Coral Bay
Coral Bay is one of two access points to the world’s largest fringing reef system, Ningaloo Reef.
Explore Western Australia
The lesser travelled state of West Australia rewards those who delve into its rugged coastline with incredible marine life and sites where you may have the water completely to yourself, with not another diver seen for miles! Starting from the most remote area found while WA diving, Broome, divers can explore Western Australia’s best-kept secret of Rowley Shoal Marine Park. Only possible to visit via liveaboards, the three huge coral atolls have towering walls, thrilling drift dives, and awe-striking reefs which are visited by manta rays, humpback whale, and hammerhead shark - pure magic!
Another place for divers to witness manta rays and humpback whale are Exmouth and Coral Bay, the gateways to the shallow reefs, seagrass, and intricate swim-throughs of Ningaloo Reef. Home to 500 species of fish and over 300 species, Ningaloo is the place to see the whale shark, where you can swim beside the fascinating creatures. At Exmouth, macro critters can be found within Lighthouse Bay among crevices and overhangs while dugongs feed in patches of seagrass.
Further south, Geraldton is the access point to the intricate reefs of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Found among the chain of 122 islands divers can discover numerous wrecks in the ‘Graveyard of Ships’ while the Australian sea lion, bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles all reside in the Abrolhos’ waters. While scuba diving Western Australia, visiting the state’s capital city, Perth, is a must. Here, divers can enter by the shore to observe the western rock lobster, which is prominent to the area, or head further offshore to Rottnest Island to search for weedy sea dragons, wobbegong shark, and grey nurse shark sheltering in caves and seagrass meadows.
Rockingham and Busselton provide access to the famous HMAS Swan Wreck while travelling further south at Albany, divers can admire the HMAS Perth. While at Albany, head to Seal Cove to dive with sea lions who bound out to greet and spend a whole hour swimming with you! At many of Western Australia’s remote dive locations, dive centres are few and dive resorts non-existent, so often the best way to explore WA diving is via liveaboards.
Places to explore
Dive Activity
Diving in Western Australia
Western Australia boasts world-class dive sites. The Navy Pier in Exmouth is famous for its dense marine life and easy shore access, ideal for night dives. Ningaloo Reef offers vibrant coral gardens and seasonal encounters with whale sharks and manta rays.
Liveaboards head to the remote Rowley Shoals for pristine drift and wall dives. For wreck lovers, the HMAS Swan near Dunsborough offers safe penetration and abundant marine growth. The Batavia wreck at the Abrolhos Islands adds historical intrigue to underwater exploration.
Western Australia also offers unique freshwater diving at sites like the freshwater lakes of Lake Clifton and Lake Thetis, known for their ancient thrombolites—living microbial structures. These shore dives are shallow but biologically fascinating.
Inland quarries near Perth, like Lake Stockton, are popular for training dives and offer calm conditions with visibility that varies seasonally. While freshwater fish are limited, the surreal underwater landscapes and rare geological features provide a distinctive experience for adventurous divers
Top Wildlife Sightings in Western Australia
Western Australia offers rich marine biodiversity. Reef fish like angelfish, parrotfish, and sweetlips are common, alongside turtles, nudibranchs, and giant clams. Coral gardens are home to octopus, moray eels, and crayfish.
Seasonal highlights include whale sharks (March–July) and manta rays (May–November) at Ningaloo Reef. Humpback whales migrate along the coast from June to November. Grey nurse and wobbegong sharks are often seen at sites like the Navy Pier and HMAS Swan.
Freshwater diving in Western Australia reveals modest but interesting wildlife. Divers may spot species like western pygmy perch, freshwater cobbler (a native catfish), and rainbowfish in lakes and rivers. These fish are often seen near vegetation or submerged structures.
Sightings are more common in warmer months when fish are active, especially during spring spawning. Visibility can vary from 2 to 10 metres depending on rainfall and algae. Shallow depths and calm conditions make for accessible exploration.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
592 Sightings
J
95
F
102
M
97
A
66
M
29
J
18
J
31
A
14
S
21
O
26
N
41
D
52
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
287 Sightings
J
32
F
22
M
29
A
30
M
19
J
8
J
16
A
24
S
20
O
28
N
25
D
34
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
283 Sightings
J
30
F
9
M
27
A
25
M
23
J
27
J
37
A
22
S
19
O
16
N
20
D
28
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
180 Sightings
J
13
F
6
M
19
A
11
M
14
J
22
J
18
A
14
S
15
O
12
N
17
D
19
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
163 Sightings
J
11
F
5
M
16
A
7
M
14
J
12
J
15
A
10
S
12
O
20
N
18
D
23
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
36 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
1
M
13
J
8
J
9
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3
iStock/Dimitrios Stefanidis
Sand Tiger Shark
33 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
2
J
2
J
2
A
5
S
5
O
7
N
5
D
3
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets
364 Sightings
J
35
F
16
M
36
A
42
M
38
J
28
J
30
A
27
S
25
O
23
N
28
D
36
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
358 Sightings
J
69
F
55
M
45
A
37
M
11
J
14
J
11
A
15
S
24
O
21
N
24
D
32
iStock-Nigel Marsh
Wobbegong
356 Sightings
J
29
F
22
M
47
A
16
M
30
J
30
J
38
A
30
S
29
O
22
N
27
D
36
The best Months to dive in Western Australia
Diving in Western Australia is possible year-round, with conditions varying by region. Water temperatures range from 22–28°C in the north (Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef) and 18–24°C in the south (Perth, Albany). Visibility can exceed 30 meters in offshore sites like Rowley Shoals, but averages 10–20 meters closer to shore.
Summer (December–February) brings warmer water but stronger winds in the south. Winter (June–August) may have cooler temps but calmer seas. Northern regions generally offer more stable diving year-round.
Freshwater diving in Western Australia is possible year-round, with water temperatures ranging from 10°C in winter (June–August) to around 22°C in summer (December–February). A 5–7mm wetsuit or drysuit is recommended in cooler months.
Visibility varies by site and season, generally best in late summer and autumn when runoff is minimal. Heavy winter rains can reduce clarity, especially in rivers. Spring offers unique sightings during fish spawning. The best diving is typically from February to May.
