Flying Fish Cove (The Settlement)
42 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Flying Fish Cove (The Settlement) →External Territories
Diving in Christmas Island
Christmas Island is the top of a volcanic seamount, so the fringing reef gives way to a wall within 20–50 m of the shore and keeps falling to 500 m. The diving is drift and wall diving in exceptional visibility, with sea caves such as Thundercliff, the endemic dragon moray, grey reef and silvertip sharks, spinner dolphins and, from November to January, whale sharks that arrive to feed on red crab spawn.
Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by External Territories. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.
Your bearings, in a minute
Christmas Island at a glance
Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.
- Explore
- 42 site records
- Recorded settings
- Reef · Wall · Cave/Cavern
- Map coverage
- 42 locations to explore
- Plan with local help
- Meet the listed operators
Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →
Sources, authorship and review status
Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.
Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.
Who can contribute and how reviews work →Find your bearings
Explore Christmas Island on the map
Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.
42 matching records · 42 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.
Admin Wall
Wall · 5–30 m
Approximate area
Barracuda Bay
Reef · 5–25 m
Approximate area
Boat Cave
Cave/Cavern · 4–16 m
Approximate area
Chicken Farm
Wall · 5–40 m
Approximate area
Coconut Point
Drift · 6–16 m
Approximate area
Coconut Point Cave
Cave/Cavern · 15–20 m
Recorded location
Daniel Roux Cave
Cave/Cavern · 2–22 m
Recorded location
Dolly Beach
Shore/Rock Platform · 0–10 m
Approximate area
Egeria Point
Wall · 10–22 m
Recorded location
Eidsvold Wreck
Wreck · 5–18 m
Approximate area
Ethel Beach
Reef · 2–14 m
Approximate area
Flying Fish Cove
Shore/Rock Platform · 2–25 m
Approximate area
The local notebook
Where should you start in Christmas Island?
Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.
Different outings to look into
| Local example | Recorded nearby place | Recorded access | Follow the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat Cave | Flying Fish Cove (The Settlement) | Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| Coconut Point | Flying Fish Cove (The Settlement) | Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| The Sandpatch | Flying Fish Cove (The Settlement) | Shore | Recorded source ↗ |
| Lynnie's Bommie | Flying Fish Cove (The Settlement) | Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
How to use this shortlist
Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.
A closer look at Christmas Island
Get a feel for the diving
Our Christmas Island directory currently includes 42 published site records. The largest recorded category is reef (13 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.
Christmas Island: what’s in the directory?
A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.
Source: published YouDive directory records for Christmas Island. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.
A few local records to compare
Start with Boat Cave, Coconut Point, The Sandpatch. These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.
| Site | Recorded type | Access | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boat Cave | Cave/Cavern | Boat | 4–16 m |
| Coconut Point | Drift | Boat | 6–16 m |
| The Sandpatch | Muck/Sand | Shore | 3–18 m |
| Lynnie's Bommie Details need confirmation | Pinnacle/Bommie | Boat | 8–25 m |
How the recorded depths compare
A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.
The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.
Give an island diving trip a little more planning room
The external-territory collection groups separate island destinations for browsing. Choose the actual island first, then research its transport, accommodation and diving as one connected itinerary.
Plan for the island you mean
A listing under External Territories does not describe a single travel region. Keep each island’s itinerary separate and confirm the current transport options with the relevant suppliers. Ask the dive provider which arrival dates and local transfers fit the proposed activity. Decide what needs booking together and what is a separate purchase before comparing package prices.
Check support before deciding what to bring
Describe the equipment, training and services you need for the intended outing. Ask what is available locally and what must be arranged in advance. Use the actual airline or transport provider’s baggage information for your route. Do not assume that a service available on one island is also available on another simply because both appear in this directory collection.
Give the itinerary room to change
Write down who to contact if transport or diving changes, and read the relevant booking terms before paying. Consider how an altered arrival affects accommodation, hire reservations and the first planned activity. Keep medical, travel and insurance questions with the appropriate professionals and suppliers. A tidy list of confirmed arrangements is more useful than an ambitious list of unconfirmed dives.
Three conversations worth having before you book
Island choice
Which exact island and arrival route are we planning?
Keep separate destinations as separate itineraries.
Equipment support
What can be reserved locally?
Confirm specific items and services.
Travel changes
What happens to dependent bookings?
Save contacts and written terms.
From “that looks lovely” to a plan
Make Christmas Island your kind of dive trip
Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.
Where are you on your diving journey?
I’m just getting started
Find out how a first course works, compare your options and get comfortable asking questions.
I’m ready to explore more
Connect your next outing with useful reading and a conversation about the right training and support.
I’m thinking about teaching
Explore the professional pathway and prepare better questions for a training centre.
These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.
People to talk to about Christmas Island
These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.
