The best dive sites in Australia to see marine life
Heading underwater provides an extraordinary thrill. Scuba diving – and snorkelling – allows you to embark on a surreal journey where you enter a world bursting with incredible interactions and amazing colours.
Whether you’re being wowed by marine life or marvelling at colourful coral, each dive warrants endless superlatives: captivating, enthralling, exciting, fascinating…
Fortunately, Australia’s extensive coastline allows for ample underwater exploration, and the many BIG4 parks lined along the coast means we can easily put you at the heart of the action. Grab your wetsuit and flippers – it’s time to explore the best dive sites in Australia.
QUEENSLAND
The Great Barrier Reef
Where is it? Stretching for 2600km from Bundaberg up to Cooktown.
In a nutshell: Think diving, think the Great Barrier Reef. This World Heritage wonder is the best-known playground for those who want to dive or snorkel. The attraction incorporates more than 900 islands, has roughly 3000 individual reefs, and is home to a gob-smacking assortment of marine life and coral. This includes turtles, sharks, stingrays, dugongs, and a massive 1500 fish species.
BIG4 parks nearby: Base yourself in the Tropical North, the Bundaberg region or Townsville & Surrounds.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Solitary Islands Marine Park
Where is it? Stretching for 75km from Coffs Harbour up to Plover Island, near Brooms Head.
In a nutshell: Covering more than 70,000ha, this massive park has a profusion of marine life to view. Highlights include 550-plus fish species, four types of turtles, giant cuttlefish, grey nurse sharks, and loads of coral. Manta Arch is among the leading dive sites, and diving tours operate from the Coffs Harbour area as well as Wooli.
BIG4 parks nearby: Coffs Harbour.
Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park
Where is it? Covering 98,000ha and stretching from Stockton Beach, Port Stephens up to Forster.
In a nutshell: Witness a staggering assortment of creatures in New South Wales’ largest marine park, including loggerhead turtles, grey nurse sharks, and White’s seahorse. Also keep close watch for the hard-to-spot Red Indian fish and the spectacular-looking donut nudibranch (yes, this a real thing). The Pinnacle, near Forster, is among the leading dive spots while Fly Point Park, between Nelson Bay and Little Beach, is a popular option for snorkelling. Diving tours depart from Port Stephens and Forster.
BIG4 parks nearby: Port Stephens or Forster-Tuncurry.
Batemans Marine Park
Where is it? Encompassing 85,000ha and connecting Wallaga Lake, near Tilba Tilba up to Murramarang Beach, near Batemans Bay.
In a nutshell: Like all New South Wales marine parks, this spellbinding area is packed with fascinating underwater creatures, including turtles and grey nurse sharks. Diving and snorkelling enthusiasts have plenty of options but the biggest drawcard is a tour to Montague Island, only 9km off Narooma’s coast, to view abundant playful fur seals. The Tollgate Islands, close to Batemans Bay, is another prized area owing to its many interesting dive sites.
BIG4 parks nearby: South Coast NSW.
Cape Byron Marine Park
Where is it? Incorporating 22,000ha from Lennox Head up to Brunswick Heads.
In a nutshell: Despite being considerably smaller than other marine parks in the state, Cape Byron’s wealth of underwater life makes it alluring. Julian Rocks Marine Reserve, just minutes from Byron Bay, is the prime diving and snorkelling spot, attracting plenty of fascinating creatures. These include leopard and grey nurse sharks, manta rays, three species of turtle, and much more.
BIG4 parks nearby: Ingenia Holidays Byron Bay or BIG4 Tasman Holiday Parks - Ballina.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Ningaloo Reef
Where is it? Ningaloo Marine Park (within the wider Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area) extends 300km from Red Bluff, near Carnarvon up to Bundegi Reef, near Exmouth.
In a nutshell: Ningaloo Reef has just as much appeal to divers and snorkellers as the Great Barrier Reef. It provides divers with the simplest of access and is home to an exceptional array of marine life that includes mantra rays and turtles. Diving tours from Exmouth and Coral Bay allow for unforgettable and intimate encounters; Exmouth Navy Pier is among the premier dive sites with its vast collection of fish species. And the rare chance to swim with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef is an essential activity (March-August).
