Dive Sites
Christmas Island
When to dive?
We love diving all year round, and find it difficult to answer the best time to come!
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There are two distinct seasons: the dry or “trades” from April to November with winds coming from the south and south east; and the wet or “swell” season from November to April with winds coming from the north west.
This affects access to dive sites, with the north and west coasts more accessible during the dry season and sites on the east only accessible in the wet.
Launching facilities for many boats become restricted during the wet, when swells are at their highest, but this is also the doldrums season and can offer some of the best diving of the year.
Our boat is too large to launch each day, so most of the year it is moored in Flying Fish Cove, with the ability to move to the east coast when necessary.
For many who want to see Whale sharks- they visit the island generally from October to April but have been seen outside these months all along the coast, even on the shore dive from the Jetty.
There is however no guarantee, making their appearance even more special for divers and snorkellers.
There are large schools of spinner dolphins seen year-round and manta rays that seem to appear around the same time as the whale sharks, presumably to feed on the red crab larvae.
When the water is cooler from August to September, there are upwellings from the Java Trench that bring nutrients and sometimes lower visibility (~15 m). Generally speaking, visibility is around 20 – 25m but can increase to around 50 – 60 m during the doldrums and just before the wet in October to December.
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July to October, is the least rainy and the sunniest period of the year; in particular, the months of August and September stand out as the driest.
Our busiest time is from October to December, with space a premium on the boat, particularly during the red crab migration period.
Our international guests book years ahead!
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Christmas Island Marine Life
Christmas Island is one of the top dive destinations in the Indian Ocean, celebrated for its pristine coral reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and extraordinary biodiversity. The island’s marine ecosystem supports 88 coral species and more than 650 species of tropical fish, making it a bucket-list location for divers and snorkellers.
Beneath the surface, you’ll find dazzling coral gardens alive with parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, and swirling schools of batfish. Endemic species, found only on Christmas Island, add to its uniqueness – while rare hybrid fish, a signature highlight of the island, make every dive truly special. Encounters with turtles, moray eels, octopus, and small reef sharks are common, and the warm, crystal-clear waters often deliver unforgettable surprises.
What sets Christmas Island apart is the unpredictability of its underwater world: no two dives are the same, and every descent offers the chance to witness marine life you won’t find anywhere else.
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Dive Site Information
Coconut Point
Depth: 6–16m
Experience: Intermediate
A classic Christmas Island drift, Coconut Point is known for its swirling currents and wild encounters. Glide past eel gardens and gorgonian fans while keeping an eye out for elusive hammerhead sharks. A high-energy site perfect for divers chasing that untamed edge.
The Cemetery
Depth: 5–14m
Experience: Beginner
This easy drift dive offers an incredible mix of vibrant coral and schooling fish — all just metres from the shore. Named for its proximity to the Chinese cemetery, it’s a peaceful, colourful experience that punches well above its depth.
The Morgue
Depth: 5–25m
Experience: Beginner
A macro paradise with a spooky name, The Morgue is alive with critters: lionfish, cleaner shrimp, Spanish dancers, and white tip reef sharks. Ideal for photographers and night divers seeking something different from the usual reef dive.
Flying Fish Cove
Depth: Shore to 20m
Experience: Beginner to Intermediate
A hub for easy access shore diving, Flying Fish Cove features:
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Admin Wall – A sheer drop teeming with trevally, fusiliers, reef sharks and thriving macro life.
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The Sandpatch – Perfect for new divers or night dives, with garden eels and flashes of tropical colour.
This is where many fall in love with diving on Christmas Island.
There is a chance of seeing a Hybrid fish from out shore dives. Christmas Island has more hybrids than anywhere else in the world​
Additionally the chance to see one of many endemic species- Cocos Angel Fish
Eisevold Wreck
Depth: 5–16m
Experience: Beginner
One of the most accessible wreck dives in Australia, the Eisevold tells a WWII story beneath the waves. Now a refuge for octopus, batfish, and night-time visitors, it’s a historic site brought back to life by the reef.
Million Dollar Bommie
Depth: 3–17m
Experience: Beginner
This shallow bommie system delivers priceless encounters with parrotfish, eels, octopus and a famously dense garden eel colony. Easy diving, world-class marine life — no wonder it’s a favourite for first-timers and pros alike.
Rhoda Beach
Depth: 8–20m
Experience: Intermediate
A stunning wall dive that melts into a fish-filled ridge. Midnight snapper gather here, and in the right season, so do whalesharks. A scenic underwater passage well off the beaten track.
Lost Lake Cave
Depth: 11–25m
Experience: Intermediate
The outer edge of one of the largest cave networks on the island, this site offers a unique topography and the chance of seasonal whaleshark sightings. Ideal for relaxed exploration or a gentle drift dive with something new around every corner.
Thundercliff Cave
Depth: 5–22m
Experience: Intermediate
A truly special dive combining reef, wall, and cave. Surface in a massive chamber open to the sky, after exploring schools of cave sweepers, hammerheads, and barracuda. One of Christmas Island’s signature experiences.
Submarine Rock
Depth: 10–20m
Experience: Intermediate
This submarine-shaped reef is an ideal mid-depth site where the reef slopes gradually and the current carries you past corals and pelagics. A great choice for those seeking relaxed yet exciting diving.
Leanne’s Leap
Depth: 10m and deeper
Experience: Intermediate
A continuation of Submarine Rock, this dive transitions from drop-off to coral garden. With rich reef life and open reef scapes, it’s a beautiful drift-style dive often done one-way.
West White Beach
Depth: Shore to 15m
Experience: Beginner
A shallow coral dive with anemones, clownfish, and frequent large visitors. Popular with whalesharks and dolphins, this is a great snorkel or dive site that delivers the best of island marine life.
Boat Cave
Depth: 4–16m
Experience: Intermediate
Unique for its boat mooring inside a sea cave, this dive is equal parts reef and adventure. Explore the outer wall, look out for wahoo and turtles, then return to the cave for a torchlit finale.
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Perpendicular Wall
Depth: Bottomless
Experience: Advanced
One of Australia’s most dramatic wall dives, this vertical cliff drops into the abyss. With strong currents and big fish — sharks, sailfish, whalesharks — this site is a bucket-list experience for seasoned divers. Considered one of Australia's Best Dive. It is world class diving
North West Point
Depth: 4–14m
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
Following on from Perpendicular Wall, this site features sandy reef ledges with sleeping reef sharks and vibrant schools. A slightly gentler finish to one of the island’s most intense dive stretches.
Winifred Beach
Depth: Shore to 20m
Experience: Beginner to Intermediate
A calm, protected site with reef gullies and healthy coral heads. Dolphins, nudibranchs, and reef sharks frequent this peaceful bay — a great all-rounder dive.
Pig Rock
Depth: 10–22m
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
Famous for its towering gorgonian fans, this site mixes dramatic reef structures with deep drop-offs and the chance to spot large tropical species. A standout site for underwater photographers.
Egeria Point
Depth: 10–22m
Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
Right next to Pig Rock, this is one of the island’s best shark dives. Expect open ocean species and reef life combined, with superb visibility and that thrilling Christmas Island edge.
Ethel Beach
Depth: Shore to 14m
Experience: Intermediate
A colourful sloping reef packed with corals and surprises — from tropical reef dwellers to occasional visits from giant Maori wrasse. An excellent choice for a relaxed boat or shore dive.
Resort Lagoon / Waterfall Bay
Depth: 6–20m
Experience: Beginner
With ledges, boulders and an impressive drop-off, this easygoing site is ideal for spotting turtles, trevally and seasonal visitors. One of the island’s most scenic and approachable dive spots.