Meet the site
The Morgue has a spooky name and a gentle personality. It lies north-east of Flying Fish Cove, practically beneath the Sunset Lodge, and was named after a small building on the shoreline that once served as the Settlement's morgue. Extra Divers call it a macro paradise and recommend it for photographers and night divers.
What distinguishes it from many Christmas Island sites is its shallow shelf with giant Acropora and lots of feather stars, and a slope that descends at about 35 degrees rather than a sheer wall. Diveplanit's report notes that the coral formations are unusually large compared with Flying Fish Cove, and that the best diving is around 25 m before a straightforward ascent back to the 5 m shelf for the safety stop.
The fish list is long: emperor angelfish, white-square rockcod (thinspine grouper), ringtail Maori wrasse, raccoon butterflyfish, gilded triggerfish and titan triggerfish, and the relatively rare ribbon eel. Extra Divers add lionfish, cleaner shrimps, Spanish dancers and whitetip reef sharks. For macro enthusiasts the slope and shelf hide nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs and small gobies, and at night Spanish dancers, crustaceans and hunting lionfish and morays appear.
The Morgue suits beginners and photographers, and because it is only a few minutes from the jetty it is the usual choice for boat night dives and for a second dive when time is short. Its moderate slope makes depth easy to control, and the large coral structures make for good wide-angle as well as macro shots. It is also a sensible check-out dive on the first morning of a trip.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
The Morgue is recorded as Reef in Christmas Island. The listed access is boat. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is The Morgue suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book The Morgue through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Giant Acropora, feather stars, emperor angelfish, white-square rockcod, ringtail Maori wrasse, raccoon butterflyfish, gilded and titan triggerfish, ribbon eels, lionfish, cleaner shrimps, Spanish dancers, whitetip reef sharks, nudibranchs
Location
Reef and wall north-east of Flying Fish Cove, practically beneath Sunset Lodge on the Settlement shoreline; named after an old morgue building on the shore.
Facilities nearby
Departs Flying Fish Cove jetty/ramp.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
diveplanit.comextradivers.com.auchristmas.net.audivingchristmas.comcuriouscampers.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.