Diving in Leeuwin
Quick Facts
- • Entry types: Mostly shore entries
- • Expect: Varies by conditions visibility
- • Highlights: Discover Leeuwin's dive spots
Explore the underwater wonders of Leeuwin, ecoregion. This region features 27 documented dive spots, each offering unique underwater experiences. Whether you're seeking calm snorkeling bays, challenging freediving depths, or exciting scuba adventures, Leeuwin has something for every underwater explorer. Browse detailed spot information, check current conditions from recent dive logs, and connect with the local diving community to make the most of your visit.
Regional Context
🏛️ Marine Hierarchy
🌍 Associated Countries
Countries in Leeuwin (1)
Popular Spots in Leeuwin (27)
Ammo Jetty
Ammo Jetty is situated at Woodman Point, accessible via a shore entry. The dive site features a gradual slope leading to a maximum depth of 9 meters. It is known for its diverse marine life, including octopuses, nudibranchs, and the occasional seahorse, which can be found among the jetty's pylons. Divers should be cautious of fishing lines due to the site's popularity among anglers.
Bicton Baths - Swan River
Bicton Baths is a sheltered dive site located at the bottom of the Bicton Baths reserve. Divers should exercise buoyancy control due to the presence of a silty bottom. A shark net is installed along the jetty, providing a unique feature for divers. At night, the area is known for an abundance of crabs and prawns, and divers can look along the net and mooring lines to spot seahorses.
Busselton Jetty
Busselton Jetty is accessible via a shore entry, requiring a considerable walk from the parking area. A trolley is recommended for transporting dive gear. The dive site features an underwater observatory and offers a variety of marine life, including large pelagic fish, pufferfish, and nudibranchs. The easy step entry from the platform allows divers to explore the surrounding waters effectively.
Cheynes III (Wreck)
Cheynes III is a notable wreck dive, originally a 47.9-meter long whale chaser, now serving as an artificial reef. The wreck rests at a maximum depth of 23 meters, providing an accessible dive for divers of all experience levels. Visibility typically ranges from 10 to 15 meters, offering good conditions for exploration. The site is best dived in favorable weather, avoiding south to southwest winds. Marine life is diverse, with schools of bulls-eye fish frequently seen around the bridge, along with species such as queen snapper, blue groper, harlequin fish, blue devils, and a variety of smaller colorful reef fish.
Crystal Palace, Rottnest Island
Crystal Palace is situated 850 meters southwest of Dyer Island, featuring numerous caves and swim-throughs. The site reaches a maximum depth of 18 meters, making it suitable for divers with varying experience levels. It is advisable to bring a torch to explore the underwater formations effectively. The marine life here is diverse, with sightings of blue groupers, harlequin fish, Samson fish, buffalo bream, leather-jackets, and dhufish.
Emu Point
Emu Point is a beginner-friendly shore dive located at the southern end of Oyster Harbor. This site features a U-shaped swimming jetty and offers easy access with nearby parking. The dive site is shallow, with a maximum depth of 6 meters, making it suitable for skill development. Water temperatures here can be slightly cooler, often 2 to 3 degrees lower than the open ocean. While diving, you may encounter various marine life, including bream, whiting, and stingrays around the jetty pilons.
Four Mile Reef
Four Mile Reef is located at a depth of 18 meters and is accessible via boat from the marina in Busselton. The site is known for its diverse marine life, including schooling fish such as Bullseye and various species of rays. Divers may also encounter Wobbegong sharks, Port Jackson sharks, octopuses, and cuttlefish, making it a rich environment for underwater exploration.
Frenchman Bay
Frenchman Bay offers a shallow dive experience ideal for novice divers, with entry options including a surface swim from the shore or a gentle rock stride. During night dives, divers may encounter small pyjama squid, which are poisonous, along with cuttlefish and the occasional seadragon. The site is located at coordinates -35.089700, 117.949800.
