5 of the best Scuba Diving experiences in Australia

Editor Editor
hero media
There’s a whole other side to the Australian coast that few see – but here’s how to get a scuba view with a difference worth diving for.

1. Underwater Photography Workshop, Port Stephens, NSW

Mastered the art of taking photos on land (or not)? Either way, you can now get snap happy underwater with this Dive 2000’s unique photography workshop.
 
Over a weekend at beautiful Port Stephens, you’ll improve your underwater photo skills as trained instructors teach you practical knowledge and techniques on capture styles, equipment, composition and lighting plus more. The quality ‘selfies with the fish’ you’ll bring back will impress the kids to no end… Suitable for intermediate divers; from $395 per adult.

2. Project Manta, Lady Elliot Island, Queensland

In the waters of Lady Elliot Island of the GBR, you can combine your love of scuba diving with doing good, contributing to the world’s first manta identification database (while frolicking with them in the water).

Manta Rays Lady Elliot Island
Glide along with the elegant manta rays.

Over eight days, you’ll photograph the mantas, study their habitat and help out leading scientists, in between unwinding at the very lovely Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort. See Earthwatch. Suitable for intermediate divers; from $3595 per adult.

3. Freshwater cave Diving, Mt Gambier, SA

Never heard of this experience? Good – the locals want to keep it that way! Diving Mt Gambier’s outrageously clear sinkholes is a truly unique experience: spot the rare pygmy perch and aquatic eels in Ewens Ponds, or head to the popular Piccaninnie Pond, where you can swim through the 30-metre-high, underwater limestone chamber aptly nicknamed The Cathedral.
 
Hopefully you’ll spot some tortoises on your way, too. Suitable for beginners, diving permits from $11 per adult; See Mount Gambier Point attractions

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

4. East Coast Dive Trail, Tasmania

It’s not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Tasmania, but the east coast of this southern state offers 11 surprisingly great dive sites. From the northern town of Binalong Bay to Tasman Island, you’ll find shipwrecks, seahorses and everything in between in these turquoise waters; hire a car for a few days, make it a DIY scuba crawl and hop from location to location experiencing the sites (and sights) along the way.
 
Most are suitable for beginners. See Discover Tasmania for more information.

5. Dive with the wild sea lions, Baird Bay, SA

We just had to include this dive, which was voted one of our 100 Greatest Holidays of Australia. The wild Australian sea lions at Baird Bay are playful, cheeky and said to be more intrigued by us than we are of them.

Scuba diving with sea lions Baird Bay, South Australia.
Just sea lion around: Baird Bay, South Australia.

Play with them in the clear lagoons just off the Eyre Peninsula, experiencing their distinctive antics – and the local aquatic flora – at the same time. There are also bottlenose dolphins in the area, so you may get lucky and see both! Suitable for beginners; from $150 per adult, $75 per child; bairdbay.com

 

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Editor

Editor

View profile and articles
quantam of the seas on the sea
Australia

Royal Caribbean’s five-day sale has seven-night cruises from $1099

From Queensland’s tropical coast to New Zealand’s unbeatable views, booking your next cruise holiday just got a little more tempting.

Read more
two people from outback spirit tour sit overlooking mitchell falls in the kimberley
Australia

Outback Spirit are offering free return flights on 2027 tours

Your 2027 adventures just got easier, with Outback Spirit offering free return flights on all-inclusive tours.

Read more
meteor shower
Australia

Trails from Halley’s Comet: when to see the Orionid meteor shower

The Orionid meteor shower peaks in October – here's how to dodge a bright moon and still catch it.

Read more
uluru starry sunset
Australia

This iconic Aussie landmark has been crowned one of the world’s top sunset spots

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has earned a place among the world’s best golden hour destinations in a new global ranking.

Read more
hero media

Ticking off Australia’s icons? These hotels can help.

(Credit: DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs)

    Monique Ceccato Monique Ceccato
    Continue
    Your guide to where to stay for easy access to some of Australia’s most famed attractions.

    Ellery Creek Big Hole, the Busselton Jetty and Lamington National Park; they’re just a handful of some of Australia’s most incredible attractions. With a car and a conveniently located home base, there’s absolutely no reason you can’t start ticking them off your must-see list.

    And where there are iconic sights, there’s a Hilton ready to welcome you.

    1. Darwin

    dawrin waterfront
    Make Hilton Darwin your base for city and wildlife adventures.

