Meet the site
Arno Bay is a small fishing and holiday town on the east coast of Eyre Peninsula, and its old jetty was built to ship grain from the surrounding farmland. It is included in this directory as one of the named Eyre Peninsula jetties, but there is little published dive information on it. The Marine Life Society notes, however, that the coast from Cowell to Arno Bay has many shallow reefs, in 2-4 m, that offer easy snorkelling, with eagle rays and Port Jackson sharks on the seagrass beds. Under the jetty, expect the typical Spencer Gulf jetty community: algae, sponges and ascidians on the piles, with crabs, nudibranchs, small fish and the chance of seahorses or pipefish, and schools of tommy ruff, garfish and King George whiting around the structure. Squid are attracted to the lights at night, and blue swimmer crabs are common in summer. The surrounding seagrass beds are productive nursery habitat, and eagle rays and Port Jackson sharks glide over them. The dive is shallow and easy, but visibility is often modest and fishing activity high. It suits divers travelling the Lincoln Highway who want to break the drive, snorkellers, and anyone staying in the town. For better jetty diving on this coast, Tumby Bay (leafy seadragons) lies 75 km south. Data confidence is low; treat depths and features as indicative.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Arno Bay Jetty is recorded as Jetty/Pier in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf. The listed access is shore. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Arno Bay Jetty suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Arno Bay Jetty through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Eagle rays, Port Jackson sharks, tommy ruff, garfish, King George whiting, blue swimmer crabs, squid, nudibranchs, crabs, seahorses (occasional), seagrass fauna
Location
Historic jetty at the small town of Arno Bay on the east coast of Eyre Peninsula, between Cowell and Port Neill, over shallow seagrass and sand; the coast from Cowell to Arno Bay has many shallow snorkelling reefs.
Facilities nearby
Parking, toilets, hotel, caravan park and marina on the foreshore.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.