What was Jaws to you: a cautionary tale or an adrenaline-pumping thrill? If you answered the latter, and you’re planning a trip down under, do we have some good news for you.
Blessed with a stunning, biodiverse and seemingly endless coastline, Australia is arguably the best place on earth to get up close and personal with the ocean’s apex predators: sharks.
But if you’re looking for this form of underwater exhilaration, where exactly should you aim?
Whether you’re looking to hang with tranquil wobbegongs, paddle with majestic whale sharks or get up in the gills of awe-inspiring great white sharks, Australia has something for everyone. Read on for the country’s eight hottest shark diving hotspots.
1. Port Lincoln, SA
- Shark species: Great white shark.
- How to get there: Port Lincoln is a 45-minute flight or a seven-hour drive (around the Spencer Gulf) from Adelaide.
- Where to stay: Port Lincoln Hotel, Port Lincoln YHA
The great white shark was the undisputed king of the ocean well before its starring role in Jaws, the underwater scenes of which were filmed off the coast of Port Lincoln. There’s no better place in the world to see these majestic creatures, though you’ll understandably need to be wrapped in a cage to do so.
2. Ningaloo Reef, WA
- Shark species: Whale shark.
- How to get there: Ningaloo Reef is near Exmouth, a 13-hour drive or two-hour flight north of Perth.
- Where to stay: RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park.
Great white sharks are big, but they’re not the biggest. That honour goes to the appropriately named whale shark, and the world’s largest gathering of the world’s largest shark can be found casually cruising the waters of WA’s stunning Ningaloo Reef between March and August.
3. Nine Mile Reef, NSW
- Shark species: Wobbegong, leopard shark, grey nurse shark.
- How to get there: Nine Mile Reef is near Tweed Heads, a 75-minute drive south of Brisbane, just over the NSW border.
- Where to stay: Mantra Twin Towns Coolangatta.
The sharky reputation of Nine Mile Reef, just off the coast of Tweed Heads, is well earned. It plays host to grey nurse sharks in the summer, leopard sharks in the winter, and wobbegongs, the relaxed creatures otherwise known as carpet sharks, all year round.
4. Great Barrier Reef, QLD
- Shark species: Reef shark.
- How to get there: The Great Barrier Reef begins just north of Bundaberg, itself a 4.5-hour drive north of Brisbane, and stretches 2300km to the northern tip of Australia.
- Where to stay: Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort.
It’s probably unsurprising that the world’s largest and most famous ocean ecosystem makes this list. White tip and black tip reef sharks are the most common on the reef, and these fast and agile predators are impressive to see up close.
5. Sydney Harbour, NSW
- Shark species: Wobbegong.
- How to get there: Simply fly into Sydney and you’ll be on the wobbegong’s doorstep!
- Where to stay: Sydney Harbour YHA – The Rocks
‘Wobbegong’ is an aboriginal word that translates to shaggy beard, a name you’ll understand as soon as you glance at this most relaxed of sharks. These animals call Sydney Harbour home, giving tourists the opportunity to combine a dive with a harbour cruise!
6. Rainbow Beach, QLD
- Shark species: Grey nurse shark.
- How to get there: Rainbow Beach is a three-hour drive north of Brisbane on the edge of Great Sandy National Park.
- Where to stay: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks, Freedom Rainbow Beach, Pippies Beachhouse Backpackers.
With a sharp head, bulky body and jagged teeth, grey nurse sharks look incredibly intimidating; but in reality, they’re quite the opposite. They are docile, almost friendly, and are sometimes referred to as the labradors of the sea. In 2003, Wolf Rock Marine Park near Rainbow Beach was discovered to be the only known East Coast gestation site for these creatures, and it offers an incredible diving experience.
7. South West Rocks, NSW
- Shark species: Grey nurse shark, hammerhead.
- How to get there: South West Rocks is a five-hour drive north of Sydney.
- Where to stay: NRMA South West Rocks Holiday Park.
Another grey nurse hotspot is South West Rocks, on the NSW mid-north coast, which plays host to the shark all year round. Home to the only ocean cave dive in Australia, there’s also an influx of hammerheads in the area from October to January.
8. AQWA, WA
- Shark species: Seven different species.
- How to get there: AQWA is a 25-minute drive northwest of the Perth CBD.
- Where to stay: Hillarys Harbour Resort.
If you’re looking for bang for your buck, no destination on this list can compete with The Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA). This site is home to Australia’s largest single aquarium, the three million litre Shipwreck Coast, which is not only home to seven different species of shark, but also filled with loggerhead turtles, huge stingrays and a wealth of spectacular fish species.
Shark diving in Australia FAQs
Can I swim with sharks in Sydney?
You certainly can! Sydney Harbour is home to wobbegongs, AKA carpet sharks, which are a beautiful and super tranquil species of shark.
Do I need a PADI certification to shark dive?
Most shark diving activities in Australia will require PADI (scuba diving) certification, although there are certain activities that may not, including snorkelling with whale sharks and wobbegongs, and cage diving with great white sharks.
How much does it cost to go shark diving in Australia?
Depending on the activity and the package that you choose, shark diving in Australia could cost as little as $150 or as much as a couple of thousand dollars.
Can you go shark cage diving if you can’t swim?
While you don’t need PADI certification to swim with great whites, it’s best if you know how to swim, as a close encounter with a great white can be an overwhelming experience, and grabbing onto the cage is not recommended.
Is shark diving safe?
Tourism companies in Australia operate under very strict safety rules, and in shark diving they extend to both the humans and the animals. You can be confident that you will be safe and that the sharks will be treated well!
