Directory of 57 Dive Sites or Spots for Scuba Diving in Southern Australia, Australia

Southern Australia diving in temperate waters is incredibly varied and although very different from diving the Great Barrier Reef in Northeast Australia, it’s not any less interesting. Water temperatures fluctuate between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius, with July being the coldest month. 

Diving in Melbourne is quite diverse. There are some good shore dives, specifically around the many jetties and piers, like the Portsea Pier in Weroona bay. These places are home to a wonderful selection of macro life, like the Leafy Seadragon and Cleaner Shrimp. The coast around Melbourne is littered with wrecks that can be reached by boat. Outside of Port Phillips Bay is the ‘Ships Graveyard’. Most of the wrecks there are below recreational diving limits, but offer a great opportunity for tech-diving enthusiasts. The Eliza Ramsden wreck, with a depth of around 20 meters, can be dived by Open Water Divers. There are reef and wall dives than can be accessed by boat as well.

Like Melbourne, Adelaide has many Jetties that make excellent shore dives. Rapid Bay Jetty is one of South Australia’s premier dive sites. Every Pylon of this old jetty is covered in marine life that divers can enjoy, like the Leafy Sea Dragon, nudibranchs, sponge crabs and stingrays. These shore dives, together with a wide range of reef and wreck dives, make Adelaide another interesting Australian dive destination.

South Australia offers the unique and adrenaline rushing experience of diving with the Great White Shark. From the safety of a cage, diving with the Great White is an experience never to forget and gives a new sense of respect for this majestic predator. These cage diving trips in South Australia are a great way to see some of Australia’s other wild life too, like seals, sea lions and albatross. 

Divers venturing down to Tasmania will be rewarded with outstanding scenery above and below the water. Steep cliff formations that continue underwater, giant kelp forests, caves and wrecks are only a few of the opportunities that diving Tasmania offers. The Giant Kelp in Munroe Bight kelp forest can tower up to 20 meters high and is home to an interesting collection of marine life, including the Weedy Seadragon, Boxfish, Stingray and Octopus. Sister Rocks provide the diver with spectacular diving along a steep wall overgrown with crustaceans and sponges, which attract schooling fish like Butterfly Perch and Long-finned Pike.