May is a month of animal events. Manta rays gather at Lady Elliot Island's cleaning stations; giant Australian cuttlefish begin to arrive at Point Lowly near Whyalla; and giant spider crabs aggregate in their thousands under the Mornington Peninsula piers, particularly Blairgowrie and Rye, in a spectacle that draws divers from around the world for a few weeks. The Great Barrier Reef is entering the dry season proper, and south-east Queensland's grey nurse sharks return to the winter sites.
Water is cooling in the south (14–16 °C in Victoria) and drysuits are coming out, but the weather is often calm.
Where to go in May
Lady Elliot Island
Manta season begins.
Mornington Peninsula
Giant spider crab aggregation at Blairgowrie and Rye.
Whyalla
Giant cuttlefish begin to gather at Point Lowly.
Brisbane & Moreton Bay
Grey nurse sharks return to Cherubs Cave and Flinders Reef clears.
Sites whose best season includes May1502 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 120
- Barolin Rocks · Max 10 m · Bundaberg & Agnes Water
- Blue Pearl Bay (Hayman Island) · Max 18 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Gold Coast Seaway – South-West Wall (Broadwater beach) · Max 8 m · Gold Coast
- Scottish Prince Wreck · Max 12 m · Gold Coast
- Shag Rock · Max 20 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Tangalooma Wrecks · Max 12 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- The Bowl (Flat Rock) · Max 34 m · North Stradbroke Island
- The Pinnacles (Hook Island) · Max 20 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Wave Break Island · Max 12 m · Gold Coast
- Wonder Reef · Max 30 m · Gold Coast
- 80 Foot Reef · Max 25 m · Gold Coast
- Alden's Cave (Flinders Reef) · Depth not published · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Boat Rock · Max 30 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Burkitt's Reef · Max 9 m · Bundaberg & Agnes Water
- Butterfly Bay (Hook Island) · Max 12 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Cateran Bay (Border Island) · Max 12 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Cementco Wreck · Max 30 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- ex-HMAS Tobruk · Max 28.5 m · Hervey Bay & K'gari
- Gold Coast Seaway – North Wall · Max 20 m · Gold Coast
- Gold Coast Seaway – Short Pipe · Max 15 m · Gold Coast
- Gretas Reef · Max 20 m · Gold Coast
- Hoffman's Rocks · Max 12 m · Bundaberg & Agnes Water
- Lady Norman (Curtin Artificial Reef) · Depth not published · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Langford Reef (Langford Island) · Max 15 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Luncheon Bay (Hook Island) · Max 15 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Manta Ray Drop-off (Bait Reef) · Max 36 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Maureen's Cove (Hook Island) · Max 12 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Migaloo Reef · Max 18 m · Gold Coast
- Southern Face (Bait Reef) · Max 30 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Stepping Stones (Bait Reef) · Max 30 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- The Pines · Max 25 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Tug Melbourne (Curtin Artificial Reef) · Depth not published · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Turtle Caves (Flat Rock) · Max 30 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Aarhus Wreck · Max 25 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Alcyonaria Point (Hook Island) · Max 18 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Aquarian Wreck · Max 14 m · Gold Coast
- Arthur Bay (Magnetic Island) · Max 10 m · Townsville & Magnetic Island
- Black Island (Bali Hai) · Max 12 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- Bulwer Wrecks · Max 6 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Campos Reef · Max 30 m · Gold Coast
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
New South Wales 258
- Blackburn Island · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Comet's Hole · Max 7 m · Lord Howe Island
- 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
- Fish Rock – Shark Gutters · Max 30 m · South West Rocks
- Julian Rocks – Cod Hole · Max 22 m · Tweed & Byron Bay
- Julian Rocks – Cray Cave · Max 25 m · Tweed & Byron Bay
- Julian Rocks – Rock Cod Cave · Max 24 m · Tweed & Byron Bay
- 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
- Bondi Wall / North Bondi Reef · Max 30 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Burrill Rocks · Max 24 m · Ulladulla
- Chowder Bay Wharf (naval wharf and mooring chains) · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- Deacon's Delight · Max 22 m · Lord Howe Island
- Dee Why Wide (Advanced) · Max 30 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- East North Bommie · Max 26 m · Ulladulla
- ex-HMAS Adelaide · Max 32 m · Central Coast
- Fish Rock – The Pinnacle · Max 35 m · South West Rocks
- 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
- Long Reef Wall · Max 24 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- 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