Listed in this region
CI Wet'n'Dry Adventures
Christmas Island
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Extra Divers Christmas Island
Flying Fish Cove
The main dive operation on Christmas Island, servicing the island's wall and drop-off diving.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Freedive Christmas Island
Christmas Island
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Let’s put the pieces together
Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.
Open my trips
Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Christmas Island
Resolve island logistics before selecting individual sites
Build a Christmas Island trip around confirmed transport, accommodation and a local operator’s current programme. Ask about equipment availability and baggage arrangements before deciding how much personal kit to carry. Treat the regional map as an orientation tool and discuss actual departures with the provider. An island stay benefits from a clear plan for delayed connections and activities that do not depend on a particular dive taking place.
One useful question: Which bookings depend on the arrival connection, and what are the agreed alternatives if it changes?
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 42 published site records in Christmas Island. The recorded categories include reef (13), wall (9), cave/cavern (8), shore/rock platform (5). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Christmas Island site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.
Research operators in External Territories →Ask before booking
- Which territory and jurisdiction does this itinerary visit?
- What park or access permissions apply to the exact location?
- What is the contingency if transport changes?
Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Questions, answered
How do I choose a dive in Christmas Island?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 42 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.
When should I visit Christmas Island for diving?
Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.
Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?
No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.
Regional planning context: Parks Australia — Australian Marine Parks ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Dive sites in this region
Search within Christmas Island, or narrow the list to a recorded dive type. Open a site for its map, sources and access notes.
42 matching site records. Listings do not confirm current access or availability.
EXT
Drift
DriftChristmas Island
The Cemetery
A gentle, shallow drift over colourful coral a few metres from shore – an ideal first drift dive.
EXTMuck/Sand
Muck/SandChristmas Island
The Sandpatch
A dense garden eel colony and easy shallow reef right off the beach; the island's go-to training and night dive.
EXTCave/Cavern
Cave/CavernChristmas Island
Thunderdome Cave
A hidden entrance to a dome-shaped cave and an extensive, twisting system with air pockets and formations – the island's most…
EXTReef
ReefChristmas Island
Winifred Beach
A calm, sheltered west-coast reef of gullies and coral heads below a boat-access-only beach.
EXTReef
ReefChristmas Island
Barracuda Bay
North-coast reef and drop-off named for its schooling barracuda.
Details need confirmationEXTCave/Cavern
Cave/CavernChristmas Island
Coconut Point Cave
A documented submarine cave beneath the Coconut Point drift – a scientific and technical cave site, not a recreational dive.
Details need confirmationEXTShore/Rock Platform
Shore/Rock PlatformChristmas Island
Dolly Beach
A remote palm-fringed reef beach with turtle nesting, rock pools and a freshwater stream – snorkel and camp.
Details need confirmationEXTShore/Rock Platform
Shore/Rock PlatformChristmas Island
Greta Beach
A sheltered ocean pool below a steep staircase, with nesting turtles and one of the best red crab spawning spectacles.
Details need confirmationEXTReef
ReefChristmas Island
Isabel Beach
Convenient Settlement-coast reef and drop-off a few minutes from the jetty.
Details need confirmationEXTShore/Rock Platform
Shore/Rock PlatformChristmas Island
Lily Beach
A safe, sandy-bottomed rock pool in a dramatic keyhole cove, with the island's best picnic facilities.
Details need confirmationEXTPinnacle/Bommie
Pinnacle/BommieChristmas Island
Lynnie's Bommie
A small coral bommie off Middle Beach, usually combined with the Middle Beach reef.
Details need confirmationEXTReef
ReefChristmas Island
Merrial Beach
The island's smallest and one of its prettiest beaches, with grotto-like overhangs and a pristine west-coast fringing reef.
Details need confirmationEXTReef
ReefChristmas Island
Middle Beach
Relaxed north-coast reef dive below a boat-access beach, often combined with Lynnie's Bommie.
Details need confirmationEXTShore/Rock Platform
Shore/Rock PlatformChristmas Island
Pirate Cove
Sheltered pocket of submerged rock formations and rock pools at the southern end of Flying Fish Cove – a family-friendly snorkel.
Details need confirmationEXTReef
ReefChristmas Island
Rocky Point
A point on the Settlement coast between the gentle Morgue and the current-swept Coconut Point.
Details need confirmationEXTWall
WallChristmas Island
Smith Point
Proper wall diving a few minutes from the jetty, on the headland that shelters Flying Fish Cove.
Details need confirmationEXTWall
WallChristmas Island
Steep Point
An exploratory east-coast headland with a steep drop-off – rarely dived.
Details need confirmationEXTCave/Cavern
Cave/CavernChristmas Island
The Grotto
A tiny sea cave pool of crystal-clear, mixed fresh and salt water, 30 m from the road.
Details need confirmation