Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent and is a megadiverse country. The country's size gives it a variety of landscapes and climates.

Australia consists of the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, many smaller offshore islands, and the remote offshore territories of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island. The country has four different time zones with a total difference of 3 hours.

The country has 35,877 km of coastline and is home to the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, which stretches over 2,300 km. Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain on the mainland at 2,228 meters. Higher is Mawson Peak, at 2,745 m on Heard Island.

Due to its long geographical isolation, a majority of Australia's biota is unique, with numerous endemic species among amphibians, reptiles, flowering plants and mammals. Nearly half of all birds are also endemic.

How much does a diving trip to Australia cost?

Oh how difficult it is to answer how much a diving trip to Australia costs. It can vary enormously in price and it is difficult to answer generally. If you want to go to just the Great Barrier Reef for a week on a good liveaboard, it can cost from 40 – 45 000 SEK / person with accommodation, flights, transfers, accommodation and diving. A diving trip to Christmas Island for a week is generally somewhat higher.
>>It is very difficult to say exactly how much a diving trip costs without more information about what you want it to include, how long you want to be away, the structure of the trip, etc. There are There are several reasons why the price may vary and you can find examples here on our website./a>. The best thing you can do is contact us for a free proposal and we will put together a proposal for you.

When is the best time to go to Australia?

Actually all year round. The best time to dive in Australia depends entirely on the location you want to visit. As a general guide, the transitional months of April/May and September/November are perhaps the best combination of good visibility, pleasant weather and opportunities to see whale sharks and manta rays.
Specifically for the Great Barrier Reef, the dry season is ideal as it is usually sunny, with good visibility and minimal rainfall. The wet season often brings jellyfish and poor visibility in the water, especially closer to the coast. Further out to sea, visibility is rarely affected in the same way. Diving is a year-round activity, but considering the specific, often seasonal, marine life highlights and weather conditions in the area you wish to dive is key to planning the best dive trip.

o Dry season, May – October
o Rainy season, November – April

What can I see when diving in Australia?

Above all, coral reefs filled with marine life. Large and small sharks, turtles and many strange invertebrates. It is difficult to list all the different types of fish that can be found here, but many species of shark attract divers every year. Everything from small sharks like the smalleye pygmy shark, a deep-living species that does not grow larger than about 20 cm to real giants like the whale shark, white shark, tiger shark, bull shark and four species of hammerhead shark including the large one. Marine mammals like dolphins and whales, turtles and depending on where you dive in the country, almost anything can turn up. Appreciated species can be strange or unusual flapfish, spotted handfish, Australian boxfish, grumpy fish, blob fish. Australia also has several exciting wrecks along the rugged west and east coasts.

Animals and nature

Australia is known for its unique wildlife. It is home to iconic marsupials such as the kangaroo, koala and wallaby. Otters – mammals that lay eggs, platypuses and porcupines. Other typical animals such as the Tasmanian devil, cassowary, emu and dingo.
The continent is home to a diverse range of species, with hundreds of mammals, birds, reptiles including crocodiles and fish, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Many of the animals are among the world's most venomous species.

Australia's incredibly rich marine wildlife includes everything from mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and dugongs, to six species of sea turtles.
More unique animals such as giant squid, potato cod and leafy and weedy sea dragons. Other species such as clownfish, sharks, manta rays and turtles are also abundant but there is also a wide range of crustaceans, fish and nudibranchs found nowhere else in the world. Ningaloo Reef is famous for whale sharks, dolphins and tiger sharks and Phillip Island has its little penguins.

As of January 2025, there were 168,386 named species in Australia. However, it is estimated that 70% of Australian species have not yet been discovered. About 10% of the world's known plant species are found here. Australia's biodiversity is overall enormous. Expect surprises.

Where is the best diving in Australia?

The Great Barrier Reef is often considered the best dive site in Australia, offering large coral systems and a rich marine life. In recent years, however, the reef has been threatened by environmental impact and has partly lost its appeal. For a different experience, Ningaloo Reef is ideal for swimming with whale sharks and manta rays and experiencing coral reefs. South Australia offers opportunities for cage diving with great white sharks.

Other notable destinations include the SS Yongala wreck near Townsville and Christmas Island just south of Java. Exciting diving is also available off Perth with several wrecks. If you want to experience strange species, the waters off Adelaide to the south can offer very strange and odd species with more of a focus on cold water diving.

Is there liveaboarding in Australia?

Yes, there are liveaboards in Australia. Surprisingly few in number as the focus is on day trips. For those of you who want to go on a liveaboard in Australia and the Great Barrier Reef or another destination or are considering alternatives for diving in Australia, contact us with your wishes and concerns on tel: 0301-22100 – Departures

Great species richness

Australia has an enormous diversity of marine life and the highest biodiversity in the world. There are at least 33,000 known marine species and potentially up to 500,000 more undiscovered in the ocean. This enormously rich biodiversity is found across its three bordering oceans, from tropical coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef to temperate kelp forests and deep-sea environments such as the Great Australian Bight on the dramatic and rocky southern coast. 

For those of you who don't dive

If you're not diving in Australia, you can still experience the Great Barrier Reef by snorkeling, taking a glass-bottom boat, flying in a helicopter and seeing the reef from above, visiting an underwater observatory, or staying in an underwater hotel room.
You can also explore any of the islands along the east coast, such as the incredibly beautiful Whitsundays, where you can hike or kayak. On the mainland, there are unimaginable opportunities in this enormous country. Everything from jungle tours to shopping in big cities.

For Christmas Island which is a bit isolated and you don't dive you can enjoy bird watching, hike through rainforests to see waterfalls. Here you can explore small hidden beaches. You can also snorkel close to the beach in several places. Go out on a boat and snorkel to see the marine life. Don't miss the annual migration of red crabs, an incredibly surreal experience. Or play a round of golf at Christmas Island Golf Course. Car rental on Christmas Island will take you around as you wish.