External Territories · 42 sites
Christmas Island dive sites
Christmas Island is the top of a volcanic seamount, so the fringing reef gives way to a wall within 20–50 m of the shore and keeps falling to 500 m. The diving is drift and wall diving in exceptional visibility, with sea caves such as Thundercliff, the endemic dragon moray, grey reef and silvertip sharks, spinner dolphins and, from November to January, whale sharks that arrive to feed on red crab spawn.
- Sites
- 42
- Wrecks
- 1
- Shore
- 4
- Boat
- 31
- Beginner
- 17
- Deepest
- 40 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The dry season (May–October) is ending: flat seas, 27 °C water, 30 m-plus visibility at Flying Fish Cove and the walls. Whale shark season at Christmas Island runs November to April, so late October is the crossover between the calm and the big animals.
Getting there
Fly from Perth (about four hours) with a single dive operator based at Flying Fish Cove. Shore entries are possible at Flying Fish Cove and a few north-coast sites when the sea is flat.
When to go
April to November, when the south-east trades leave the north coast calm. The wet season (December–March) brings north-west swell to the settlement side, but the whale sharks and the red crab migration make it worth the gamble for some.
Water & suit
Summer 28-29 °C · winter 26-27 °C. 3 mm full wetsuit (many dive in a 3 mm shorty or rash vest); 5 mm for multiple long dives or cave dives
Nearest chamber: Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – approx. 2,600 km away; there is no recompression chamber on Christmas Island. Stabilisation at Christmas Island Hospital, then aeromedical evacuation to Perth (many hours)
Most recorded marine life in Christmas Island
- Butterflyfish 22
- Surgeonfish 20
- Turtles 18
- Fusiliers 17
- Triggerfish 16
- Hard corals 15
- Trevally 15
- Parrotfish 14
- Reef sharks 13
- Angelfish 11
- Groupers 10
- Christmas island (cocos) angelfish 9
- Wrasse 9
- Sea fans 8
The most-dived sites in Christmas Island
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Christmas Island
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own Christmas Island plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Christmas Island's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Flying Fish CoveShore/Rock Platform · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
- The SandpatchMuck/Sand · Max 18 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Christmas Island for, including Eidsvold Wreck.
- Perpendicular WallWall · Max 40 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
- Eidsvold WreckWreck · Max 18 m · Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Christmas Island.
- Rhoda WallWall · Max 36 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
- The MorgueReef · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Christmas Island
All External Territories operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Extra Divers Christmas Island
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Flying Fish Cove · Christmas Island · WA
The main dive operation on Christmas Island, servicing the island's wall and drop-off diving.
extradivers-worldwide.com/en/extra-divers-christmas-island
DestinationResortCharter5 services38 sites
CI Wet'n'Dry Adventures
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Christmas Island · Christmas Island · External Territory
Trades as Christmas Island Wet'n'Dry Adventures / Dive Christmas Island; family business since 1994.
divingchristmas.com · 0439 215 290
38 sites
Freedive Christmas Island
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Christmas Island · Christmas Island · External Territory
Freediving and snorkel tours; website not fetchable (robots), details from freedivingcentre.com listing.
freedivechristmasisland.com
1 site
Map of Christmas Island dive sites
Click a pin for the site.
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42 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 42 Christmas Island dive sites
All Christmas Island sites at a glance
42 sites in Christmas Island · click a column to sort
| Admin Wall | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| Barracuda Bay | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Boat Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Chicken Farm | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Occasional |
| Coconut Point | Drift | Max 16 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Coconut Point Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 20 m | Cave/Cavern certification | Boat | Expedition |
| Daniel Roux Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Dolly Beach | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Egeria Point | Wall | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Eidsvold Wreck | Wreck | Max 18 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| Ethel Beach | Reef | Max 14 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Flying Fish Cove | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Fuel Buoys | Reef | Max 24 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Greta Beach | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Isabel Beach | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Leanne's Leap | Drift | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Lily Beach | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Lost Lake Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Lost Lake East | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Lynnie's Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Merrial Beach | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Middle Beach | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Million Dollar Bommie | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 26 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| North West Point | Reef | Max 14 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Perpendicular Wall | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Weekly |
| Pig Rock | Reef | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Pirate Cove | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Resort Lagoon / Waterfall Bay | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Rhoda Wall | Wall | Max 36 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Weekly |
| Rocky Point | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Smith Point | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
| Steep Point | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Submarine Rock | Wall | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| The Cemetery | Drift | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| The Grotto | Cave/Cavern | Depth not published | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| The Morgue | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| The Sandpatch | Muck/Sand | Max 18 m | Open Water | Shore | Daily |
| Thundercliff Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Thunderdome Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 20 m | Cave/Cavern certification | Boat | Occasional |
| West White Beach | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| West White Beach Cave | Cave/Cavern | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Weekly |
| Winifred Beach | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Occasional |
Christmas Island diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Christmas Island?
Fly from Perth (about four hours) with a single dive operator based at Flying Fish Cove. Shore entries are possible at Flying Fish Cove and a few north-coast sites when the sea is flat.
When is the best time to dive Christmas Island?
April to November, when the south-east trades leave the north coast calm. The wet season (December–March) brings north-west swell to the settlement side, but the whale sharks and the red crab migration make it worth the gamble for some.
How many dive sites are there in Christmas Island?
42 documented sites, including 1 wreck and 4 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 40 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Christmas Island?
Yes, 17 sites are rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in Christmas Island?
Typically 28-29 °C in summer and 26-27 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm full wetsuit (many dive in a 3 mm shorty or rash vest); 5 mm for multiple long dives or cave dives.
Which dive centres operate in Christmas Island?
Extra Divers Christmas Island, CI Wet'n'Dry Adventures, Freedive Christmas Island are recorded as running sites in Christmas Island. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Christmas Island?
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – approx. 2,600 km away; there is no recompression chamber on Christmas Island. Stabilisation at Christmas Island Hospital, then aeromedical evacuation to Perth (many hours). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
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