Best time to dive Neptune Islands
Australia's only great white cage diving, by liveaboard expedition (Rodney Fox) or day boat (Calypso Star) from Port Lincoln. Sharks are seen year-round; big females are most reliable May–July and the most sharks are logged July–October, though one operator also reports over 90% sightings October–January around seal pupping.
Peak season: year-round
Book a Neptune Islands LiveaboardUpcoming departures on DivebookerOverall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct medium · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Macro life | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Coral & reef health | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Visibility | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Water temperature | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Weather & sea state | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Operations & access | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 10–20 m |
| December 2026 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 10–20 m |
| January 2027 | 18.5 °C (65 °F) | 10–20 m |
| February 2027 | 19.0 °C (66 °F) | 10–20 m |
| March 2027 | 19.0 °C (66 °F) | 10–20 m |
| April 2027 | 18.5 °C (65 °F) | 15–20 m |
| May 2027 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 15–20 m |
| June 2027 | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 10–20 m |
| July 2027 | 15.5 °C (60 °F) | 10–20 m |
| August 2027 | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 10–20 m |
| September 2027 | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 10–20 m |
| October 2027 | 15.5 °C (60 °F) | 10–20 m |
| November 2027 | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 10–20 m |
| December 2027 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 10–20 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| great white shark | ● | ● | ● | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● |
| australian sea lion | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| new zealand fur seal | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Peak |
| bronze whaler | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| yellowtail kingfish | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Current strength
- 2 / 5
- Luxury level
- 3 / 5
- Typical depth
- 0–20 m
- Max depth of interest
- 20 m
- Dive styles
- Liveaboard, Day boat
- Suggested certification
- None for surface cage; Open Water for ocean-floor cage
- Nearest airport
- PLO
- Snorkelling
- Limited
Famous sites: North Neptune Islands · South Neptune Islands · Hopkins Island
Season notes & sources
- Australia's only great white cage diving, by liveaboard expedition (Rodney Fox) or day boat (Calypso Star) from Port Lincoln. Sharks are seen year-round; big females are most reliable May–July and the most sharks are logged July–October, though one operator also reports over 90% sightings October–January around seal pupping.
- Cold water: about 15–16 °C in winter and 18–19 °C at its warmest in late summer and autumn, with visibility up to about 20 m. A 7 mm wetsuit or drysuit is usual.
- Temperate granite reef and kelp, not coral; scored low for reef.