Christmas Island
Join OceanLife Scuba on an exclusive small-group diving expedition to Christmas Island- one of Australia’s most remote and rewarding dive destinations.
Dates
October 25 – November 01, 2027
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Packages
- $2700 AUD pp. Standard Room (twin or double shared)
- $2950 AUD pp. Superior Room Shared (king or twin beds with sofa bed, private bathroom)
- $3000 AUD pp. Deluxe Room (king bed with sofa bed, private bathroom, and lounge area)
Notes
- Single Supplement available upon request
- All prices are in AUD (Australian Dollars)
- Both Options – 12 days / 11 nights (25 Oct –05 Nov, 2027)
- Accommodation is twin/double share unless otherwise arranged
- Itinerary may vary slightly depending on weather and sea conditions
Optional Add-On: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
An optional pre-trip extension to the pristine Cocos (Keeling) Islands is available, offering a more relaxed reef environment before the main expedition begins.
Dates
November 01 – 05, 2027
Duration
5 days / 4 nights
Add-on Costs
$2350 AUD per person (4 pax min) (twin or double shared)
Where are Christmas Island & Cocos Keeling?
Located in the Indian Ocean off the north-west coast of Australia, Christmas Island & Cocos Keeling sit around 1,500km from mainland Australia and just 350km south of Indonesia. It’s one of Australia’s most remote and spectacular dive destinations.
Included
Christmas Island
- 7 nights accommodation (shared group properties)
- 10 dives over 5 days (2-tank boat dives)
- Tanks, weights, air fills, and certified dive guide services
- Snacks, water, tea, and coffee on dive days
- 7-day vehicle hire (shared group use)
- 4 nights of home-cooked group dinners
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- 4 nights accommodation
- 6 dives over 3 days
- Tanks, weights, and dive guide services
- Meals included
- Lunch, water, tea, and coffee on dive days
Included for both destinations
- Intimate private group experience (max. 10–12 guests) with certified dive guides
- Travel with a marine biologist and enjoy marine wildlife presentations
- All group transport provided, including vehicle hire and transfers
Excluded for Both Destinations
- Flights (international and domestic to/from Christmas Island)
- Dive gear rental (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, etc.)
- Nitrox
- Fuel and car insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Some meals (approx. 2 nights at local venues such as The Golden Bosun Tavern or Rumah Tinggi)
- Travel and dive insurance
- Crew tips
- Accommodation in Perth (if required pre/post trip)
Requirements for Participation
Reasonably confident scuba diving & snorkeling skills, you must be able to swim at least 200 meters unaided in open water. Guests are required to be physically able to get up a small boat ladder on their own. There will also be some walking around the island, so you will need to be able to do that to enjoy all the island has to offer. Please complete a dive medical if you are unsure, or let your guide know, as we will be on an offshore island (away from the mainland).
Accommodation – Christmas Island
Located on the coastline of Christmas Island, Divers Villa & Seaspray is a restored colonial-style home offering spacious, comfortable accommodation ideal for small dive groups. Set close to the main settlement, it is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, the supermarket, and just 8–10 minutes from the Extra Divers dive base. The villa features open-plan living and dining areas, a fully equipped kitchen, and tropical outdoor spaces for relaxing after diving. With ocean views and a relaxed atmosphere, it provides a convenient and comfortable base for our stay.
Room Configurations – Christmas Island
Divers Villa & Castaways rooming includes:
- Deluxe Room – King bed with sofa bed, private bathroom, and lounge area
- Superior Room – King or twin beds with sofa bed, private bathroom
- Standard Room – King or twin beds, shared bathroom
Accommodation – Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Cocos Castaway is a stylish, self-contained beachfront accommodation located on West Island in the remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands, offering a private and relaxed tropical escape right on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Designed for comfort and ease, the property features modern, well-equipped villas and units with private verandahs, allowing guests to unwind while enjoying ocean views, spectacular sunsets, and the laid-back island atmosphere. With complimentary WiFi and practical amenities for longer stays, it combines convenience with a peaceful “slow living” island experience
Room Configurations – Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Castaways rooming includes:
- Standard Villa (1) – 1 Queen bed
- Superior Units (2)– 1 Queen bed + 1 Twin bed
How to secure your spot
Please note that this is a small-group trip with limited availability, so you will need to act quickly to secure your booking. The following payments will be required:
- $800 AUD deposit required to secure your booking
- Remaining payment dates to be confirmed
Payment
There is a range of payment options in the booking system. Individual invoices will be sent to you upon booking. It is recommended to purchase your tickets as soon as possible to secure a cheap flight. To check on available spaces and secure your spot, please email: amanda@amandadelaforce.com
Getting there
Travel to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands is via Perth, the main gateway to both destinations. There are no direct international flights, so all travel connects through Perth with Qantas (QantasLink), which operates services approximately twice per week on a Monday and Friday schedule.
