Jetty pilings, a legendary wreck, and cape-to-cape reefs with world-class wine country in between
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Overview
Busselton Jetty and the Margaret River Region combine easy, sheltered diving in Geographe Bay with the wilder, swell-exposed capes of South West Western Australia. Under the 1.8 km timber jetty, thousands of pylons create a living artificial reef packed with sponges, schooling fish, and macro life. Nearby, the HMAS Swan wreck delivers one of Australia's most famous dives, with two large sections resting from shallow water down to 32 m. South of Dunsborough, limestone and granite reefs sit inside Ngari Capes Marine Park, where sanctuary zones protect seagrass meadows and seasonal whale migration corridors. Topside, Margaret River is a full-on playground of cellar doors, caves, karri forests, surf culture, and coastal hikes. It is ideal for a long weekend based in Busselton or a week-long loop mixing jetty dives, wreck days, and cape missions with winery lunches.
The jetty is a rare dive where the structure is the reef. Pylons are coated in sponges, sea squirts, and soft growth, with fish using the shade lines as highways. It is shallow, training-friendly, and also supports excellent night dives when conditions are calm.
The HMAS Swan artificial reef is the big-ticket wreck. It is commonly dived by charter and is best treated as a depth and navigation dive unless you have specific wreck training. Geographe Bay itself can be forgiving, making it a strong choice for refresher dives, training, and relaxed photography days.
Ngari Capes Marine Park stretches along the cape-to-cape coast and includes sites like Canal Rocks, Moses Rock, Prevelly, Redgate, and Hamelin Bay. These locations can be spectacular, but they are more exposed and demand swell and weather planning.
Ngari Capes Marine Park uses multiple zoning types (including sanctuary, recreation, special purpose, and general use). In sanctuary zones, fishing and collecting are not allowed, but swimming, snorkelling, and non-extractive diving are allowed. Some special purpose zones also place extra restrictions on certain activities to reduce conflicts in high-use areas. Use the zone map when you plan a day, especially if you will be around Eagle Bay or popular family beaches.
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Last updated: January 23, 2026 • 16 sources
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Trip callouts
A shallow, high-biodiversity jetty dive with an underwater observatory and sculpture trail nearby, ideal for training, macro photography, and night dives.
The HMAS Swan is a purpose-sunk artificial reef that delivers big-structure wreck diving without needing to travel to a remote offshore atoll.
Ngari Capes Marine Park protects key habitats (including seagrass meadows) with sanctuary zones while still allowing non-extractive diving and snorkelling.
Margaret River stacks wineries, breweries, caves, and coastal hikes into easy day trips from a single base.
scuba
Why Busselton Jetty and Margaret River for Scuba Diving
This corner of WA is built for divers who like variety. Busselton Jetty offers a unique, shallow dive where pylons act like a living reef, and it pairs perfectly with the Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory for a non-diver-friendly add-on. A short drive north-east in Geographe Bay, the HMAS Swan wreck is the region's signature deep structure dive. For natural reef days, Ngari Capes Marine Park lines up sites like Canal Rocks, Moses Rock, and Hamelin Bay when swell and wind cooperate. Local operators such as Busselton Jetty Dive and Swan Dive make logistics simple, but conditions still rule the schedule in exposed areas.
freedive
Why Busselton and the Capes for Freediving
Freedivers get two very different playgrounds: sheltered Geographe Bay for skills, comfort, and repeat sessions, and the capes for clear-water missions when conditions line up. The Busselton Jetty area can be a controlled environment for technique work, while nearby charters such as Swan Dive also cater to freedivers on suitable days. For structured progression, schools like Embodied Ocean Freediving run courses and training sessions across the South West. Treat the west-coast beaches with respect: swell, surge, and rapid weather changes are normal, so plan around forecasts and always dive with a float and an active buddy.
snorkel
Why Busselton and Margaret River for Snorkeling
Snorkelers can stay in warm, family-friendly water for much of the year, especially in Geographe Bay and the protected coves near Dunsborough. Busselton Jetty is a standout because the pylons concentrate life in shallow water, and the Underwater Observatory offers a dry option to see the same ecosystem from 8 m below sea level. For natural reef scenery, head to calm-day favorites like Meelup, Eagle Bay, and Bunker Bay inside Ngari Capes Marine Park. Hamelin Bay is a classic stop for nearshore wildlife, but it is more exposed, so pick your conditions carefully.
topside
What to do when you're not in the water
Topside is why this region works even when the ocean does not. Margaret River delivers cellar doors, farm-to-table food, breweries, galleries, and a surf culture that anchors the Ngari Capes coastline. Add limestone caves, karri forests, and lighthouse headlands, and you can build a full itinerary for mixed groups. Use Busselton as an easy coastal base (jetty, foreshore, markets), then day-trip south for wineries, caves, and hiking. If you time it right, you can also catch major events like the Busselton Jetty Swim (February) or the Margaret River Pro surf competition (April).
