Dugong
A shy seagrass-grazing sea cow found in Shark Bay, Moreton Bay and the northern coast; a rare and lucky sight for divers.
Dugong dugon
Australia holds most of the world's dugongs, with the largest populations in Shark Bay (WA), the Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait and Moreton Bay near Brisbane, all over shallow seagrass meadows. They are wary of divers and encounters are usually from boats or by snorkellers over the seagrass flats; Moreton Bay's eastern banks and Shark Bay's Monkey Mia area are the best chances.
Season heat map
When dugong sites are in season
Share of the 22 dugong sites with a stated best season that includes each month.
Stated season: Year-round.
Best sites for dugong28 sites
Ordered by how regularly the site is dived and how well it is documented. The species is listed in each site's recorded marine life; sightings are never guaranteed.
All other sites recording dugong
- Dunk Island · Max 10 m · Mission Beach & Cassowary Coast
- Peel Island – Horseshoe Bay · Max 4 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Bundegi Reef · Max 10 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Vernon Islands · Max 25 m · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Montebello Islands Lagoons · Max 20 m · Pilbara & Dampier
- Montgomery Reef · Max 10 m · Broome & Kimberley
- Bynoe Harbour Entrance Reefs · Depth not published · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Connexion Island · Max 30 m · Groote Eylandt
- Peron Islands · Depth not published · Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs
- Wessel Islands · Depth not published · East Arnhem Land & Gove
- Bongaree Jetty (Bribie Island) · Max 6 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Cowan Cowan · Max 12 m · Brisbane & Moreton Bay
- Family Islands · Max 10 m · Mission Beach & Cassowary Coast
- Myora Reef · Max 5 m · North Stradbroke Island
- Torres Strait Outer Reef Channels · Depth not published · Far Northern Reef & Torres Strait
- Bar Flats (Shark Bay) · Max 4 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
- Eagle Bluff (Shark Bay) · Max 5 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
- Gregories & Bottle Bay (Francois Peron NP) · Max 4 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
- Sandy Point Sanctuary Zone (Dirk Hartog Island) · Max 8 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to see dugong in Australia?
Shark Bay; Moreton Bay; Ningaloo lagoon; the Gulf of Carpentaria; Ashmore Reef.
When is the best time to see dugong?
Year-round.
How should I approach dugong?
Snorkel quietly over seagrass at slack water and wait.