From Australia or overseas, travelers first fly into Perth, then continue onward to Christmas Island. Flights between Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands operate as part of the same scheduled rotation.
Because flights are limited and operate on a fixed timetable, travel dates must align with the Monday/Friday departures. Typical routing is: Australia → Perth → Christmas Island → Cocos (Keeling) Islands (or vice versa) → Perth → Home
Christmas Island – A Diver’s Paradise in the Indian Ocean
You’ll find untouched dive sites, caves and grottos, sharks, dolphins, endemic fish, steep drop-offs, and exceptional visibility awaiting you in this remote Indian Ocean destination.
Christmas Island is one of Australia’s most unique and least-visited locations, offering a truly unspoiled experience. The island’s narrow fringing reef drops quickly into the deep ocean, creating outstanding diving conditions just meters from shore.
Diving here is incredibly diverse, with coral gardens, caves, caverns, and dramatic wall systems. Marine life is abundant, with over 200 coral species and hundreds of fish species, many of which are endemic to the region.
Sharks are commonly encountered, including whitetip and grey reef sharks, with the chance of seeing silky sharks, hammerheads, manta rays, and whale sharks in season. Visibility often exceeds 30 meters, and dolphins are frequently seen on the surface.
Above the water, the island is equally spectacular. The annual red crab migration sees millions of crabs move from the forest to the ocean in one of nature’s most remarkable events.
Itinerary
Christmas Island Expedition
Day 1 (Mon, 25 Oct 2027): Arrive Christmas Island
Days 2–6 (Tue, 26 Oct – Sat, 30 Oct 2027): 4–5 days diving (walls, caves, pelagics)
Day 7 (Sun, 31 Oct 2027): No diving – island exploration & red crab migration
Day 8 (Mon, 01 Nov 2027): Departure to Perth and onward travel
Optional Add-On: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Day 1 (Mon, 01 Nov 2027): Arrive and settle in (no diving)
Days 2–3 (Tues 02– Thurs 04, Nov): 2 days diving
Day 4 (Fri, 05 Nov): Fly to Christmas Island to join the main expedition
Dive Site Highlights
Christmas Island offers some of the most dramatic and untouched diving in the Indian Ocean. With excellent visibility, steep drop-offs, caves, and abundant marine life, every dive is different.
Perpendicular Wall: A striking vertical drop-off into deep blue water, covered in soft corals and sea fans. Regular sightings include reef sharks, large schools of fish, and occasional pelagics such as manta rays and dolphins.
Flying Fish Cove: A calm, accessible site ideal for relaxed diving. Expect healthy coral gardens and a wide variety of reef fish, including butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish—perfect for an introduction to the island’s marine life.
Thundercliff Cave: One of the island’s most unique sites, featuring coral gardens, batfish, and interconnected caves and swim-throughs. Divers can even surface inside the main cavern chamber.
Caverns & Drop-offs: Across the island, dramatic underwater terrain includes overhangs, swim-throughs, and steep reef walls dropping into deep ocean. These areas often attract reef sharks, trevally, and larger pelagic species.
About Christmas Island
Christmas Island is one of Australia’s most remote and unique destinations, located approximately 2,600km northwest of Western Australia. Around two-thirds of the island is protected as a national park, creating a rare environment where rainforest meets ocean cliffs and coral reefs.
The island is best known for its annual red crab migration, when millions of crabs move from the forest to the ocean to spawn—one of the most remarkable wildlife events on Earth.
Beneath and above the water, biodiversity is exceptional. The island supports hundreds of fish species and over 200 coral species, with regular sightings of reef sharks, turtles, dolphins, and seasonal visits from whale sharks.
Beyond diving, Christmas Island offers rainforest walks, waterfalls, blowholes, and excellent birdwatching, including several endemic species found nowhere else in the world.
Local Climate
Water temperature: 24–28°C year-round
Recommended wetsuit: 3–5mm
Regional Seasons
Wet season: November to April (warmer, more rain)
Dry season: May to October (less humidity, more stable conditions)
About the Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a remote coral atoll made up of 27 islands surrounding a shallow turquoise lagoon.
