Coral Sea, Australia

    The Campgrounds

    Best months: Mar–Jul

    Why dive here

    With 113+ marine species recorded in the area - including dugongs, grey reef sharks, humpback whales, sea turtles and tiger sharks - The Campgrounds offers some of Coral Sea's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 25-30°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeMar–Jul
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeDugongs, Grey Reef Sharks, Humpback Whales, Sea Turtles and Tiger Sharks · 113+ species recorded
    Water25-30°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterWreck dive
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    Wreck Alley, off Cooper Island, is where we head when we’re feeling a bit greedy. Four wrecks, sunk intentionally starting in the 90s, means there’s always something new to poke around. The *Marie L*, *Pat*, *Beata*, and *Island Seal* are all down there, stacked up, and they've become home to an impressive number of residents. The wrecks themselves are a blast to explore. You can weave between the hulls, duck into old holds, and imagine them in their working days. Our favourite part has to be the sheer density of fish life. Forget just a few tangs; here we’re talking about schools of chromis and snapper that just melt around you as you swim through them. Look for the big stingrays – they’re comfortable with divers and will often glide right through the middle of a group. We’ve also seen some really impressive garden eel colonies stretching out from the sand around the wrecks, little periscopes swaying in the current. Maximum depth is 24m, so it’s a great spot for advanced open water divers who want to spend some time exploring rather than rushing a deep site. Visibility averages around 19m, decent enough to appreciate the scale of the alley. It's a busy site, so pick your time; early morning usually means fewer boats.

    Safety Notes

    Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

    Today05:2217:5412h 32m daylightGolden hour 17:24

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for The Campgrounds

    The Campgrounds Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for The Campgrounds, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-16.5, 148) (0km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    26°C

    79°F · Range: 25.4–29°C

    Current Speed

    10.3 cm/s

    Direction: SE (119.1°)

    Salinity

    35.38 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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