Ranked by recorded summer water temperature: the Top End, the Kimberley, the far northern reef and the Indian Ocean territories, where 30 °C water is normal and a 3 mm suit is for sun protection.
Updated daily from the directory. 25 sites listed.
1. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Town Beach Flying Boat Wrecks (low-tide walk)
Summer water: 29-31 °C · Walk among WWII flying-boat wrecks on the mudflats at extreme low tide.
2. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Adele Island
Summer water: 29-31 °C · A remote reef platform and seabird island with abundant sharks.
3. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Argyle Downs Homestead (Lake Argyle)
Summer water: 29-32 °C · A drowned 1880s outback station: windmill, sheds, tractors and petrol bowsers in a Kimberley lake.
4. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Gantheaume Point to Riddell Point Reef
Summer water: 29-31 °C · Broome's most accessible reef, beneath the red cliffs of Gantheaume Point.
5. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Lacepede Islands
Summer water: 29-31 °C · A remote turtle and seabird sanctuary with the 1879 Manfred wreck.
6. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Montgomery Reef
Summer water: 29-31 °C · The world's largest inshore reef, draining in waterfalls on a 10 m tide.
7. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Roebuck Bay Flying Boat Wrecks (deep-water Catalinas)
Summer water: 29-31 °C · WWII Catalina flying boats sunk in the 1942 Broome raid, with engines and turret still recognisable.
8. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Scott Reef
Summer water: 29-31 °C · Remote oceanic atolls with walls rising from 500 m, rarely dived.
9. Broome & Kimberley · WA
Whale Rock (Broome)
Summer water: 29-31 °C · Ledges full of fish a kilometre off Gantheaume Beach.
10. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Delambre Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Branching coral gardens on a remote turtle island.
11. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Enderby Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Coral-dominated fringing reefs with gorgonians on the deeper edge.
12. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Kendrew Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Gutters and pinnacles on an exposed outer island.
13. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Legendre Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · The archipelago's best drop-off, with gorgonians and pelagics to 30 m+.
14. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
No. 20 McDermott Barge
Summer water: 28-30 °C · A giant cyclone-wrecked derrick barge in shallow water.
15. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Pebbles Beach (King Bay)
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Epaulette sharks among shallow rocks on the Burrup.
16. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Rosemary Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Sheltered bays and varied reefs on a large outer island.
17. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
West Lewis Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Shallow, easy coral gardens close to Dampier.
18. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Withnell Bay
Summer water: 28-30 °C · An easy shore dive on the Burrup with turtles and rays.
19. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Barrow Island Marine Park (Biggada Reef & Turtle Bay)
Summer water: 28-30 °C · A fully no-take marine park with a green turtle breeding aggregation.
20. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Bessieres Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Friendly potato cod and turtles on coral ridges.
21. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Black Flag
Summer water: 28-30 °C · The Mackerel Islands' best dive: caves, ledges and canyons full of fish.
22. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Brewis Reef
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Shallow arches and ledges with schooling snapper.
23. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Crown of England
Summer water: 28-30 °C · A cyclone-wrecked sailing ship with anchor, masts and bow above water.
24. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Direction Island
Summer water: 28-30 °C · Easy shallow snorkelling around a tiny island.
25. Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Eddystone
Summer water: 28-30 °C · A triple-expansion engine and bent propeller shaft swept by giant trevally.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the warmest diving in Australia?
Darwin Harbour and the Top End reach 29–32 °C in the wet season, with the Kimberley, Torres Strait, Christmas Island and Cocos close behind at 27–30 °C.
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