Northern Territory · 24 sites
Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs dive sites
Outside the harbour the water clears a little and a collection of post-war wrecks, artificial reefs and natural patches (the Fenton Patches, Charles Point reef and the scuttled Song Saigon and Anchorage wrecks) give Darwin divers deeper and cleaner alternatives to the harbour war graves.
- Sites
- 24
- Wrecks
- 12
- Shore
- 0
- Boat
- 24
- Beginner
- 0
- Deepest
- 45 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The last of the dry season: 27 °C, neap-tide diving on the Fenton Patches wrecks and the offshore reefs with the best visibility of the year. October is the final full month before the build-up; book the neap weeks.
Getting there
Charters from Darwin on neap tides.
When to go
May to October, on the smallest tides of the month.
Water & suit
Summer 30-32 °C · winter 24-26 °C. 3 mm shorty or full lycra/stinger suit; full-length stinger suit essential October-May
Nearest chamber: Royal Darwin Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Tiwi, Darwin)
Most recorded marine life in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Trevally 20
- Golden snapper 19
- Estuary cod 18
- Queenfish 18
- Black jewfish 17
- Spanish mackerel 17
- Sponges 17
- Baitfish 11
- Batfish 9
- Coral trout 9
- Saddletail snapper 9
- Fingermark 8
- Soft corals 8
- Turtles 7
Plan a dive trip to Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
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 Offshore & Artificial Reefs plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with the gentler sites while you get used to local conditions and the operator's routine.
- SS BrisbaneWreck · Max 12 m · Open Water
- Bottlewasher Artificial ReefArtificial Reef · Max 15 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs for, including Marchart 3.
- Marchart 3Wreck · Max 28 m · Advanced Open Water
- Antares and Steel BargeWreck · Max 28 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 Offshore & Artificial Reefs.
- Amelia CWreck · Max 28 m · Advanced Open Water
- Amanda LeeWreck · Max 28 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
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
Sea Darwin
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Darwin · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs · NT
Eco tour and cruise operator; contact details not on fetched pages.
seadarwin.com
2 sites
Western Blue Dive Charters
Named by sitesUnconfirmed
Darwin · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs · NT
The only operator found under this name is Western Blue Dive Charters at Mindarie Marina, Perth (westernbluedive.com.au); no Darwin operator by this name could be confirmed, so the Darwin attribution is doubtful.
16 sites
Map of Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 4 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
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20 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 24 Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs dive sites
All Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs sites at a glance
24 sites in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs · click a column to sort
| Adelaide River Mouth Engineered Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 16 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Amanda Lee | Wreck | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Amelia C | Wreck | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Antares and Steel Barge | Wreck | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Bottlewasher Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Bus Stop Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Bynoe Harbour Entrance Reefs | Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Cockatoo and Mudlark Artificial Reef | Wreck | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Dundee Wide Engineered Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Galah and Heron Artificial Reef | Wreck | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Gutters Central Engineered Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Japanese Submarine I-124 | Wreck | Max 45 m | Technical (decompression) | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| Lee Point Wide Engineered Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Marchart 3 | Wreck | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Merindah Pearl | Wreck | Max 28 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Peron Islands | Island | Depth not published | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Pipeline Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Occasional |
| Point Blaze Reefs | Reef | Depth not published | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| Rick Mills Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Roche Reef | Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| SS Brisbane | Wreck | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| Truck Tipper Artificial Reef | Artificial Reef | Max 15 m | Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Vernon Islands | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Vernon Islands Blue Holes | Reef | Depth not published | Snorkel/Any | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs?
Charters from Darwin on neap tides.
When is the best time to dive Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs?
May to October, on the smallest tides of the month.
How many dive sites are there in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs?
24 documented sites, including 12 wrecks. The deepest reaches 45 m.
How cold is the water in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs?
Typically 30-32 °C in summer and 24-26 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm shorty or full lycra/stinger suit; full-length stinger suit essential October-May.
Which dive centres operate in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs?
Dive Darwin, Darwin Sub Aqua Club, Sea Darwin, Western Blue Dive Charters are recorded as running sites in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs?
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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