Dive Sites in the South Pacific
251 dive sites4 countries59 liveaboard-only sites

Dive Sites in the South Pacific

Remote atolls, pelagic highways and walls that drop into the blue. Somewhere here is the dive you've been dreaming of — we'll help you reach it.

Diving in the South Pacific

The South Pacific covers 4 diving countries and 251 mapped dive sites, from easy reef dives to demanding current and wall diving. Below you find the best dive sites of the region, their conditions, seasons and marine life, plus the countries and liveaboard routes that reach them. Use it to plan when to go, which area suits your level and which boat gets you there.

Countries

Diving countries in the South Pacific region

The South Pacific spans several diving countries, each with its own liveaboard routes and signature sites. Click a country to see every dive site we cover there and the boats that visit them.

90 dive sites
Australia
63 dive sites
Fiji
56 dive sites
French Polynesia
42 dive sites
Micronesia

Dive by type

Dive sites by type

Wrecks, walls, drift dives, caves and pinnacles in the South Pacific — filter by the kind of diving you prefer. Each type links to a dedicated theme page with the best sites worldwide.

Reef diving163 dive sites
Reef diving
Drift diving95 dive sites
Drift diving
Wall diving94 dive sites
Wall diving
Cave diving23 dive sites
Cave diving
Pinnacle diving21 dive sites
Pinnacle diving
Channel diving15 dive sites
Channel diving
Wreck diving11 dive sites
Wreck diving
Seamount diving5 dive sites
Seamount diving
Muck diving3 dive sites
Muck diving

Marine life

Marine life highlights

The animals that make diving in the South Pacific worth it: sharks, rays, turtles, pelagics and macro highlights logged on these sites. Choose a species to find the dive sites and liveaboards where you are most likely to see it.

94 dive sites
Barracuda
51 dive sites
Blacktip Reef Shark
38 dive sites
Coral
35 dive sites
Eagle Ray
25 dive sites
Bottlenose Dolphin
22 dive sites
Butterflyfish
20 dive sites
Angelfish
16 dive sites
Anthias
15 dive sites
Bumphead Parrotfish
14 dive sites
Anemonefish
14 dive sites
Clownfish
10 dive sites
Green Turtle

Explore the sites

Dive sites in the South Pacific

Explore 251 dive sites in the South Pacific, from legendary wall dives and drift dives to coral gardens, wrecks and shark cleaning stations. Every site shows depth, current, access, marine life and the liveaboard itineraries that visit it, so you can compare and book the trip that matches your experience level.

251 dive sites

Rainbow Reef, renowned worldwide for its vibrant coral ecosystems, lies within Fiji's Somosomo Strait, a narrow passage separating Vanua Levu and Taveuni islands.

Suitable for
Intermediate
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
10–30 m
Theme
Drift / Reef

The Shark Reef Marine Reserve, situated in the Beqa Channel off Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, is a premier global destination for shark encounters.

Suitable for
Intermediate
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
4–30 m
Theme
Reef / Wall

South Pass - Fakarava

French Polynesia

Fakarava's South Pass, known locally as Tumakohua Pass, is a renowned drift dive located in the Tuamotu archipelago of French Polynesia, a designated UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Suitable for
Advanced
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
22–24 m
Theme
Channel / Drift

SS Yongala

Australia

The SS Yongala, resting off the Queensland coast in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, is renowned globally as a top wreck dive destination.

Suitable for
Advanced
Current
Strong
Access
Liveaboard or dayboat
Depth
14–30 m
Theme
Wreck

Conditions & practicalities

Diving in the South Pacific: seasons, conditions and logistics

251 dive sites in the South Pacific — here is what the season data says about the best months, water temperature, visibility and currents, plus how divers usually get there and which fees to budget for.

Best months
May–Oct
Water temperature
23–29 °C
Visibility
12–40 m
Currents
No data yet
Getting there
Most divers fly into the nearest international airport and continue by transfer or domestic flight to the departure port; liveaboards usually leave the evening before day one.
Permits & fees
Marine park fees, port taxes and nitrox are rarely included in the trip price — budget a few hundred dollars extra and check the visa rules before booking.

FAQ

Diving in the South Pacific: your questions

When is the best time to dive in the South Pacific?
The season data for in the South Pacific rates May–Oct as the strongest window, with water around 23–29 °C. Outside those months diving is still possible at many sites, but expect more wind, plankton or reduced boat schedules.
How good is the visibility in the South Pacific?
Visibility in the South Pacific typically runs 12–40 m, best during the dry, low-plankton months. Plankton-rich weeks cut it back — which is exactly when the big filter feeders show up.
Do I need a liveaboard to dive in the South Pacific?
About 24% of the dive sites in the South Pacific are only reachable by liveaboard. The rest can be dived from land-based centres, so day boats and a liveaboard leg combine well on longer trips.
How many dive sites are there in the South Pacific and where are they?
We list 251 dive sites in the South Pacific, with Australia holding the largest share. Every entry links to its own page with depths, level, marine life and the liveaboards that visit it.
Plan your trip

Ready to dive these sites?

Choose a destination or search every available vessel to find the liveaboard that dives the sites you want to see.