Beginner Diving in Australia

Australia is a land blessed with a profusion of iconic sights and exotic flora and fauna: the Sydney Opera House and Uluru; kangaroos and koalas; the Great Barrier Reef and Fraser Island. This far-away and intriguing nation has long since featured on travel bucket lists, and, thanks to it being the home of the world's largest coral reef system, it’s also a dream destination for all levels of divers, whether experienced or a beginner. Diving in Australia gives you the chance to escape the madding crowds as you explore the Great Barrier Reef from a secluded island, swim with whale sharks on the isolated Ningaloo Reef, or dive the world’s most southern coral reef from a UNESCO World Heritage Site group of islands.

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is perhaps the world's best known dive destination and is seen as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Stretching for over 1,400 miles from Cape York down to Bundaberg, this extensive reef needs little introduction and is home to some of the best beginner diving in Australia. Lizard Island is an excellent base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and escaping the crowds. The island features little else besides a luxury resort, a marine research centre and a handful of pristine and serene beaches, yet it is a mere stone's throw from the iconic Cod Hole dive site.

Lord Howe Island

Closer to Sydney and its instantly recognisable landmarks, Lord Howe Island allows you to dive the southernmost coral reef in the world. The secluded island is a two-hour flight from Sydney and its geographical position sees its waters filled with a unique blend of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate marine species. With fewer than 400 visitors allowed on the island at any given time, Lord Howe Island is not only ideal for exploring the beginner diving in Australia, but it is also a great place to recharge the batteries in tranquillity.

Ningaloo Reef

For those looking to stray from Australia's well-trodden east coast, our team of dive travel specialists can also put together an itinerary that includes the whale sharks of the Ningaloo Reef. The Ningaloo Reef sits off the north-west coast of Australia and can be combined with an east-coast visit or enjoyed as a stand-alone destination. Between March and July each year, the Ningaloo Reef is visited by large numbers of whale sharks and is a great location for learning to dive or for newer divers to lift the whale shark curse and snorkel with these elusive bucket-list behemoths.