FV Lena
The FV Lena is a purpose-sunk wreck that was previously a fishing vessel involved in illegal fishing of Patagonian Tooth Fish in Australian Antarctic waters. The Australian Navy seized the vessel and subsequently sank it. Divers can access the site from the shore, with a mooring line leading to the bow of the wreck that also serves as a descent line. The maximum depth at this site is 18 meters. The wreck is covered in coral and sponge growth, providing habitat for various marine life. Common sightings include wobbegong sharks and Port Jackson sharks, along with schools of fish and Nudibranchs.
Herold Reef
Herold Reef is located at coordinates -35.032800, 118.037300 and is accessible via shore entry. This dive site features a submerged limestone coastline with depths ranging from 4 to 16 meters. Divers can explore interesting underwater structures and observe a variety of marine life. The site is known for its exposure to swell, which can create significant surge conditions, particularly in shallower areas where waves may break during heavier swells. Notable fish species endemic to the region include the Western Blue Groper, WA Dhufish, and Queen Snapper.
HMAS Perth II
The HMAS Perth II is a 133-meter-long wreck located at depths ranging from 5 to 36 meters. This dive site is accessible only by boat, with a fixed mooring in place. It is situated approximately 20 minutes from the marina. Divers can expect average visibility between 10 and 15 meters. The site is home to a variety of marine species, including wobbegong sharks, break sea cod, nudibranchs, Tasmanian blennies, pink snapper, Samson fish, queen snapper, blue groper, blue devils, and numerous small colorful reef fish.
HMAS Swan (Wreck)
The HMAS Swan, a 2750-ton vessel measuring 140 meters in length, was intentionally sunk in Geographe Bay in December 1997. It rests at a depth of 30 meters and exhibits a slight list. The wreck has become a habitat for various fish and marine species, contributing to its ecological significance. Divers can explore the structure and observe the diverse marine life that has taken residence in and around the wreck.
Limestone Head
Limestone Head is a shore entry dive site located at coordinates -35.088000, 117.995900. This site is well-protected from southern winds and most swells, making it an accessible dive for various skill levels. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of marine life, including the Western Blue Grouper, Blue Morwong (Queen Snapper), Silver Drummer, and occasionally, Samson fish. The dive is easy to navigate and offers a rich experience of local fish species.
Little Beach
Little Beach features a rock step entry leading into approximately 2 meters of water. Conditions can be challenging with a running swell, making it advisable to dive on calm days. Navigation is straightforward; divers should keep the rocks on their right side for a dive duration of over 30 minutes, allowing for an easy exit back to shore. Marine life sightings may include sea dragons, large grouper, red lip morwongs, dusky morwongs, break sea cod, and occasional stingrays.
Murray Road Boat Ramp
Murray Road Boat Ramp offers a beginner-friendly dive with a straightforward shore entry. The dive site features a small rock wall, with an average depth of approximately 5 meters. It is generally sheltered from most weather conditions, although easterly winds can affect the site. Divers can expect to see a variety of fish typical to the South Coast Bioregion, including Dusky Morwongs, Wrasse, and juvenile Grouper.
Nurses Quarters
Nurses Quarters is situated 1 kilometer west of Rottnest Island and features the notable Shark Cave. The cave descends to a depth of 26 meters and is typically home to grey nurse sharks. Only divers with the necessary training and certification should explore this cave. Additionally, divers may encounter Port Jackson sharks and wobbegongs around the swim-through areas of the reef, with grey nurse sharks being the primary attraction at this site.
Roe Reef
Roe Reef is a shore entry dive site characterized by its shallow depths and vibrant marine life. The area features limestone reefs that are home to a variety of small fish and abundant coral formations. Divers can explore caverns and swim through narrow passages, making it an engaging experience for both freedivers and scuba divers. The site is particularly noted for its crayfish population, adding to the diverse underwater ecosystem.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island offers divers the opportunity to explore underwater caves and bomi walls. The site is known for its diverse marine life, including schools of small reef fish, lobsters, and a variety of nudibranchs. Be mindful of potential currents in certain areas during your dive.
