North West Point – North Coast West

Site Overview

North West Point is Christmas Island premier big-animal dive site and one of the most reliable whale shark encounter locations in the entire Indian Ocean. This exposed deep wall plummets from the shallow reef crest at five metres to depths exceeding one thousand metres creating a dramatic underwater cliff face that attracts extraordinary concentrations of pelagic life. Strong oceanic currents sweep nutrient-rich water along the wall bringing grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, dogtooth tuna, sailfish, and oceanic manta rays that patrol the drop-off edge in search of prey. During the whale shark season from November to April, these gentle giants regularly cruise past the point feeding on the plankton blooms that concentrate in the current lines making encounters frequent and often prolonged. The wall itself is covered in magnificent gorgonian fans, sea whips, and black coral trees that thrive in the current-swept environment while the shallow reef crest supports diverse tropical fish communities. The visibility is consistently outstanding at thirty to fifty metres allowing divers to appreciate the full scale of the wall and observe approaching pelagic species from considerable distance. This is advanced diving at its most thrilling combining deep wall exposure, strong currents, and big animal encounters that rank among the best pelagic diving experiences anywhere in the world.