- No-Name Rock · Depth not published · 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
- 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
- PS Ozone · Max 4 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Tasmania 171
- 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
- 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
- Cape Hauy / The Candlestick · Max 40 m · Tasman Peninsula
- East Sandy Point (Bridport) · Max 12 m · Tasmania North-East
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Point Puer · Max 15 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Quiet Corner – Natal Queen Wreck · Max 4 m · Bruny Island & D'Entrecasteaux Channel
- Sandy Bay & Battery Point (Handfish) · Max 14 m · Hobart & Derwent
- SS Nord · Max 42 m · Tasman Peninsula
- Taroona Marine Reserve (Crayfish Point) · Max 18 m · Hobart & Derwent
- The Canyon (Bicheno) · Max 37 m · Tasmania East Coast
- The Castle (Bicheno) · Max 40 m · Tasmania East Coast
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
- Stony Point – Giant Cuttlefish Aggregation · Max 8 m · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- 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
- Kingscote Jetty · Max 8 m · Kangaroo Island
- 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
- Emu Bay Jetty · Max 7 m · Kangaroo Island
- Fitzgerald Bay / Black Point · Max 8 m · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- 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
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Western Australia 335
- 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
- Hamelin Bay Jetty & Stingrays · Max 4 m · Margaret River & Augusta
- HMAS Swan Wreck · Max 31 m · Geographe Bay & Busselton
- 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
- Monkey Mia · Max 3 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
- 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
- Tantabiddi Sanctuary Zone (Staghorns & The Bombies) · Max 3.5 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- The Basin · Max 4 m · Rottnest Island
- Uribes Wreck · Max 4 m · Rottnest Island
- Yallingup Lagoon · Max 3 m · Margaret River & Augusta
- ALC40 & Gay Dragon Wrecks (Bicton) · Max 8.5 m · Perth
- Bicton Baths (Swan River) · Max 15 m · Perth
- 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
- Cod Spot · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Northern Territory 69
- DK 06 Ham Luong · Max 25 m · Darwin Harbour
- John Holland Barge · Max 25 m · Darwin Harbour
- Medkhanun 3 · Max 20 m · Darwin Harbour
- NR Diemen · Max 12 m · Darwin Harbour
- Song Saigon · Max 25 m · Darwin Harbour
- SS Mauna Loa · Max 20 m · Darwin Harbour
- SS Zealandia · Max 22 m · Darwin Harbour
- USAT Meigs · Max 18 m · Darwin Harbour
- Amanda Lee · Max 28 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Amelia C · Max 28 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Antares and Steel Barge · Max 28 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Bellbird · Max 16 m · Darwin Harbour
- Bus Stop Reef · Max 25 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- C-47 Dakota A65-115 · Max 22 m · Darwin Harbour
- Channel Rock · Max 16 m · Darwin Harbour
- Cockatoo and Mudlark Artificial Reef · Max 25 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- DSAC Barge · Max 25 m · Darwin Harbour
- Dudley Point Bommies · Max 8 m · Darwin Harbour
- East Point Reef · Max 8 m · Darwin Harbour
- Galah and Heron Artificial Reef · Max 25 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Kelat · Max 12 m · Darwin Harbour
- Marchart 3 · Max 28 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Merindah Pearl · Max 28 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Pipeline Artificial Reef · Max 25 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- The Pinnacle · Max 15 m · Darwin Harbour
- USS Peary · Max 30 m · Darwin Harbour
- Weed Reef Bommies · Max 16 m · Darwin Harbour
- Adelaide River Mouth Engineered Reef · Max 16 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Beaufort A9-497 · Max 18 m · Darwin Harbour
- Bennetts Bottom · Max 32 m · Darwin Harbour
- Bluebird · Max 15 m · Darwin Harbour
- Booya · Max 22 m · Darwin Harbour
- Bottlewasher Artificial Reef · Max 15 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- British Motorist · Max 20 m · Darwin Harbour
- Buffalo LVT amphibious vehicle · Max 23 m · Darwin Harbour
- Bynoe Harbour Entrance Reefs · Depth not published · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Catalina A24-1 (Catalina 1) · Max 5 m · Darwin Harbour
- Catalina A24-206 (Catalina 3) · Max 16 m · Darwin Harbour
- Catalina A24-69 (Catalina 2) · Max 12 m · Darwin Harbour
- Darwin Princess · Max 26 m · Darwin Harbour
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
External Territories 7
- Resort Lagoon / Waterfall Bay · Max 20 m · Christmas Island
- Ethel Beach · Max 14 m · Christmas Island
- Pirate Cove · Max 15 m · Christmas Island
- Coconut Point Cave · Max 20 m · Christmas Island
- Dolly Beach · Max 10 m · Christmas Island
- Greta Beach · Max 8 m · Christmas Island
- Steep Point · Max 30 m · Christmas Island