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Western Australia dive sites

The most geographically extreme dive market in the country — tropical Ningaloo and cool southern-ocean diving inside one state.

Western Australian diving, represented by an AI-generated editorial image.

Water temperature	Roughly 24–29°C at Ningaloo, 18–23°C around Perth and Rottnest, and 15–21°C on the south coast.
Visibility	Often excellent on offshore and tropical sites. Rottnest and Ningaloo commonly 15–30 m; southern and inshore sites more weather-dependent.
Season	Ningaloo whale shark season broadly runs March to August; humpback interactions extend later. Perth diving is year-round with summer sea breezes affecting afternoon conditions. Southern WA is strongly swell-dependent.
Sites documented	12

Perth

The state's centre for training, retail, servicing, gas and technical support — and the gateway to Rottnest.

Perth Metropolitan ReefsLimestone reef systems, artificial reefs and accessible shore entries along the Perth coast.reefwreckbeginnerTo ~25 m · shore & boat

Rottnest Island

Limestone caverns, swim-throughs, ledges and walls within reach of a Perth day trip.

Rottnest IslandLimestone caverns, swim-throughs, ledges and walls 18 kilometres off Fremantle.reefcavebeginnerTo ~35 m · boat & shore

Busselton & Dunsborough

Busselton Jetty and the HMAS Swan — two very different flagship dives in one region.

Busselton JettyCoral and sponge growth in temperate water, under one of the longest timber jetties in the world.pierbeginnerTo ~9 m · shore & boat

HMAS SwanA former destroyer escort scuttled in Geographe Bay, prepared with multiple access points.wreckintermediateTo ~30 m · boat

Ningaloo & Exmouth

A fringing reef you can swim to from the beach, plus whale sharks, mantas and the Navy Pier.

Exmouth Navy PierA structure dive with extraordinary fish density, on Defence land with controlled access.pierintermediateTo ~15 m · shore

Muiron IslandsOffshore islands north of Exmouth with coral gardens and reliable clarity.reefislandbeginnerTo ~25 m · boat

Ningaloo ReefA fringing reef close enough to shore that in places you can swim to it from the beach.reefdriftbeginnerTo ~30 m · shore & boat

Geraldton & Abrolhos Islands

Remote coral islands with extraordinary wreck history, reached by charter or flight.

Houtman Abrolhos Islands122 islands 60 km offshore, where coral grows alongside kelp and the Batavia was lost in 1629.reefwreckintermediateTo ~35 m · boat

Albany

Southern Ocean diving and the HMAS Perth artificial reef in cool, exposed water.

HMAS PerthA destroyer scuttled in King George Sound as Western Australia's southern artificial reef.wreckintermediateTo ~35 m · boat

Esperance

Offshore granite islands, exceptional clarity and genuine Southern Ocean exposure.

Recherche ArchipelagoMore than a hundred granite islands off Esperance, with sea lions and extraordinary clarity.islandreefintermediateTo ~30 m · boat

Christmas Island

Remote tropical diving with vertical drop-offs beginning metres from shore.

Christmas Island WallsVertical drop-offs beginning metres from shore, on the tip of an Indian Ocean seamount.wallreefintermediateTo ~40 m · boat & shore

Cocos Keeling Islands

A remote Indian Ocean atoll with clear water, reef diving and very limited services.

Cocos Keeling ReefsA remote Indian Ocean atoll with clear water, drift diving and very few other divers.reefdriftbeginnerTo ~30 m · boat