South Australia · 28 sites
Kangaroo Island dive sites
Kangaroo Island has clear water, granite reefs, sea lions and leafy seadragons, and almost nobody dives it. The north coast around Kingscote, Emu Bay and Western River Cove is the sheltered side; the Kingscote jetty is a good easy dive, and the wrecks of the Loch Vennachar and Portland Maru sit on the wild south and west coasts.
- Sites
- 28
- Wrecks
- 7
- Shore
- 8
- Boat
- 10
- Beginner
- 9
- Deepest
- 40 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026Spring is the shoulder: 14 °C water, the north-coast sites (Western River, Snelling Beach) diveable on southerly winds, and leafy seadragons in the seagrass at Penneshaw and Kingscote. Summer and autumn are the main season.
Getting there
Ferry from Cape Jervis or a flight from Adelaide. Limited dive services on the island; bring gear and a compressor plan.
When to go
Summer and autumn on southerly winds, which flatten the north coast.
Water & suit
Summer 17-20 °C · winter 13-14 °C. 7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year; 5 mm acceptable Feb-Apr; drysuit popular in winter
Nearest chamber: Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – aeromedical retrieval from Kingscote (Kangaroo Island Health Service) is required; ~45 min flight. DAN/Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200.
Most recorded marine life in Kangaroo Island
- Leatherjackets 16
- Sponges 13
- Sweep 12
- Wrasse 12
- Western blue groper 8
- Cuttlefish 7
- Crabs 6
- Old wives 6
- Rock lobster 6
- Kelp 5
- Rays 5
- Yellowtail kingfish 5
- Ascidians 4
- Boarfish 4
Plan a dive trip to Kangaroo Island →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Kangaroo Island
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Kangaroo 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 Kangaroo Island plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Kangaroo Island's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Kingscote JettyJetty/Pier · Max 8 m · Open Water
- Western River CoveShore/Rock Platform · Max 18 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Kangaroo Island for, including Osmanli Wreck (D'Estrees Bay).
- Osmanli Wreck (D'Estrees Bay)Wreck · Max 5 m · Open Water
- Loch Vennachar WreckWreck · Max 15 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 Kangaroo Island.
- Vivonne Bay JettyJetty/Pier · Max 9 m · Open Water
- Snug CoveWall · Max 25 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive centres and charters in Kangaroo Island
All South Australia operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Diving Adelaide
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Marleston · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide training and guided diving operation serving local sites and organised trips.
divingadelaide.com.au · (08) 8122 5003
TrainingCharter4 services69 sites
Kangaroo Island Dive & Adventures
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Kingscote · Kangaroo Island · SA
A Kangaroo Island operation providing local diving and wildlife-oriented in-water experiences.
kangarooislanddiveandadventures.com.au · 0431 430 335
DestinationCharter2 services14 sites
Map of Kangaroo Island dive sites
Click a pin for the site. 6 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 28 Kangaroo Island dive sites
All Kangaroo Island sites at a glance
28 sites in Kangaroo Island · click a column to sort
| American River | Muck/Sand | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Ballast Head | Reef | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Cape du Couedic – Admirals Arch | Reef | Depth not published | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Expedition |
| Cape Torrens | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Expedition |
| Cape Willoughby | Reef | Max 20 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Emu Bay Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 7 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Fides Wreck | Wreck | Max 10 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Hanson Bay | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Harveys Return | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Hog Bay – Frenchmans Rock Reef | Reef | Max 6 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Kangaroo Head | Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| King George Beach | Reef | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Kingscote – Fanny M Wreck and Nepean Bay Reef | Wreck | Max 7 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Kingscote Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 8 m | Open Water | Shore | Weekly |
| Kingscote Tyre Reef | Artificial Reef | Depth not published | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Kona Wreck (Antechamber Bay) | Wreck | Max 3 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Loch Vennachar Wreck | Wreck | Max 15 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Expedition |
| Montebello Wreck | Wreck | Max 15 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Expedition |
| Osmanli Wreck (D'Estrees Bay) | Wreck | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Penneshaw Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Portland Maru Wreck | Wreck | Max 16 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Rolls Point (Kingscote) | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Snapper Point (KI) | Wall | Max 40 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat | Rare |
| Snug Cove | Wall | Max 25 m | Advanced Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Stokes Bay | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 10 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| The Pages | Island | Max 30 m | Deep/Advanced + experience | Boat (day trip) | Rare |
| Vivonne Bay Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 9 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Western River Cove | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 18 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
Kangaroo Island diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Kangaroo Island?
Ferry from Cape Jervis or a flight from Adelaide. Limited dive services on the island; bring gear and a compressor plan.
When is the best time to dive Kangaroo Island?
Summer and autumn on southerly winds, which flatten the north coast.
How many dive sites are there in Kangaroo Island?
28 documented sites, including 7 wrecks and 8 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 40 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Kangaroo Island?
Yes, 9 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 Kangaroo Island?
Typically 17-20 °C in summer and 13-14 °C in winter. Most divers wear 7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year; 5 mm acceptable Feb-Apr; drysuit popular in winter.
Which dive centres operate in Kangaroo Island?
Diving Adelaide, Kangaroo Island Dive & Adventures are recorded as running sites in Kangaroo Island. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Kangaroo Island?
Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – aeromedical retrieval from Kingscote (Kangaroo Island Health Service) is required; ~45 min flight. DAN/Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Other regions in South Australia