Best Scuba Diving Australia Liveaboards

Updated May 11, 2023

This is the eighth in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one will focus on Australia, including the Outer Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, Neptune Islands’ great white shark dives, and Rowley Shoals.

In addition to this series on liveaboards, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you been diving in Australia before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving Australia Liveaboards – Dive Sites

Great Barrier Reef (including the Coral Sea)

Located off the north coast of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is 1,429 miles (2,286 km) long covering 134,000 square miles (214,400 square km). This huge ecosystem is visible from space and is one of the healthiest and richest in the world with fabulous dive sites all along it. Hundreds of varieties of coral overwhelmingly free of bleaching is surrounded by thousands of fantastic reef critters like large groupers, parrotfish, triggerfish, blue-spotted lagoon rays, nudibranchs, and countless other invertebrates, as well as 6 of the world’s 7 species of sea turtle. Grey and whitetip reef sharks are frequently joined by silvertip, bull, and even tiger sharks. Pelagics including giant trevallies, barracuda, and dogtooth tuna also frequent the area, and from June through August dolphins and minke, and humpback whales are often sighted.

June to October is the best season weather-wise with little rainfall and water temperature running from 24-30 degrees C (75-86 degrees F). Visibility is great, up to 60 m (200 feet). The monsoon season runs from October to May, but it usually doesn’t rain for more than two hours at a time, so diving needn’t be interrupted for long. Due to the moderate depths and calm, clear water, diving is suitable for less experienced and advanced divers.

Rowley Shoals

Rowley Shoals are 3 small Indian Ocean atolls located 160 miles (256 km) west of Broome, Western Australia. They make up the Rowley Shoals National Park, which has installed public moorings to prevent dropped anchor damage. It is home to 200 species of coral and 700 fish species. Shallow coral gardens host an abundance of small fish and invertebrates, huge giant clams, Maori wrasse, and potato cod, among other fascinating creatures. These shallows descend into steep walls with giant gorgonians, caves, and canyons. Grey and whitetip reef sharks are seen on every dive with possible appearances of hammerhead and whale sharks, mantas, dolphins, whales, and tuna. There are frequently strong currents and some pretty exciting drift diving. Overall, Rowley Shoals is a spectacular, pristine dive site.

There is a short season for good conditions from October to November. The expected water temperature is 23-29 degrees C (74-84 degrees F) with visibility of 20-30 meters (65-100 feet).

Neptune Islands (Great White Shark Cage Diving)

The Neptune Islands consist of 4 islands in the mouth of the Spencer Gulf near Port Lincoln, South Australia. (On the map toward the bottom of the page, it is the site closest to Adelaide.) They are the wild and rugged home to Australia’s largest fur seal colony, Australian sea lions, white-breasted sea eagles, rock parrots, and the albatross. These alone would be worth the trip, but of course, the reason for a liveaboard here is the presence of 5-meter (16-foot) great white sharks that live in the area year-round. Female great whites, which are larger, up to 6 meters (19 feet), arrive from April to August to greet and feast on the seal pups born at that time. It makes for world-class shark cage diving.

Liveaboard Dive Boats

Low Budget

Middle Budget

Odyssey (Rowley Shoals)
Spirit of Freedom
Spoilsport
Shore Thing (Ningaloo)

High Budget

Princess II

For full details on all of these great liveaboard dive boats, click here.

Top Outer Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Dive Boats

Rowley Shoals Dive Boat

Odyssey

Featuring

The only liveaboard option at Rowley Shoals
Itinerary: Clerke Reef, The Aquarium, Clerke Wall, Jimmy Goes to China, Blue Lagoon, The Channel, Mermaid Reef, Cod Hole, Night Critters, Mermaid Wall, Coral Gardens, and Mermaid Caves
7-night trips from Broome, Western Australia
Limited season, much sought-after spaces
Meals, snacks, and basic beverages provided
Communal bathrooms

