Whitsunday Islands Diving Review

In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Whitsunday Islands.

Dive Summary

When diving in the Whitsunday Islands you have two possibilities: the local spots or going further out on the Great Barrier Reef. Most of the dive centers are located on Hamilton Island but there are also good dive operators in many of the isolated resorts.

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Whitsundays Local dive sites

Here you can spot turtles, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, dolphins, all the superb Reef fishes, big cods and many Green Sea Turtles. It is also possible to spot the rare and strange Wobbegong Shark. Pelagic fishes are not rare too so look to the blue for the Barracudas and trevallies patrolling the area.

The dives are mostly easy with good conditions and the Whitsundays are a good place to take Padi scuba diving courses.

Great Barrier Reef

You can dive the Great Barrier Reef on a day trip but as it is quite far away the best may be to take a short liveaboard for 2 or 3 nights. You can also take a longer Liveaboard to explore remote areas of the reef

Due to the remoteness, diving there is more suitable for experienced divers. The main attractions are the superb coral formations, the big fishes action with lots of pelagic hunting around and the many species of Sharks you can encounter! The gentle giants of the sea, Manta Rays, are commonly spotted too.

During the right season you might even spot a majestic Humpback Whale, a Minke Whale or a whole pod of dolphins. Dugongs are a possible encounter too.

Best time to Dive in Whitsunday Islands

The Weather in the Whitsundays is great all year round. During Summer, it is hot weather with the air temperature around 30°C. During the winter, the weather is warm with air temperature being around 23°C. The water Temperature is generally the same year round with 25°C. It is possible to dive all year round in the Whitsundays.

• The Wet season runs from January to March with heavy rain short episodes
• The Minke Whales season runs from June to August.
• The humpback whales season is from June to November.
• The Coral Spawning occurs in October and November

The best scuba diving season on the Great Barrier Reef runs from mid-August to mid-December with excellent conditions.

Hot Tip:

• The Peak Season is in September and October as well as December and January. During these periods, accommodation prices tend to increase meaning you should book well in advance!

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Scuba Diving conditions

Conditions are good all year round around the Whitsundays.

The water temperature on the Great Barrier Reef usually ranges from 24°C to 29°C and around 25°C on the local dive sites.

The current is generally gentle on the local dive sites but can be strong if you dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

The visibility on the local dive sites is good and ranges from 8 to 30 meters. However if you take a Liveaboard dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef you can expect very good to excellent visibility up to 50 meters.

The depth ranges from 5 to 30 meters but most of the dive sites are suitable for beginner divers and don’t go below 20 meters deep.

Snorkelling in Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsundays Islands features dozens of kilometres of healthy and beautiful shallow coral reef which is easily explored from the beach in front of your resort or your campsite. However, if you want to explore the best of the best of the reefs on offer, it is better to book a snorkelling day tour. It can be around the Whitsundays or even on the Great Barrier Reef.

Warning:

• The Box jellyfish is sometimes present around the islands. A Box Jellyfish sting can be fatal! All the resorts and dive centres will provide full wet suit to avoid any danger!

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Travel Guide

Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Whitsunday Islands Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.