmon Bay · Max 5 m · Rottnest Island
- Shark Hopper Barge (Henrietta Rocks) · Max 4 m · Rottnest Island
- SS Macedon Wreck · Max 7 m · Rottnest Island
- The Basin · Max 4 m · Rottnest Island
- Twilight Beach (Esperance) · Max 6 m · Esperance & Recherche Archipelago
- Uribes Wreck · Max 4 m · Rottnest Island
- Yallingup Lagoon · Max 3 m · Margaret River & Augusta
- Blue Haven Beach (Esperance) · Max 6 m · Esperance & Recherche Archipelago
- Boullanger Island & Jurien Bay Lagoon Reefs · Max 10 m · Turquoise Coast
- Breaksea Island · Max 28 m · Albany & Great Southern
- Castle Rock (Castle Bay) · Max 6 m · Geographe Bay & Busselton
- Cottesloe Reef · Depth not published · Perth
- Crystal Palace · Max 18 m · Rottnest Island
- Eagle Bay · Max 3 m · Geographe Bay & Busselton
- Esperance Jetty · Max 8 m · Esperance & Recherche Archipelago
- Flinders Bay (Augusta) · Max 4 m · Margaret River & Augusta
- Four Mile Reef · Max 20 m · Geographe Bay & Busselton
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
External Territories 112
- Emily Bay · Max 6 m · Norfolk Island
- Slaughter Bay · Max 6 m · Norfolk Island
- The Rip (Direction Island) · Max 8 m · Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Admiralty (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Amazing (Holmes Reef) · Max 20 m · Coral Sea
- Around the Bend (Osprey Reef) · Max 35 m · Coral Sea
- Boat Cave · Max 16 m · Christmas Island
- Cemetery Bay · Depth not published · Norfolk Island
- Crystal Plateau (Bougainville Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Dungeons & Dragons (Bougainville Reef) · Max 35 m · Coral Sea
- Fairy Grotto (Osprey Reef) · Max 35 m · Coral Sea
- False Entrance (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Half Way Wall (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- MV Antonio Tarabocchia wreck · Max 25 m · Coral Sea
- Nonki Bommie (Holmes Reef) · Max 36 m · Coral Sea
- North Horn (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- North Horn Wall (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Perpendicular Wall · Max 40 m · Christmas Island
- Prison Island · Max 5 m · Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Pulu Maraya · Max 5 m · Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Resort Lagoon / Waterfall Bay · Max 20 m · Christmas Island
- Secret Caves (Osprey Reef) · Max 30 m · Coral Sea
- Silver City (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- The Castles (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- West White Beach · Max 15 m · Christmas Island
- West White Beach Cave · Max 28 m · Christmas Island
- Anchors Away (Bougainville Reef) · Max 28 m · Coral Sea
- Anson Bay · Max 8 m · Norfolk Island
- Between the Wrecks (Bougainville Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Black Bank · Max 21 m · Norfolk Island
- Cascade Pier · Max 15 m · Norfolk Island
- Cathedral (Holmes Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Claytons Wreck (Nepean Island) · Max 16 m · Norfolk Island
- Cod Wall (Flinders Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Cooks Arch · Max 21 m · Norfolk Island
- Coral Canyons (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Corner Shop (Bougainville Reef) · Max 30 m · Coral Sea
- Crystal Pool · Max 6 m · Norfolk Island
- Egeria Point · Max 22 m · Christmas Island
- Ethel Beach · Max 14 m · Christmas Island
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.