10 Metre Spire

Meet the site

The 10 Metre Spire is one of the offshore West End sites that make Rottnest's far end so highly regarded by experienced Perth divers. Marinelife.org.au places it about a mile south of the West End, with the reef top at about 10 m and an average depth of 18 m, dropping to 27 m. It describes plenty of big overhangs, a large cave on the northern side that is often packed with fish, and hard and soft corals.

The spire concentrates fish in the way offshore pinnacles do. The cave and overhangs hold schools of bullseyes and old wives, while the open water around the spire can bring buffalo bream, western blue groper, dhufish and samson fish, and pelagic species when current is running. The West End Demersal Sanctuary Zone protects bottom-dwelling species across this end of the island, so demersal fish are relatively abundant.

The dive's reputation is tempered by its conditions: it needs less than 1 m of swell and very little wind, is prone to strong currents, and is a long way from help. That makes it a dive for Advanced divers with good current skills, nitrox and a well-organised boat with a pickup driver. When it all lines up, it is one of the best reef dives off Perth.

Published detail beyond the marinelife.org.au listing is scarce, so seek local knowledge before planning, and have a sheltered backup such as Roe Reef in mind for the day. A good skipper who can follow bubbles in current is essential for this site.

What you might see

Bullseyes, old wife, buffalo bream, western blue groper, dhufish, samson fish, yellowtail kingfish, hard and soft corals, sponges

Location

Offshore reef spire rising to about 10 m from 18-27 m, roughly 1 mile south of the West End of Rottnest, with big overhangs and a large northern cave.