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.
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.
