September opens the liveaboard season for the Coral Sea and the Rowley Shoals as the trade winds ease. The Great Barrier Reef is still clear and cool, humpbacks are heading south with calves, and Ningaloo's whale swims continue. In the south the water bottoms out and starts to climb; spring plankton begins to reduce visibility in Tasmania and Victoria, but the weather is improving and the Yorke Peninsula jetties are at their best on calm days.
Where to go in September
Coral Sea
Osprey Reef liveaboard season begins.
Rowley Shoals
The short liveaboard season opens.
Townsville
The Yongala's calmest, clearest months begin.
Yorke Peninsula
Edithburgh and the jetties on spring calm days.
Sites whose best season includes September832 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 385
- 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
- Blue Pearl Bay (Hayman Island) · Max 18 m · Whitsundays & Bowen
- 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
- Gold Coast Seaway – South-West Wall (Broadwater beach) · Max 8 m · Gold Coast
- 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
- 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
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
New South Wales 128
- 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
- Fairlight · Max 12 m · Sydney Harbour
- 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
- Montague Island Seal Colony · Max 15 m · Narooma & Montague 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
- The Leap (Kurnell) · Max 22 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- The Steps (Kurnell) · Max 15 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Bare Island – 15 Metre Reef · Max 16 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Bare Island – Deep Wall · Max 19 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Bondi Wall / North Bondi Reef · Max 30 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- 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
- Fish Rock – The Pinnacle · Max 35 m · South West Rocks
- Horseshoe Reef · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Inscription Point (Kurnell) · Max 14 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
- Liv's Crack · Max 20 m · Lord Howe Island
- Long Reef Wall · Max 24 m · Sydney Northern Beaches
- 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
- 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 Rock · Max 30 m · Lord Howe Island
- Octopus Garden · Depth not published · Lord Howe Island
- Phillip Rock · Max 37 m · Lord Howe Island
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.
Victoria 13
- Flinders Pier · Max 6 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Middle Island, Warrnambool · Max 15 m · Shipwreck Coast & Warrnambool
- Lawrence Rocks · Max 30 m · Portland & the West
- Point Franklin Reef, Portsea · Max 15 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Portsea Pier East Reef · Max 11 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Rosebud Pier · Max 8 m · Mornington Peninsula
- SS Uralba · Max 18 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Crawfish Rock · Max 32 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Hastings Pier · Max 5 m · Mornington Peninsula
- SS City of Launceston · Max 22 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- SS Kakariki · Max 10 m · Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay
- Stony Point Pier · Max 9 m · Mornington Peninsula
- Tankerton Jetty, French Island · Max 8 m · Mornington Peninsula
Tasmania 14
- 27B (Bicheno) · Max 23 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Bird Rock (Bicheno) · Max 20 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Golden Bommies · Max 39 m · Tasmania East Coast
- 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
- Paradise Reef · Max 33 m · Tasmania East Coast
- The Canyon (Bicheno) · Max 37 m · Tasmania East Coast
- The Castle (Bicheno) · Max 40 m · Tasmania East Coast
- The Hairy Wall · Max 40 m · Tasmania East Coast
- The Rose Garden (Bicheno) · Max 36 m · Tasmania East Coast
- The Steps (Bicheno) · Max 32 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Trap Reef · Max 35 m · Tasmania East Coast
- Lake St Clair (Cynthia Bay) · Max 10 m · Tasmania Freshwater & Caves
South Australia 3
- Ewens Ponds · Max 10 m · Mount Gambier Sinkholes & Caves
- Kingscote Jetty · Max 8 m · Kangaroo Island
- Emu Bay Jetty · Max 7 m · Kangaroo Island
Western Australia 143
- Essex Rocks Sea Lions (Jurien Bay) · Max 8 m · Turquoise Coast
- HMAS Swan Wreck · Max 31 m · Geographe Bay & Busselton
- Monkey Mia · Max 3 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
- Ningaloo Humpback Whale Swim · Depth not published · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Ningaloo Whale Shark Swim · Depth not published · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Tantabiddi Sanctuary Zone (Staghorns & The Bombies) · Max 3.5 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- ALC40 & Gay Dragon Wrecks (Bicton) · Max 8.5 m · Perth
- Bicton Baths (Swan River) · Max 15 m · Perth
- Cod Spot · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Dinner Plates · Max 18 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Fraggle Rock · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- HMAS Perth Wreck · Max 35 m · Albany & Great Southern
- Keyhole · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Penguin Island · Max 5 m · Perth
- Robb Jetty · Max 8.5 m · Perth
- Seal Island (Shoalwater) · Max 6 m · Perth
- Sponge Gardens (Muiron Islands) · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- The Gap (Muiron Islands) · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- The Spit (Muiron Islands) · Max 18 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Town Beach Flying Boat Wrecks (low-tide walk) · Max 1 m · Broome & Kimberley
- Turtle Bay (East Wallabi Island) · Max 5 m · Geraldton & Abrolhos Islands
- Whalebone · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Bare Rock (Dampier) · Max 20 m · Pilbara & Dampier
- Beverly Hills · Max 24 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Blue Holes (Ningaloo westside) · Max 18 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Bundegi Reef · Max 10 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Carnac Island · Max 14 m · Perth
- Central Station · Max 15 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Delambre Island · Max 14 m · Pilbara & Dampier
- Enderby Island · Max 17 m · Pilbara & Dampier
- False Passage · Max 18 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Fish Bowl (Muiron Islands) · Max 15 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Floats · Max 15 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Hole in the Wall (Ningaloo) · Max 20 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Kendrew Island · Max 20 m · Pilbara & Dampier
- Legendre Island · Max 35 m · Pilbara & Dampier
- Mandu Wall · Max 25 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Mermaid Passage (Dampier) · Max 18 m · Pilbara & Dampier
- Milyering Wall · Max 27 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Nick's Lumps · Max 15 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 77
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Between the Wrecks (Bougainville Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Cathedral (Holmes Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Cod Wall (Flinders Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Coral Canyons (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Corner Shop (Bougainville Reef) · Max 30 m · Coral Sea
- Egeria Point · Max 22 m · Christmas Island
- Ethel Beach · Max 14 m · Christmas Island
- Fan Fair (Flinders Reef) · Depth not published · Coral Sea
- Golden Wall (Holmes Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Leopard's Lair (Holmes Reef) · Max 35 m · Coral Sea
- Line of Sight (Holmes Reef) · Max 30 m · Coral Sea
- Middle Earth (Bougainville Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- Nautilus Wall (Osprey Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- North West Point · Max 14 m · Christmas Island
- Northern Lights (Holmes Reef) · Max 35 m · Coral Sea
- Pig Rock · Max 22 m · Christmas Island
- Pirate Cove · Max 15 m · Christmas Island
- The Abyss (Holmes Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
- The Sticks (Bougainville Reef) · Max 40 m · Coral Sea
Showing the 40 most-dived; the state page lists the rest.