When you think of Australian scuba diving, the boundless Great Barrier Reef is the first spot that comes to mind. Yet, almost 4000 km away, on the island’s western coast, pristine reefs and unique wildlife distinguish Western Australia as an unmissable spot for dive enthusiasts.

While you are exploring the coast of Western Australia, you’ll flit between the homes of humpback whales, expansive coral reefs and limestone caves, unique geographic phenomena, and the sunken wrecks of historic ships. Along the way, you’ll spot whale sharks, manta rays, dugongs, sea lions and countless species of exotic fish. This guide will take you up and down the 10,000 km of the state’s coastline, to five of the best places to dive in Western Australia.

Exmouth

There are a few very clear reasons why Exmouth, Western Australia has been voted as the second-best diving location on earth by National Geographic. An expansive oasis of strictly protected marine life, the Ningaloo Reef is teeming with rays, sharks, whales, dolphins, and even the elusive dugongs. Diving there, you’ll be on the lookout for the reef’s ‘big three’: manta rays, whale sharks, and humpbacks.

There is only one spot on earth where whale sharks congregate in mass every year. Solitary giants can be found around the world, but only in Exmouth, Western Australia do they gather during the months of April-July. The manta rays are more consistent, sweeping across the kaleidoscopic seabed all year round, though you’ll see the most between May-September. This is a great site for snorkelers to have an option to dip into the Ningaloo alongside the gargantuan humpback whales from August-October.

Broome

Off the dramatic ochre shores of Australia’s northwest hub, Broome, you’ll find the Rowley Shoals Marine Park and the Mermaid Reef Marine Park. These two protected parks encompass a complex of three coral atolls, replete with shallow lagoons brimming with unique marine life. Diving in either marine park, you can spot turtles, dolphins, and rays year-round. Submerging through the coral-coated atolls, in the midst of giant shoals of tropical fish, makes the location one of the most unique diving spots in all of Australia.

Return to the shoals during low tide to understand why naturalist David Attenborough referred to the reefs as “one of the world’s greatest natural wonders." The seas become pooled by the high ridged reefs, creating an irreplicable effect of horizontal waterfalls.

Rottnest Island

Affectionately referred to solely as ‘Rotto’ by Perth locals, the island sits only 45 minutes from Fremantle port and is a favorite escape of sea-loving city dwellers. Its extraordinary limestone reef is frequented by dolphins, cuttlefish, sea lions, dusty morwongs and western blue devils, among countless other species.

Rottnest is a particularly appealing site for divers because of its complex system of caves. The most famous, and certainly most photographed, is Shark Cave. Descending through a serene tornado of grey nurse sharks, you’ll find your passage to the surface circled by peaceful creatures. Check out Crystal Palace, Opera House, and Roe Reef for more unique cave diving experiences on the island.

Albany

Stretching the entire coast of Western Australia, ship graveyards draw divers all over the state. The barren bodies of 17th century East India ships, disintegrating remains of colonial exploration vessels, and enormous sunken oil rigs are all available to explore.

The state’s southwest region is one of the best spots to visit in Albany. The first European settlement in Western Australia, and the first deep water port, Albany’s popularity with foreign traders, whalers, and warriors has made it a hotspot for shipwrecks since its founding in 1826. The most popular dive here is the HMAS Perth, a 133ft warship used during World War II. It was purposefully sunk in 2001 and, designed to house an artificial reef, which today is brimming with rare and exotic marine life. Suitable for any certification level, it is a great spot for divers looking to get their wreck certification before exploring Albany’s more elusive and challenging wreck dives.

Abrolhos Islands

This extraordinary archipelago off the coast of Geraldton is made up of 122 islands, stretching over 100km of pristine ocean. The visibility here is thought to be the best in Western Australia, allowing you superb views of the dolphins, sea lions, stingrays, and shoals of unique tropical fish that call the islands home. These coral reefs are the southernmost in the Indian Ocean, and are also a great spot to view breeding seabirds.

The islands are also home to another famous and gruesome shipwreck, the Dutch vessel the Batavia, sunk in 1628. Learn about the ship thought to have housed one of “the worst horror stories in maritime history,” while exploring the still preserved canons which have become central to Australia’s founding folklore.