The Tiwi Islands lie in the tropical waters of the Northern Territory, north of Darwin, and encompass both Bathurst and Melville Islands. Sites range from shallow beginner reefs at Bathurst Island to advanced wall and cave dives at Shark Bay, which descends to around twenty-three metres, and demanding tidal channels at Lethbridge Bay Reefs, where tidal ranges can produce strong rips. Saltwater crocodiles are present throughout these coastal waters year-round, and box jellyfish are a hazard from October to May. Divers encounter blacktip and sandbar sharks, wobbegongs, green sea turtles, emperor angelfish, and a range of nudibranchs across the reef and wall habitats.
2 areas
2Remote, advanced boat-only reef diving off Melville Island, with strong tidal currents, saltwater crocodiles, and warm water year-round.
2Permit-access boat diving off the Tiwi Islands in the Timor Sea, with warm water, reef and wall sites, and a striking mix of tropical species.
Monthly water temperature across Tiwi Islands's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Temperatures remain warm throughout the year, from the high twenties in the cooler months of July and August to thirty-one degrees in November and December. The dry season, from around April to November, delivers calmer seas and is the preferred window for visiting, with the wet season bringing rougher conditions and reduced predictability.
3 operators
Water temperature around Tiwi Islands ranges from about 27°C in July to 31°C in November, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 27–31°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Tiwi Islands year-round.
Fin maps 6 sites in Tiwi Islands (5 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots), organised into 2 areas.
Across Tiwi Islands's dive sites, May, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
5 more sites to explore
