Explore Perth

In Western Australia is Perth, where people come to enjoy the laidback atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and stunning surrounding landscapes. Within the sea, are also some incredible landscapes, with over twenty dive sites accessed from Perth’s shore and many more if you travel by boat to some of the nearby islands such as Rottnest Island. The area is home to a number of historical wrecks with drift dives, overhangs, caves, and swim-throughs all to be found among limestone rocks. Seahorse and the weedy sea dragon take refuge from the current in reefs while dolphins, seals and even a migratory humpback whale may be seen travelling West Australia’s rugged and diverse coastline.

Scuba diving in Perth is possible from a number of dive centres in the area. Often, these dive centres will take you further afield to Rottnest Island and some even venture as far as the Great Barrier Reef on dive trips. Dive resorts are not common in Western Australia but if you want to spend longer exploring WA diving, jump on visiting liveaboards which can be boarded from Perth’s vibrant port town, Fremantle.

Places to Explore

Fremantle

1 Divesite 2 Centers

Fremantle is a lively port city located 30-minutes southwest of Perth in Western Australia. Situated around Fremantle there are a multitude of wrecks as well as the thriving reefs of Rottnest Island where divers can delight in finning through swim-throughs, caverns, and canyons. Sea turtles, wobbegong shark, and leafy sea dragons all inhabit Fremantle’s waters.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Opera House

Situated about 5km northeast of Rottnest Island, this reef is a mild slope that goes from 23m to 31m. The Opera House is a rock inside the large cave system.

135
Logs
100
Divers
28.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Nurses Quarters

Located 1km west of Rottnest Island, the Nurses Quarters dive site includes the famous “Shark Cave.“ From the reef, the main cave drops to 26m of water and usually hosts a group of grey nurse sharks. Only trained divers with the appropriate certification should enter the cave.

95
Logs
64
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Crystal Palace, Rottnest Island

This dive site is located 850m southwest of Dyer Island. There are caves and swim-throughs all over the site. The maximum depth is 18m. Remember to bring your torch when diving this dive site.

441
Logs
291
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Ammo Jetty

Located in Woodman point just off Cockburn Road. This is a popular fishing Jetty, so be mindful of any fishing line. A relatively shallow dive with shore entry and gradual sloping bottom to a max depth of 9m

1,316
Logs
528
Divers
8.0 m
⌀ Depth
4.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ sue's groyne

3 minute walk from chelydra park car park, beach entry, walk out to about 2.4metres before a drop off to about 4metres, sand bar to left along the wall stays at 1.9metres until dropoff roughly 150m from shore then drops down to4.5m

35
Logs
16
Divers
7.0 m
⌀ Depth
6.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★☆☆ Bicton Baths - Swan River

At the bottom of Bicton Baths reserve a secluded and sheltered dive site. Buoyancy control is a must due to silty bottom. There is a shark net installed along the Jetty

132
Logs
78
Divers
10.0 m
⌀ Depth
3.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Rottnest Island

Throughout this dive, you will see caves and bomi walls. There can be currents in some areas so be aware.

1,728
Logs
625
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Roe Reef

Great for crayfish and freediving. Some spots are not very deep, have great color, and some caverns and small areas to swim through. Overall this is a great spot for an open, widespread dive.

370
Logs
257
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★☆☆ Hillarys Marina Wall

Bad visibility at times due to suspended seagrass, but clear areas are interesting. Sheltered and calm area, great for beginners. Nice variety of fish hanging about the rocks and large shoals of baitfish nearby. If you stay near the wall boat traffic shouldn’t be a problem

509
Logs
241
Divers
6.0 m
⌀ Depth
4.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Perth

Perth is home to a number of impressive wrecks, such as the Lady Elizabeth or Macedon and Denton Holmes Wrecks which are suitable for novice divers. Advanced divers can head to the Gemini Wreck at Two Rock lying 30-metres deep and adorned with pink and white soft corals swaying ethereally in the current. There are many shore dives from Perth’s beaches, such as the caves and ledges abundant with anemones, crayfish, and cuttlefish at Yanchep Dog Beach or the swim-throughs found at Mushroom Rocks accessed via Point Peron.

For a drift dive, head to Swan River which filters into the Indian Ocean. Accessed from the port town of Fremantle, drift steadily along the river using your buoyancy skills to avoid stirring up the muddy bottom. Little Island is great site to find crayfish and seal while taking a short boat ride to Rottnest Island will find divers finning among pristine reefs with plenty of fun swim-throughs and caverns. If you decide to take dive courses from Perth dive centres, it is likely you will take your training dives in the calm waters of Rottnest Island or from Perth shore dives.

The best Months to dive in Perth

Perth diving is available all-year-round as it is Australia’s sunniest city, with ranging water temperatures from 19-24℃. From December to March there are hot, dry summers and the most rainfall occurs between May through to September but even though it is the wettest, most days have brilliant blue skies and lots of sunshine. Seals and bottlenose dolphin can be seen throughout the year in Perth while September to December, humpback whales can be seen migrating along the coast.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

ADRENO PERTH

2/376 South Street, 6163 OCONNOR, WA - AUS

RUSTY FREEDIVING

2/1 BADEN STREET, 6017 OSBORNE PARK, WA - AUS

DIVING FRONTIERS

Unit 7, 6021 BALCATTA, WA - AUS

DIVE LOCKER FREMANTLE

SHOP 1 PETER HUGHES DRIVE, 6160 FREMANTLE, WA - AUS

PERTH SCUBA

4/180 BANNISTER ROAD, 6115 CANNIING VALE, WA - AUS