Australia’s Coral Sea Islands cover less than three square kilometers of land and are scattered across about one million square kilometers of ocean. The majority of these so-called land masses are actually shallow coral reefs and all are uninhabited but for a few meteorologists who live and work on Willis Island. While a few of these islands support lighthouses, beacons, and automated weather stations, the majority of them receive only birds, turtles, and other marine animals as visitors – along with a few lucky scuba divers who visit via liveaboard. If you’re looking for a fantastic getaway that’s far from the road well-traveled, but you want all the comforts and safety features a liveaboard offers, then a trip to the Coral Sea Islands just might be your cup of tea.
The Coral Sea Islands: A Haven for Marine Life
Clear water, steep underwater walls, and terrific shark action are just a few Coral Sea Islands hallmarks. Schooling trevallies and grimacing barracudas take their pick of small fish from massive shimmering schools, while massive potato cods and napoleon wrasse peer out from reef hideaways. Gaping moray eels lurk in dark places, peeking out at passing divers and occasionally swimming freely from one reef structure to the next.
In some places, sharks are thick as thieves; divers frequently report encounters with dozens of grey reef sharks at one go, and in some instances, hammerheads are seen emerging from deep channels in search of prey. Massive manta rays, huge stingrays, eagle rays, marble rays, and others can be seen flying past, and it is not unusual to encounter whale sharks from time to time.
Besides the many large marine animals you’ll encounter while exploring the boundless reefs surrounding the Coral Sea Islands, you’ll have endless opportunities to dive with small colorful reef fish and an almost unbelievable assortment of invertebrates along sunlit reefs; octopuses, wonderpuses, and candy-colored nudibranchs are just a few of the creatures you’ll encounter. Beautiful sea turtles can often be seen grazing on sponges and colorful soft corals, and vast hard coral gardens that give way to big bommies surrounded by pure white sand shelter even more marine life.
The water is often gin-clear, the coral is absolutely pristine, and the vistas you’ll find throughout the region are spectacularly unforgettable. Your liveaboard staff will decide on dive sites based on weather, marine life activity, and other factors; don’t worry though – there is no such thing as a bad day’s diving around the Coral Sea Islands! You will be required to submit health certification and carry diving insurance for this trip, and all divers are required to carry Nautilus Lifeline GPS locators, which can usually be rented from the liveaboard company. There are other considerations of course; in addition, it is worth mentioning that this is a journey that is in high demand, and that space is quite limited. By making travel plans in advance and ensuring your dive and photography skills are up to date, you will enjoy what just might be the dive holiday of a lifetime.