Shark Dive Melbourne: Scuba with Blacktip Reef Sharks

Dive 30 minutes in a 2 million-liter tank surrounded by sharks, rays and groupers

Shark Dive Xtreme at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is a scuba dive where you descend into the Oceanarium with sharks, rays and sea turtles, guided by a live instructor in a group of four divers maximum. You arrive early afternoon, complete a one-hour mandatory briefing covering safety and the animals you'll meet, receive all scuba training on the day (no prior experience required), then spend 30 minutes underwater. The experience runs 2.5 hours total and includes general admission to the aquarium, full scuba gear and a certificate. Minimum age is 14; you must complete a medical declaration before booking and cannot dive if you're pregnant, have certain cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, or have had recent surgery.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shark dive and aquarium visit

• Arrive at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
• Check in and learn dive time slot
• Attend mandatory one-hour dive briefing
• Meet guide and review safety procedures
• Explore aquarium exhibits before or after briefing
• Put on dive equipment with guide
• Dive in Oceanarium with sharks and rays
• Friends and family watch and take photos

The Experience

You arrive at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium in the early afternoon and check in for your assigned dive slot. The one-hour briefing that follows is mandatory — you'll meet your guide, review safety procedures and dive techniques, and learn about the sharks, rays, groupers and other animals living in the 2 million-liter Oceanarium. Your group stays at four divers, so your guide gives personal attention the entire time. All scuba training happens during this session; you don't need any diving experience beforehand.

Before or after the briefing, you're free to explore the aquarium. The Conservation Cove covers local marine life; Seahorse Pier holds the world's largest collection of seahorses and seadragons; and the Croc Lair is home to a Pinjarra, one of Australia's largest saltwater crocodiles. When it's time to dive, you gear up and enter the water. For 30 minutes you swim through the tank near nurse sharks, sevengill sharks, giant stingrays and sea turtles, with your guide watching over you the whole time. Colorful fish dart past as you move through the habitat. Your friends and family can watch from above and photograph you in the tank — a real souvenir of the dive.

The experience includes your scuba gear, wetsuit, general admission to SEA LIFE Melbourne, and a certificate reading "I dived with 3 metre sharks." Sessions run at 10:00am, 11:00am, 2:30pm and 3:30pm, with check-in 1 hour 15 minutes before the briefing starts. Public transport reaches the aquarium; you'll need to complete a medical declaration form and email it to the bookings team before your dive.

What’s included

• Full scuba gear and wetsuit.
• one-hour mandatory briefing with safety and animal training.
• 30-minute guided dive in the Oceanarium.
• general admission to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium.
• "I dived with 3 metre sharks" certificate.
• access to Conservation Cove, Seahorse Pier and Croc Lair before or after your dive.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Is this one for you?You operate the scuba equipment yourself with a guide keeping you safe, so this suits anyone who wants to actually dive rather than watch. The group stays at four divers maximum, which means your guide focuses on you throughout — worth it if you want personal attention and a less crowded tank. Book this if you're at least 14, can swim reasonably well, have no contraindications to diving, and haven't flown in within 12 hours or drunk alcohol the night before.

Traveler reviews

4.29★★★★★★★★★★

24 verified traveler reviews

5 ★19

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Do I need scuba diving experience to do this dive?

No. Shark Dive Xtreme provides all basic scuba training during the one-hour briefing on the day of your dive. You need at least a moderate level of physical fitness and a reasonable ability to swim, but no prior diving certification or experience.

What sharks will I actually see underwater?

The Oceanarium is home to Blacktip Reef Sharks, Sandbar Whalers, nurse sharks and sevengill sharks. You'll also encounter giant stingrays, sea turtles, Bowmouth Guitarfish, Largetooth Sawfish, groupers and multiple species of cod. Your guide points out the animals and keeps you positioned safely near them.

How long is the actual time spent diving in the water?

The dive itself lasts 30 minutes. The full experience is 2.5 hours, which includes the one-hour mandatory briefing, scuba training, getting into your gear, the 30-minute dive, and getting out of the water.

Can my family watch me dive?

Yes. Your friends and family can watch from above the tank and take photographs while you're underwater — a good way to capture the moment and have proof you actually did it.

What medical conditions prevent me from diving?

You cannot dive if you're pregnant, have heart or lung conditions affecting physical performance, have had surgery in the past 12 months, suffer from seizures or significant head injuries, are undergoing treatment for psychological conditions or addiction, or have back problems, hernia, diabetes or recent stomach issues. You must complete a medical declaration form before booking; if you have any of these conditions, you'll need clearance from a certified dive doctor.

What time should I arrive, and when do the dives happen?

Sessions run at 10:00am, 11:00am, 2:30pm and 3:30pm. For the morning sessions, check-in is at 8:45am for a 9:00am briefing. For the afternoon sessions, check-in is at 1:15pm for a 1:30pm briefing. You'll learn your exact slot when you arrive.