    Considered Australia’s portal to Asia, Darwin’s proximity to Indonesia and Timor-Leste has resulted in a highly multicultural population. There’s a strong Southeast Asian influence that coexists with the ancient customs and cultural traditions of the land’s traditional custodians, the Larrakia people. One of the finest examples is Darwin’s most acclaimed dish. It’s not damper or a meat pie, but spicy laksa. You’ll find it everywhere in the city, even at the weekly sunset markets.

    Just a day trip away lie the region’s other major drawcards, the oases of Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park.

    How best to explore it all? Check into Hilton Darwin, or sister properties DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin and Hilton Garden Inn Darwin. Spend the day exploring, then return to delicious meals at these hotel restaurants, and cool down in their refreshing pools.

    2. Gold Coast

    A sea-view room at Hilton Surfers Paradise.
    Stay in the centre of it all.

    What do New York and the Gold Coast have in common? Their iconic skylines. High-rise after high-rise line the city’s 70km stretch of swimmable, surfable, and walkable beach, the majority clustered around the coast’s beating heart, Surfers Paradise.

    It’s the region’s most lively and energetic suburb, known for the nightclubs, shops, and restaurants that sit along Cavill Ave. Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences is right there in the middle of the action, close enough to walk to dinner and drinks, but far enough away to retreat to when you need some R&R.

    For further respite, explore the nearby hinterland. Head towards Lamington National Park in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests for winding hiking trails surrounded by dense tropical foliage and waterfalls.

    3. Alice Springs

    DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs framed by the rugged MacDonnell Ranges.
    Venture into the outback.

    Surrounded by ancient desert and dramatic natural landscapes, there’s plenty to see and do around the ‘gateway to the Red Centre’, Alice Springs. Base yourself at the DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs in the town centre, soaking up views of the iconic Macdonnell Ranges and enjoying native Australian flavours from on-site restaurant, Saltbush.

    Starting just 10-minutes from your accommodation, seasoned hikers can find the famous Larapinta Trail runs through West Macdonnell National Park, from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station through to Mount Sonder.

    Wander the galleries and museums in the Araluen Cultural Precinct to learn more about the Arrernte people – the traditional custodians of Mparntwe. Join an Indigenous-led tour within the region to delve deeper.

    4. Busselton

    Hilton Garden Inn Busselton set against the sea.
    Experience Busselton’s coastal charm.

    World-class wines, sunsets over the ocean, and long stretches of calm beach; Busselton is known for it all. But the heritage-listed, timber-piled Busselton Jetty is the coastal city’s most famous icon.

    At intervals along it, locals dangle squid jigs and baited hooks over the edge, and teens and tweens take flying leaps into the water below. Visitors can also join, but walking the length of the 1.84km jetty is the most popular pastime. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to reach the underwater observatory at the end, where you can see squid, sea stars, and the occasional Western Blue Groper in the corals and sea sponges. Walk or catch the train back to shore, where cold beer and pizza beckon at the jetty-front Shelter Brewing Co.

    From there, it’s just a hop, skip, and jump to the Hilton Garden Inn Busselton, where upper-level rooms afford you some of the finest views of Busselton’s biggest star.

    5. Cairns

    Hilton Cairns viewed from below, showcasing its tropical pool and resort-style surrounds.
    Make Hilton Cairns your gateway to the reef and rainforest.

    There’s no other place on earth like Cairns. It’s the city where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites sit side-by-side: the lush vegetation of the 130-million-year-old Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest meeting the iridescent blue waters and white-sand beaches of the Great Barrier Reef.

    Settle in to either Hilton Cairns or DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns in the heart of the city, to walk the esplanade or catch a ferry out to this iconic reef. It’s also only a two-hour drive to the Wet Tropics’ most famed region, the Daintree Rainforest. Make it to Cape Tribulation within the Daintree, and you’ve reached the point where the rainforest literally meets the beach and the reef.

    6. Albany

    Aerial view of Misery Beach, located within Torndirrup National Park. .
    Take a break from history in Torndirrup National Park. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    For tens of thousands of soldiers in the first convoy, headed for the battlefields of WWI, the panoramic views of King George Sound were the last glimpses they had of Australian soil. The significance of this moment set the foundations for Albany’s deep-rooted ANZAC history. 

    At the National ANZAC Centre, a five-minute drive from Hilton Garden Inn Albany, the personal stories of some of these soldiers unfold through interactive multimedia displays, from their experiences with recruitment and training to their time on the front lines in Gallipoli.

    Head back to your hotel to recharge while soaking in the stunning views of Princess Royal Harbour. Then try a natural change of pace at Torndirrup National Park. It’s prime wildflower-spotting country from September to November.

    Start planning an iconic holiday at hilton.com.