Diving in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is calm, warm, and crystal clear, with healthy coral reefs, abundant turtles, reef sharks, and excellent snorkeling straight from the beach. It offers a relaxed contrast to the more rugged terrain of Christmas Island.
Highlights include Direction Island, known for pristine beaches and world-class snorkeling, along with opportunities to experience the local Cocos Malay culture on Home Island. Other activities include kayaking, paddleboarding, or lagoon tours.
Photography
Christmas Island is an exceptional destination for underwater photography, offering strong opportunities for both wide-angle and macro work in a single trip. Dramatic underwater topography – including steep walls, caves, and drop-offs into deep blue water – creates ideal conditions for wide-angle images of reef sharks, turtles, schooling fish, and occasional pelagic visitors such as manta rays.
At the same time, healthy coral reefs and complex structures provide rich macro subjects, including nudibranchs, crustaceans, pipefish, and other small reef life hidden within overhangs and coral gardens. With typically excellent visibility and calm morning diving conditions, photographers can easily switch between expansive reef scenes and detailed close-up work throughout the trip.
Why Choose OceanLife?
OceanLife expeditions are designed for divers and snorkellers who want more than a holiday. Every journey is personally led by Amanda Delaforce, a marine biologist with more than 25 years of field experience and over 30 years of diving experience. Her knowledge of marine life, underwater photography, and responsible wildlife encounters adds depth to every adventure. Each destination is carefully selected for its exceptional marine encounters and trusted local operators. Meet Amanda
Ready for Your Next Adventure?
We look forward to sharing this unforgettable journey with you. Ready to experience the Falkland Islands with OceanLife? Spaces are limited to keep the group intimate, so secure your place or contact us with any questions.
Bookings, Payment, Cancellation Policy and Force Majeure in relation to the Tour
TERMS & CONDITIONS
These Terms & Conditions apply to all bookings made with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd (ABN 26 661 237 734), trading as OceanLife Scuba Expeditions (“OceanLife Scuba Expeditions”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
1. Insurance
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions highly recommends that all guests purchase comprehensive personal travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming their travel plans. Your insurance policy should provide adequate cover for, at a minimum, trip cancellation, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, scuba diving activities, missed or delayed flights, baggage loss or delay, travel interruptions and personal liability. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for dive insurance. Dive Assure offers both annual and short-term (per trip) Dive and Travel Insurance policies. You can purchase a policy here – https://app.diveassure.com/#/registration/main/process/0/int/0/18669/en-intl.
- Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
- All diving, snorkelling and in-water activities are conducted by our appointed in-country operator(s), including liveaboard vessel operators and local dive centres, who maintain responsibility for their own operational procedures, safety standards and applicable insurance requirements. While participating in diving, snorkelling or swimming activities, you are required to comply with all instructions given by the Captain, Dive Instructor, Divemaster or other authorised crew members.
2. Bookings and Payments
- Bookings made more than 100 days before the commencement of the trip require a non-refundable deposit of AUD $800 per passenger.
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- Bookings made within 100 days of the commencement of the trip require payment in full to secure the booking.
- Final payment is due no later than 100 days before the commencement of the trip. A final payment reminder will be sent prior to the due date.
- Each guest is required to complete a Dive Trip Questionnaire (which may include a Dive Medical Assessment where applicable) before receiving final trip confirmation. The completed questionnaire must be returned to OceanLife Scuba Expeditions before final payment is made.
- Guests are required to disclose all relevant medical conditions honestly and completely. Failure to disclose relevant medical information, or providing false or misleading information, may result in OceanLife Scuba Expeditions refusing participation where the condition may affect the safety of the guest, other participants or the safe operation of the expedition.
- Guests are responsible for ensuring they hold valid passports, visas, permits, vaccinations and any other documentation required for entry into the destination country or countries. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions accepts no responsibility for denied boarding, refused entry or additional costs resulting from incomplete, expired or invalid travel documentation.
3. Amendment and Cancellation Policy
- All deposits are non-refundable.
- The total trip cost becomes 100% non-refundable within 100 days of the scheduled departure date. This applies to deposits and all subsequent payments, except where otherwise required by law.
- If you cancel your booking 100 days or more before departure, and your place can be resold, a trip credit equal to your remaining balance (less a USD $300 administration fee) will be issued. The credit must be used on another OceanLife Scuba Expeditions trip departing within two (2) years of the cancellation date.
- If you cancel your booking within 99 days of departure, no refund or trip credit will be issued.
