Where to dive in Australia in March
Autumn arrives: whale sharks return to Ningaloo, the south is calm and clear, and the east coast water is at its warmest.
March is one of the two best months to dive Australia. The coral spawning at Ningaloo brings the whale sharks back to Exmouth and Coral Bay. The southern states are at their calmest and warmest, with Wilsons Promontory, the Tasman Peninsula and the Recherche Archipelago all in their short windows. Sydney and the NSW coast have the warmest water of the year with the summer chop easing.
The tropics are still in the wet season but the risk drops through the month, and by late March the Great Barrier Reef day boats are running in clearing water.
Where to go in March
Ningaloo – Exmouth
Whale shark season opens after the coral spawn.
Wilsons Promontory
The Prom's best visibility, granite pinnacles and seals.
Esperance
The Recherche's calm window, sea lions and the Sanko Harvest.
Coffs Harbour
Warm water, mantas and turtles at the Solitaries.
Sites whose best season includes March1581 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 219
- 1770 (Hastings Reef) · Max 20 m · Cairns
- Angel Bommie (Hastings Reef) · Max 18 m · Cairns
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Sandbox (Opal Reef) · Max 11 m · Port Douglas
- Sandra's (Norman Reef) · Max 25 m · Cairns
- Sandra's (Saxon Reef) · Max 12 m · Cairns
- Saxon Coral Gardens · Max 15 m · Cairns
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
New South Wales 211
- 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
- East North Bommie · Max 26 m · Ulladulla
- 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 Wall · Max 28 m · Ulladulla
- Little Manly Cove · Max 10 m · Sydney Harbour
- Liv's Crack · Max 20 m · Lord Howe Island
- Magic Reef (Ulladulla) · Max 27 m · Ulladulla
- 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
- Martin Island · Max 30 m · Wollongong & Kiama
- 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
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Victoria 377
- Banksia Point, Ricketts Point · Max 3 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Boarfish Reef · Max 25 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Chinamans Hat · Max 12 m · Port Phillip Heads
- ex-HMAS Canberra · Max 32 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Flinders Pier · Max 6 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Lonsdale Wall · Max 38 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Lonsdale Wall Shallow · Max 25 m · Port Phillip Heads
- McGregor Rock, Quiet Corner · Max 5 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Middle Reef, Ricketts Point · Max 3 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Mornington Pier · Max 12 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Party Point · Max 45 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Popes Eye · Max 14 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Portsea Hole · Max 33 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary · Max 8 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Table Rock, Ricketts Point · Max 6 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Tea House Bay, Ricketts Point · Max 4 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Tea House Reef, Ricketts Point · Max 5 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Triangle Reef, Ricketts Point · Max 8 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- 12lb Reef · Max 20 m · Port Phillip Heads
- 16lb Reef · Max 18 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Boarfish Reef Drift · Max 32 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Castle Rock · Max 20 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Devils Drop Off · Max 55 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Eliza Ramsden · Max 22 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Foggy Reef · Max 30 m · Port Phillip Heads
- J4 Submarine · Max 28 m · Port Phillip Heads
- J5 Submarine · Max 36 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Kelp Beds Reef · Max 23 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Lady Cheryl · Max 14 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Lonsdale Arches · Max 18 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Lonsdale Bommies · Max 18 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
- Nepean Bay · Max 12 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Nepean Wall · Max 65 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Old Aquarium (Breakwater Rock) · Max 14 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- Paradise Wall · Max 30 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Popes Eye Anchor Farm · Max 11 m · Port Phillip Heads
- Portland Lee Breakwater · Max 14 m · Portland & the West
- Portsea Hole Wreck · Max 27 m · Port Phillip Heads
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Tasmania 230
- 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
- Bluestone Point (Rocky Cape) · Max 18 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Boat Harbour Point · Max 15 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- 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
- Glory Hole (Sisters Cave) · Max 10 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- Golden Bommies · Max 39 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Governor Island Wave Deflection Wall · Max 6 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Grey Crags (Western Bay) · Max 15 m · Tasmania North & North-West
- 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
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
South Australia 165
- Edithburgh Jetty · Max 9 m · Yorke Peninsula
- 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 Clan Ranald Wreck · Max 21 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
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Western Australia 267
- Ammo Jetty · Max 9 m · Perth
- Blue Holes (Kalbarri) · Max 5 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
- 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
- Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim · Depth not published · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- 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
- Cheynes III Wreck · Max 23 m · Albany & Great Southern
- Cottesloe Reef · Depth not published · Perth
- Crystal Palace · Max 18 m · Rottnest Island
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.