An oceanic island in the Indian Ocean where coral walls plunge thousands of metres just off the shore and whale sharks visit each wet season.
Visibility at Christmas Island
Visibility at Christmas Island typically ranges from 20 to 50 metres, though it shifts with swell, wind and recent rainfall. November–April for whale sharks, clearest water October–December generally offers the best conditions for diving here.
Region: Christmas Island, Indian Ocean
Skill Level: Intermediate
Depth: 5-30m
Water Temperature: 26-29°C
Visibility: 20-50m
Best Time to Dive: November–April for whale sharks, clearest water October–December
Marine Life: Whale sharks (November to April, with the red crab spawning); Spinner and common dolphins; Reef manta rays gliding the walls; Green turtles grazing the coral tops; Reef sharks and schools of trevally and tuna on the drop-offs; Gorgonian fans and huge table corals; Over 650 fish species, including endemics found nowhere else.
Hazards: Walls fall hundreds to thousands of metres just off the reef edge, strict depth and buoyancy discipline essential; Very remote island with limited medical facilities, dive conservative profiles; Open blue water on the wall can be disorienting; Cooler upwellings in August and September can lower visibility and temperature.
Facilities: Christmas Island settlement, reached by air from Perth, with accommodation and services; Local dive operators with gear hire, courses and guided boat and shore dives; Shore-access dive sites along the sheltered north-western coast.
