Northern Territory · 42 sites
Darwin Harbour dive sites
Darwin Harbour is Australia's most historic wreck-diving location. The Japanese air raid of 19 February 1942 sank the USAT Meigs, SS Mauna Loa, British Motorist, Zealandia, Kelat and others, and they remain as protected war graves in 15–25 m, along with the Song Saigon refugee boat and a scatter of barges and aircraft. Visibility is low (3–8 m) and the tidal range reaches 8 m, so every dive is planned around slack water on the neap tides.
- Sites
- 42
- Wrecks
- 32
- Shore
- 0
- Boat
- 39
- Beginner
- 11
- Deepest
- 40 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The dry season is ending and the harbour is at its warmest and calmest: 27–28 °C, diving on the neap-tide slack for the 1942 wrecks and the offshore artificial reefs. October is the last good month before the build-up; stinger season starts in November and most operators wind down.
Getting there
Charters from Darwin, generally advertised weeks ahead for the neap-tide windows. No shore diving.
When to go
May to October dry season, on neap tides only.
Water & suit
Summer 29-32 °C · winter 24-26 °C. 3 mm wetsuit or skin in the dry season; full-length Lycra stinger suit (with hood and gloves) October-May
Nearest chamber: Royal Darwin Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Tiwi, Darwin)
Most recorded marine life in Darwin Harbour
- Batfish 28
- Estuary cod 26
- Golden snapper 26
- Trevally 19
- Black jewfish 15
- Sponges 13
- Small reef fish 10
- Soft corals 6
- Gorgonians 5
- Nudibranchs 5
- Barracuda 4
- Coral trout 4
- Hard and soft corals 4
- Lionfish 4
Plan a dive trip to Darwin Harbour →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Darwin Harbour
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Darwin Harbour
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 Darwin Harbour plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Darwin Harbour's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- East Point ReefReef · Max 8 m · Open Water
- Mandorah JettyJetty/Pier · Depth not published · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Darwin Harbour for, including USAT Meigs.
- USAT MeigsWreck · Max 18 m · Open Water
- Medkhanun 3Wreck · Max 20 m · Advanced Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Darwin Harbour.
- Song SaigonWreck · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
- John Holland BargeWreck · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Darwin Harbour
All Northern Territory operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Dive Darwin
ProfiledConfirmed Sept 2026
Darwin · Darwin Harbour · NT
The main verified dive operation in the Northern Territory, offering recreational training through professional level alongside technical diving and a large specialty range.
divedarwin.com.au · +61 401 751 651
Full serviceTrainingTechnicalPADI6 services64 sites
Darwin Sub Aqua Club
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Darwin · Darwin Harbour · NT
Club, not a shop: official site updated August 2026 with the 2026 AGM notice; meets Thursdays at Darwin Ski Club, Fannie Bay.
dsac.com.au
65 sites
Map of Darwin Harbour dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 20 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
Loading map…
22 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 42 Darwin Harbour dive sites
All Darwin Harbour sites at a glance
42 sites in Darwin Harbour · click a column to sort
| Beaufort A9-497 | Aircraft Wreck | Max 18 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| Bellbird | Wreck | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Bennetts Bottom | Reef | Max 32 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Bluebird | Wreck | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Booya | Wreck | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| British Motorist | Wreck | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Buffalo LVT amphibious vehicle | Wreck | Max 23 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| C-47 Dakota A65-115 | Aircraft Wreck | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Catalina A24-1 (Catalina 1) | Aircraft Wreck | Max 5 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Catalina A24-206 (Catalina 3) | Aircraft Wreck | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Catalina A24-69 (Catalina 2) | Aircraft Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Channel Rock | Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Darwin Princess | Wreck | Max 26 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| DK 06 Ham Luong | Wreck | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| DSAC Barge | Wreck | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Dudley Point Bommies | Reef | Max 8 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| East Point Reef | Reef | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Occasional |
| Ellengowan | Wreck | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| John Holland Barge | Wreck | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Kay Lee | Wreck | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Kelat | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Lee Point Culvert Reefs | Artificial Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Mandorah Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Depth not published | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Mandorah Queen | Wreck | Max 21 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Medkhanun 3 | Wreck | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| MV Neptuna remnants | Wreck | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Nightcliff Reef | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| NR Diemen | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Sandbar Barge | Wreck | Max 26 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Song Saigon | Wreck | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| SS Mauna Loa | Wreck | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| SS Zealandia | Wreck | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| Stokes Hill Wharf Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| The Pinnacle | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| The Ridge (Darwin) | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| US Navy Catalina 6 (heritage zone) | Aircraft Wreck | Max 12 m | Wreck specialty recommended | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| US Navy Catalina No.4/8 (Catalina 5) | Aircraft Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| US Navy Catalina No.41 (Catalina 4) | Aircraft Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| USAT Meigs | Wreck | Max 18 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Weekly |
| USS Peary | Wreck | Max 30 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Van Bruggen | Wreck | Max 14 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Weed Reef Bommies | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
Darwin Harbour diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Darwin Harbour?
Charters from Darwin, generally advertised weeks ahead for the neap-tide windows. No shore diving.
When is the best time to dive Darwin Harbour?
May to October dry season, on neap tides only.
How many dive sites are there in Darwin Harbour?
42 documented sites, including 32 wrecks. The deepest reaches 40 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Darwin Harbour?
Yes, 11 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 Darwin Harbour?
Typically 29-32 °C in summer and 24-26 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm wetsuit or skin in the dry season; full-length Lycra stinger suit (with hood and gloves) October-May.
Which dive centres operate in Darwin Harbour?
Dive Darwin, Darwin Sub Aqua Club are recorded as running sites in Darwin Harbour. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Darwin Harbour?
Royal Darwin Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Tiwi, Darwin). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
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