Your First Dives After Open Water in Northern Territory: Where to Go, Who to Ring, What to Hire
The 4 easiest, most rewarding dive sites in Northern Territory for a newly certified diver, plus what a first boat day is like, what to hire, when to go and the next course.
Darwin's diving is unusual: warm, tidal, dived on the neap-tide slack, with visibility of a few metres to ten, and full of history. New divers do fine here because the harbour operators run everything as guided dives with a briefing that covers the current and the low visibility; it is the best possible training in buoyancy and buddy contact.
The 4 dives to do first
| Site | Access | Depth | Why first |
|---|---|---|---|
| NR Diemen | Boat | 8–12 m | An upright, intact trawler sunk by Cyclone Tracy in 1974, in 12 m with some of the harbour's best fish life; the beginner wreck of Darwin. |
| East Point Reef | Shore | 3–8 m | A shallow shore site off East Point Reserve with sponges, sea whips and small fish: the place to get used to Darwin's water without a boat. |
| Dudley Point Bommies | Boat | 4–8 m | A wide field of shallow coral bommies with clownfish and long, easy bottom times. |
| Kelat | Boat | 8–12 m | A relaxed 12 m dive on the remains of an 1881 iron sailing ship turned naval coal hulk, sunk after the 1942 raid; history without depth. |
Open the site pages
What your first boat day is like
The harbour boats run on the neap tides, typically a week in every fortnight, with departures set to the slack. Expect two dives on wrecks or bommies in 8–20 m, a careful current briefing and a guide in the water. The dry season (May–October) is the season; from November the stingers arrive and most operators wind down.
What to hire and what to buy
Full kit $80–100 a day; a 3 mm suit or a lycra stinger suit is all you need in 27–30 °C water. A torch helps in the harbour's visibility.
When to go
May to October, on the neap tides.
Habits that make the first twenty dives safe
Dive with someone who knows the site for your first visit anywhere; every state has clubs and shop-run social dives for exactly this. Check the swell and wind against the site page's conditions section the night before, and have a sheltered alternative. Stay within your certification depth (18 m) and above your comfort depth, which is usually shallower. Do a proper buddy check every time, carry a surface marker on any boat dive, and log everything: operators ask how many dives you have and when the last one was, and honest numbers get you better sites.
The next step
Advanced Open Water for the 1942 raid wrecks: the USAT Meigs, the Mauna Loa and the Zealandia in 18–22 m.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I do my first dive after certification in Northern Territory?
NR Diemen: An upright, intact trawler sunk by Cyclone Tracy in 1974, in 12 m with some of the harbour's best fish life; the beginner wreck of Darwin.
How deep can I go with Open Water?
Recreational agencies certify Open Water divers to 18 m. Every site in this guide has its maximum depth listed, and all are within that limit or have a shallow section that is.
Do I need my own gear?
Full kit $80–100 a day; a 3 mm suit or a lycra stinger suit is all you need in 27–30 °C water. A torch helps in the harbour's visibility.
When is the best time for a new diver?
May to October, on the neap tides.
Last reviewed September 2026. Rules and seasons change; confirm current requirements with operators and authorities before travelling.
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