The Cemetery takes its name from the Chinese cemetery on the shore above – one of the reminders of the Chinese workers who came to the island with the phosphate industry from the late nineteenth century. Extra Divers describe it as an easy drift dive located near the cemetery, only metres from shore, with a depth range of 5–14 m, rated for beginners.

The reef here is shallow and colourful. Hard corals – branching, plate and massive forms – cover the shelf close to the cliff, with soft corals and anemones among them, and the current that runs along this part of the Settlement coast carries divers gently past it. Schooling fish are a feature: fusiliers, surgeonfish, goatfish and snapper move in clouds over the reef, and there are plenty of butterflyfish, angelfish (including the endemic Christmas Island angelfish), triggerfish, wrasse and parrotfish. Turtles are regular, and reef sharks and trevally patrol the outer edge. Despite the shallow depth, Extra Divers note it is a peaceful and colourful experience.

It is a good first drift dive: the current is usually mild, depth is easy to control and there is lots to see without going deep. It also works as a second dive after a deeper site, allowing a long bottom time on a shallow profile. Being close to Flying Fish Cove, it is one of the sites used when time or conditions keep the boats near home.

Like the rest of the Settlement coast it is sheltered from the south-east trades and exposed to northerly swell in the wet season, when the shallow reef can become surgy. Suited to beginners, snorkellers on calm days and photographers who like bright shallow reef.

Fly from Perth (about 4 hours, two to three flights a week, some via Cocos Islands) and hire a car – there is no public transport. Both dive centres are in The Settlement and launch their boats from the jetty/boat ramp at Flying Fish Cove, normally at about 8 am for a two-dive morning trip. From the cove the boat runs east along the Settlement shoreline along the coast for roughly about 8 minutes to the reef below the Chinese cemetery.

There is no land access to the dive, and the vertical sea cliffs mean no exit other than the boat. Operators choose sites on the morning according to swell and wind.

On the north-east corner of the island, off The Settlement. Sheltered from the south-east trade winds (roughly April/May–November), when it is usually calm, but exposed to northerly and north-westerly monsoon swell from about December to March/April; Extra Divers report February–April as peak swell season when boat diving is often cancelled. The corner catches currents that sweep around the island, so conditions can change within a single dive.

Visibility is normally 25–40 m, lower after heavy rain and during red crab spawning (October–January), which is also when whale sharks are most likely.

Descend onto the reef at 8–10 m and drift gently along the shore with the current, staying between 5 and 14 m over the coral. The boat follows the group; ascend with a DSMB on the reef top.

Extra Divers Christmas Island – regular easy drift dive; CI Wet'n'Dry Adventures – occasional.