Northern Territory · 11 sites
East Arnhem Land & Gove dive sites
The Gove Peninsula at the top of Arnhem Land has fringing coral reefs, WWII aircraft wrecks and clear Gulf of Carpentaria water dived by the local club and a few visitors. Permits from the Northern Land Council are required to travel on Aboriginal land.
- Sites
- 11
- Wrecks
- 3
- Shore
- 0
- Boat
- 9
- Beginner
- 1
- Deepest
- 40 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026April–November is the season and October is near its end: calm mornings, 27 °C, and the Gove reefs at their clearest. The wet season's run-off arrives from December. Remote; arrange diving before you fly.
Getting there
Fly to Nhulunbuy from Darwin or Cairns. Diving is arranged through the local club or by private boat.
When to go
April to November, in the dry season's calm mornings.
Water & suit
Summer 29-31 °C · winter 24-26 °C. 3 mm wetsuit or full lycra; full-length stinger suit October-May
Nearest chamber: Royal Darwin Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Tiwi, Darwin) – aeromedical evacuation from Gove District Hospital (Nhulunbuy)
Most recorded marine life in East Arnhem Land & Gove
- Trevally 8
- Turtles 8
- Coral trout 7
- Cod 5
- Queenfish 5
- Reef sharks 5
- Soft corals 5
- Sweetlips 5
- Mackerel 4
- Rays 4
- Gorgonians 3
- Gropers 3
- Parrotfish 3
- Sponges 3
Plan a dive trip to East Arnhem Land & Gove →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in East Arnhem Land & Gove
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to East Arnhem Land & Gove
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 East Arnhem Land & Gove plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with East Arnhem Land & Gove's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Gove Town WharfJetty/Pier · Max 16 m · Open Water
- East Woody IslandIsland · Depth not published · Snorkel/Any
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to East Arnhem Land & Gove for, including the main wreck.
- Bromby IslandsIsland · Max 35 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
- Bremer IslandIsland · Max 40 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of East Arnhem Land & Gove.
- Sanyo MaruWreck · Max 26 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
- Sir Roderick RocksPinnacle/Bommie · Max 40 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive centres and charters in East Arnhem Land & Gove
All Northern Territory operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Map of East Arnhem Land & Gove dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 6 sites without published coordinates are not shown.
Loading map…
5 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 11 East Arnhem Land & Gove dive sites
All East Arnhem Land & Gove sites at a glance
11 sites in East Arnhem Land & Gove · click a column to sort
| Bonner Rocks | Reef | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Bremer Island | Island | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Bromby Islands | Island | Max 35 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Cape Arnhem | Reef | Depth not published | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| East Woody Island | Island | Depth not published | Snorkel/Any | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Gove Town Wharf | Jetty/Pier | Max 16 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Sanyo Maru | Wreck | Max 26 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Sir Roderick Rocks | Pinnacle/Bommie | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Expedition |
| Veronica Island | Island | Max 30 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Wessel Islands | Island | Depth not published | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
| Wigram Island | Island | Depth not published | Advanced Open Water | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) | Expedition |
East Arnhem Land & Gove diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in East Arnhem Land & Gove?
Fly to Nhulunbuy from Darwin or Cairns. Diving is arranged through the local club or by private boat.
When is the best time to dive East Arnhem Land & Gove?
April to November, in the dry season's calm mornings.
How many dive sites are there in East Arnhem Land & Gove?
11 documented sites, including 3 wrecks. The deepest reaches 40 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in East Arnhem Land & Gove?
Yes, 1 site is 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 East Arnhem Land & Gove?
Typically 29-31 °C in summer and 24-26 °C in winter. Most divers wear 3 mm wetsuit or full lycra; full-length stinger suit October-May.
Which dive centres operate in East Arnhem Land & Gove?
Gove Boat Club are recorded as running sites in East Arnhem Land & Gove. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to East Arnhem Land & Gove?
Royal Darwin Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Tiwi, Darwin) – aeromedical evacuation from Gove District Hospital (Nhulunbuy). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Other regions in Northern Territory