BIG4 parks nearby: RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park.
Seal Cove
Where is it? 12km southeast of Albany
In a nutshell: Spotted within King George Sound, this delightful area is highly regarded by divers for its resident New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions. These interactive animals provide endless thrills and, combined with other underwater creatures and coral, ensure Seal Cove is hugely rewarding for divers. Tours operate from Albany.
BIG4 parks nearby: BIG4 Emu Beach Holiday Park or BIG4 Middleton Beach Holiday Park in Albany.
VICTORIA
Bunurong Marine Park
Where is it? 6km southwest of Inverloch
In a nutshell: This park offers excellent opportunities for both divers and snorkellers to spy a vast assortment of marine life, including the distinctive-looking Port Jackson shark as well as upwards of 85 fish species. There are plenty of great dive spots that are easily accessible from land. Flat Rocks is ideal for diving – and snorkelling – while Eagles Nest and Cape Paterson are other key areas.
BIG4 parks nearby: BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Inverloch, Ingenia Holidays Inverloch Foreshore or Ingenia Holidays Cape Paterson.
Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park
Where is it? Between Bellarine and Mornington Peninsula in Port Phillip Bay.
In a nutshell: Consisting of six individual marine areas at the southern end of Port Phillip Bay, this marine park affords the chance to view a seemingly endless array of marine life that includes weedy sea dragons, squid, seahorses, and stingrays. The six areas – Swan Bay, Mud Islands, Point Lonsdale, Point Nepean, Popes Eye, and Portsea Hole – each offers its own appeal, with both diving and snorkelling catered for. Easy access and tours are enjoyed from Geelong and Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas.
BIG4 parks nearby: Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, or Bellarine Peninsula.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Encounter Marine Park
Where is it? Extending from the base of the Fleurieu Peninsula across to Kangaroo Island and the Coorong.
In a nutshell: South Australia has 19 marine parks and this ranks among the best for divers with several notable areas. Rapid Bay Jetty is highly regarded for its population of elusive leafy sea dragons; Aldinga Reef is among Australia’s oldest marine reserves and teems with fish species; and Port Noarlunga is the perfect spot for snorkelling.
BIG4 parks nearby: Fleurieu Peninsula.
Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park
Where is it? In the waters between the Flinders Ranges and Eyre Peninsula.
In a nutshell: Without doubt, the biggest attraction here is the rare chance to swim with giant cuttlefish. Between May and August each year, these interesting creatures congregate between False Bay and Fitzgerald Bay, near Whyalla. They fascinate divers and snorkellers with their colour-changing antics, which are part of a mating ritual.
BIG4 Parks nearby: Eyre Peninsula.
TASMANIA
Governors Island Marine Reserve
Where is it? Just off the coast of Bicheno.
In a nutshell: Regarded as one of Australia’s best dive sites, Governors Island gifts an incredible assortment of sights. Vibrant sponge gardens, caves, boulders, and deep fissures will have the eyes darting in all directions. Keep watch for large rock lobsters and a wide variety of fish species.
Tinderbox Marine Reserve
Where is it? 45min south of Hobart.
In a nutshell: Swipe right for this marine reserve, because Tinderbox is jam-packed with appeal for divers. The wide variety of marine life found within these waters includes remarkable-looking spiny pipehorse, Tasmanian numbfish, big-bellied seahorse, and octopus. The reserve’s proximity to the Tasmanian capital is a bonus, too.
BIG4 parks nearby: BIG4 Hobart Airport Tourist Park.
With so many incredible diving and snorkelling spots in Australia, there’s every possibility that we’ve overlooked your favourite. If so, please share your best Australian dive spot in in the comments section below. Or tell us what you love about these dive sites.
Isn’t it time you were dazzled by an underwater experience? Book your coastal adventure with BIG4 today.