- If a guest misses the commencement of the expedition or any part of the itinerary due to delayed or cancelled flights, missed connections, immigration delays, baggage delays, weather events or other travel disruptions, no refund, credit or alternative arrangements will be provided by OceanLife Scuba Expeditions. Any eligible costs should be claimed through the guest’s travel insurance policy, where covered.
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions reserves the right to amend itineraries, accommodation, vessels, dive sites, schedules, guides or expedition leaders where reasonably necessary due to weather, sea conditions, safety considerations, wildlife activity, mechanical issues, operational requirements, government directives or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control. Such changes do not constitute grounds for compensation or refund.
4. Force Majeure
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions shall not be liable for any delay, alteration, cancellation or failure to deliver a trip where such circumstances are caused by events beyond our reasonable control.
- A Force Majeure Event includes, but is not limited to, acts of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood, severe weather, natural disasters, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, strikes, civil unrest, acts of government or regulatory authorities, the inability to obtain licences or permits, delays caused by subcontractors or suppliers, telecommunications failures, material shortages or any other event beyond our reasonable control.
5. Guest Responsibilities
- Guests participating in scuba diving must hold the minimum certification required for the expedition and provide proof of certification if requested.
- Guests agree to dive within the limits of their certification, experience and current medical fitness, and to follow all instructions provided by dive professionals, vessel crew and expedition staff.
- Guests are responsible for arriving at the designated departure location at the required time. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions is not responsible for missed departures resulting from delayed or cancelled flights, missed connections, immigration delays, baggage delays, weather events or other travel disruptions beyond our reasonable control. Any costs, losses or expenses incurred as a result of these disruptions are the responsibility of the guest and should be claimed through the guest’s travel insurance policy, where covered.
- Guests are responsible for the care and security of their own dive equipment, camera equipment, luggage and personal belongings throughout the expedition.
- Wildlife sightings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed. OceanLife Scuba Expeditions makes no representation or warranty that any particular marine species, wildlife encounter or photographic opportunity will occur during an expedition.
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions reserves the right to refuse participation or remove any guest from an expedition, without refund, where their behaviour is considered unsafe, abusive, disruptive, illegal, intoxicated, or likely to place themselves, other guests, crew members or the expedition at risk.
6. Liability and Obligations
- OceanLife Scuba Expeditions acts as an expedition organiser and booking agent for accommodation providers, liveaboards, dive operators, transport providers and other third-party suppliers.
- We choose our in-country dive operators carefully. We check that they hold the correct permits, licences, vessel registrations and insurance before we work with them. Once you’re on the water, they’re responsible for running the trip safely under their own procedures, not ours.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, delay or expense arising from the acts, omissions or default of any third-party supplier involved in delivering any component of the expedition.
- Participation in scuba diving, snorkelling and other adventure activities involves inherent risks which may result in serious injury, permanent disability or death. These risks include, but are not limited to, decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, hyperbaric injuries requiring recompression treatment, equipment failure, adverse weather, strong currents, remote locations where emergency medical assistance may be delayed, and encounters with wild marine life that may result in stings, bites or other injuries.
- Guests acknowledge these inherent risks and voluntarily participate in these activities at their own risk. Participants are responsible for ensuring they are medically fit to participate, exercising reasonable care, following all safety instructions and complying with directions provided by the vessel crew, dive professionals and expedition leaders.
- To the maximum extent permitted by law, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions shall not be liable for any personal injury, illness or death suffered directly or indirectly as a result of participation in the expedition or associated activities. We are also not liable for any consequential loss, including loss of income, profits, enjoyment or opportunity, nor for the loss, theft or damage of personal belongings before, during or after the expedition.
- Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable legislation.
7. Privacy & Data Collection Notice
OceanLife Scuba Expeditions collects personal information, including contact details, payment information and, where relevant to trip participation, health and medical information, in order to process bookings, arrange travel and diving activities, and communicate with guests. Health information collected through our Dive Trip Questionnaire is used solely to assess fitness to dive and may be shared with our appointed in-country dive operators for safety purposes. We do not sell personal information to third parties. By using this website or booking a trip, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described here.
8. Photography
During the expedition, OceanLife Scuba Expeditions and its representatives may capture photographs and video footage for promotional, educational and marketing purposes. Unless you notify us in writing before departure, you consent to the use of images or video in which you may appear on our website, social media channels, printed publications and other promotional material without compensation.
9. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms & Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland, Australia.
By placing a booking with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd (ABN 26 661 237 734), trading as OceanLife Scuba Expeditions, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and accepted these Terms & Conditions and the Cancellation Policy.