Check it on Liveaboard.com

Neptune Islands Great White Shark Cage Diving

Princess II

Featuring

The only shark diving option in S Australia
Visits Neptune and Hopkins Island
Itinerary: Hopkins Island (seal swim), Neptune Islands (shark viewing and diving including ocean floor cage diving)
Maximum of 12 guests only
Meals, snacks, and basic beverages provided
All cabins feature ensuite bathrooms
Surface cages and submerged cages
Great whites, sea lions, fur seals, cuttlefish, sea dragons

Check it on Liveaboard.com

Liveaboard Dive Boat Comparison Table

	Ocean Quest	Scubapro 1	Spoilsport	Spirit of Freedom	Odyssey	Princess II
Length	36 m	25 m	30 m	37 m	24 m	23 m
Guests	48	32	28	26	20	12
Crew	18	6	11	9	not available	not available
Equipment	free	free	$32/day	$28+/day	$160/week	$29/day
Nitrox	$7/fill	$73/trip	$7/day	$18+/day	no	no
Single	to be arranged	+90%	+70%	+100%	+50%	+70%
Price/Day	$158	$202	$335	$277	$310	$293
Barrier Reef	yes	yes	no	no	no	no
Coral Sea	no	no	yes	yes	no	no
Rowley Shoals	no	no	no	no	yes	no
Neptune Islands	no	no	no	no	no	yes
	Ocean Quest	Scubapro 1	Spoilsport	Spirit of Freedom	Odyssey	Princess II

Australia Scuba Diving Reviews

For details on some other great Australian diving opportunities, check out these reviews:

Scuba Diving Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Australian scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<

Comments

Mark says

at 1:04 pm

If I was in Australia, then I would definitely be going scuba diving. The sensation of being able to stay underwater without having to come up for air is really extraordinary. I once did scuba diving with scouts in an indoor swimming pool. That was for sure the highlight of the troop camp that year. I must admit that I would be scared to go below say 6 metres deep, in case something went wrong with the equipment…

- Joe says
  
  at 1:29 pm
  
  Hi Mark,
  
  Thanks a lot for your comments.
  
  If you are interested to learn to dive, I can recommend places where you can do it around the world. Just let me know and we can work out the logistics.
  
  Many people are a little apprehensive when they get started, but the training process is gradual and doesn’t force anything on you. Practically everyone becomes comfortable to dive to the 18 meters that the open water course is designed for. Also, the equipment is very safe and you will learn how to check it and make sure it is well maintained. Of course then after certification you are eligible to do some diving at great spots like you saw in the Australia videos.
  
  If you have any questions related to scuba diving, please let me know.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Joe
  
Bibian says

at 1:26 pm

This your site is really great site, though I am not a diver but I find it really interesting and it is like a revelation to me. Going through your post I have learnt greatly about liveaboard. I am sure that those who dive will find this your site as a treasure because without struggle to find where they will find everything the need in this site. Especially where to get the species they need, they best time, and which. Your explanation is very clear and concise. I will introduce my uncle who is a diver to this site he must surely find this site interesting and helpful.

Thanks for sharing this useful information.

- Joe says
  
  at 1:41 pm
  
  Hi Bibian,
  
  Thanks a lot for your kind comments and for introducing my site to your uncle. I’m glad you found my post interesting.
  
  Australia really does have some special diving. If you would like to learn to dive, please let me know. I can help you arrange the logistics, like where to stay, what shop to use, etc. You only need about 4 days time to get certified and be eligible for diving like you saw in the videos.
  
  If you have any questions related to scuba diving, please let me know.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Joe
  
Lev says

at 1:54 pm

Fabulous compilation of dive sites and impressive vessels. Within a couple years we want to make our way to Australia for some good diving. I will keep Princess II in mind, it being the only one for shark viewing. Now that would be a dream come true. I bookmarked the site since it is so thorough. You get everything in one place, so thank you for this.

- Joe says
  
  at 2:06 pm
  
  Hi Lev,
  
  Thanks for your very kind comments. I hope it is not too long before you get the opportunity to go see those great white sharks in South Australia. If you take a look at my post called “Guadalupe Island Shark Diving and Socorro Islands Liveaboards,” you will see there is also some great cage diving there off of Baja California you might want to check out.
  
  If you ever have any questions related to diving, equipment or world travel, please get in touch.
  
  Take care,
  
  Joe