Flying Fish Cove
The island's turquoise heart - Flying Fish Cove, the main settlement and loveliest bay of Christmas Island, a small sheltered cove of clear turquoise water and coral, superb for snorkelling and swimming with tropical fish and, at times, whale sharks.
Updated 19 October 2026
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Flying Fish Cove, on the northern coast of Christmas Island, is the island's main settlement and its most beautiful and beloved bay, a small, sheltered cove of wonderfully clear turquoise water. Right off its little beach, a vibrant coral reef drops steeply into the deep blue, making it superb for snorkelling and diving straight from the shore, amid colourful corals and clouds of tropical fish. In season, the surrounding waters draw one of the island's greatest marine wonders, gentle whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea, which can be snorkelled alongside. Backed by green cliffs and forming the social hub of island life, Flying Fish Cove is a delightful place to swim, snorkel and soak up the tropical beauty of this remote Indian Ocean island.
History
The survey ship HMS Amethyst tried to explore the island in 1857 but could find no way inland, and HMS Flying Fish failed in the same way in January 1887, though the cove was named after her. In 1888 settlers from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands founded the first settlement here, the first British settlement on the island, and phosphate mining followed (Wikipedia, Flying Fish Cove).
What you'll find
- The turquoise cove - the clear, sheltered bay for swimming.
- The shore reef - the coral dropping steeply off the beach.
- The snorkelling - the vivid corals and tropical fish.
- The whale sharks - the gentle giants in season.
When to go
April to October, the drier and calmer season, offers the best conditions for swimming and snorkelling in the cove; whale sharks are often present roughly November to April, drawn by the crab spawn. Calm, clear days are best for the reef and diving.
Before you go
Flying Fish Cove is a small cove rather than a broad beach, and conditions depend on the swell, which can make it rough at times, while whale-shark encounters are seasonal and never guaranteed. As the island's loveliest bay, a clear turquoise cove with superb shore snorkelling and, in season, whale sharks, though, Flying Fish Cove is a genuinely beautiful and delightful spot.
Nearby
The national park, the blowholes and the island's trails lie nearby.
What to pack for Flying Fish Cove
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Your own mask + snorkel - A well-fitting mask is the single biggest comfort upgrade underwater. Find on Amazon
- Binoculars - The single best wildlife tool - even a compact pair transforms a sighting. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
