Meet the site
Bald Island is one of the largest offshore islands on the south coast: about 8 km² of granite rising steeply to 310 m, lying 1.5 km off Cheynes Beach roughly 70 km east of Albany. It was cut off from the mainland by rising seas about 10,000 years ago and has been a class A nature reserve since 1964. Its isolation has made it a refuge for species under pressure on the mainland: quokkas, relocated populations of Gilbert's potoroo and noisy scrub-birds, breeding great-winged petrels and little penguins, and marine mammals including New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions.
There is little published dive information. The steep terrain continues underwater as granite boulders and walls, and divers who visit report typical south-coast outer reef life – kelp forests, sponges and gorgonians in the shaded faces, blue groper, harlequin fish, boarfish, queen snapper, sweep and crayfish – with seals and sea lions around the haul-outs. The waters around the island are rarely dived, so fish are relatively unwary.
This is a remote, self-organised dive for experienced divers with their own boat and good seamanship. There is no operator, no mooring and no shelter from easterly weather, and the nearest recompression is in Perth. The reward is a genuinely wild temperate island with abundant wildlife and very few visitors. Divers should respect the reserve: landing is prohibited, and hauled-out seals and sea lions must be given space.
Cheynes Beach, the launching point, also has an easy shore dive at Tourist Rock and the historic wreck of the Arpenteur off Hassell Beach nearby.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Bald Island is recorded as Island in Albany & Great Southern. The listed access is boat (day trip). 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.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
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 Bald Island suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Bald Island 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
Australian sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, little penguins, blue groper, harlequin fish, boarfish, queen snapper, sweep, southern rock lobster, kelp, sponges, gorgonians
Location
Large (8 km²), steep granite island rising to 310 m, 1.5 km off Cheynes Beach about 70 km east of Albany; a class A nature reserve with sea lions, fur seals and quokkas.
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
en.wikipedia.orgmarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
