Diving Christmas Island: Australia's Remote Indian Ocean Paradise

About Christmas Island

Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, located roughly 350 kilometres south of Java. This remote tropical island is famed for its spectacular annual red crab migration, when tens of millions of crabs move from the rainforest to the sea to spawn, creating one of the natural wonders of the world. Below the surface, the island offers pristine coral reefs teeming with pelagic life, dramatic drop-offs just metres from shore, and exceptional visibility often exceeding 40 metres. The island's isolation has created unique endemic species both on land and underwater. Diving here feels like discovering an untouched paradise, with healthy hard coral gardens, reef sharks, eagle rays, and seasonal whale shark visits. The small multicultural community blends Chinese, Malay, and European influences into a distinctive island culture that makes Christmas Island an extraordinary diving destination far from the crowds.

Highlights

• ✓Annual red crab migration with millions of crabs crossing the island
• ✓Pristine coral reefs with visibility regularly exceeding 40 metres
• ✓Dramatic wall dives and drop-offs accessible from shore
• ✓Seasonal whale shark encounters between November and April
• ✓Endemic species found nowhere else on Earth
• ✓Uncrowded dive sites with a remote tropical island atmosphere

Getting There

Christmas Island is accessible by regular flights from Perth, Western Australia (approximately 3.5 hours) and occasional charter flights from Jakarta, Indonesia. Virgin Australia operates scheduled services from Perth.