South Point
South Point offers a dive depth ranging from 10 to 15 meters over a varied seabed. Access to the site is via boat. The area is typically sheltered from harsh conditions, making it a reliable dive location. It serves as a nursery for juvenile fish, with notable populations of Old Wife, Bight Redfish, Moonlighter, and Breaksea cod. Divers may also encounter the occasional Queen snapper and large cuttlefish during their dive.
sue's groyne
Sue's Groyne is accessible via a beach entry, located a short 3-minute walk from the Chelydra Park car park. Divers can walk out to a depth of approximately 2.4 meters before encountering a drop-off that descends to about 4 meters. To the left of the entry point, a sandbar remains at a depth of 1.9 meters, extending roughly 150 meters from the shore before dropping to 4.5 meters. Marine life commonly observed in this area includes octopus, striped juvenile catfish, toadfish, triggerfish, squid, cuttlefish, and occasionally baby Port Jackson sharks.
The Bone Yard
The Bone Yard is a small dive site characterized by dense plate coral formations that rise from a depth of 18 meters to 13 meters. This area is populated with a variety of juvenile fish, making it suitable for beginner divers or those returning to the sport. At the lower depths, divers may encounter schools of Swallowtail and Bight Redfish, as well as species such as Sergeant Baker, Western Blue Devil, and Octopus.
The Cables
The Cables is named for an old communication cable that is now entangled within the dive site. The depth ranges from 8 to 28 meters, making it suitable for Open Water divers and those with higher certifications. Visibility typically falls between 10 and 15 meters. Divers can expect to encounter marine life such as scorpionfish, western blue devils, and nudibranchs, along with large blue grouper that are often seen swimming in the area.
The Caves
The Caves is a dive site featuring beginner to intermediate level caves with depths reaching up to 28 meters. The area is characterized by large stone bommies that support diverse coral growth. Marine life includes a variety of fish species native to the Great South, such as Western Blue Devil, Grouper, and Breaksea Cod. Divers may also encounter Port Jackson Sharks during their exploration.
The Fingers
The Fingers is a deep dive site suited for experienced divers, located approximately 35 minutes by boat from Albany Town Marina. The site is characterized by a steep limestone wall, making it challenging to anchor; divers should plan for a live boat and utilize a surface marker buoy (SMB). The site is best visited in low wind conditions. Marine life includes a variety of pelagic species such as WA Blue Grouper, Queen Snapper, Breaksea Cod, Pink Snapper, and Wahoo fish.
The Herschel Wreck (Edith Byrne)
The Herschel Wreck, formerly known as the Edith Byrne, is a steel-hulled vessel constructed in 1857. It was intentionally abandoned in 1908. The wreck lies at coordinates -35.0035, 118.1636, and is accessible only by boat. At a depth of approximately 20 meters, divers can observe the remnants of the bow and stern sections, although little of the structure remains intact. The stern section features a small swim access point for divers.
Tourist Rocks
Tourist Rocks features a challenging shore entry that requires a 30-meter swim on the surface before descending into generally clear waters. The site is known for its diverse coral formations and is home to various marine species, including bigeye, old wives, grouper, blue morwong (commonly referred to as Queenie), Harlequin, dusky morwong, and a variety of uniquely colored nudibranchs.
Willy’s Lump
Willy's Lump is a substantial limestone reef structure with depths ranging from 20 to 25 meters, reaching a maximum of 25.5 meters. It is accessible via boat and is located approximately 25 minutes from the marina. The site is suitable for divers of all experience levels, with visibility typically between 10 and 15 meters, varying by season. The reef is home to a diverse array of marine life, including Western Blue Devils, Wobbegongs, Groupers, and Cuttlefish. Additionally, large Samson fish may occasionally be spotted in the area.