Boyinaboat Reef

Meet the site

Boyinaboat Reef is one of Perth's most popular dives, a compact limestone reef in about 6–7 m at the southern end of an inshore reef chain, just 75–100 m from the sea wall of Hillarys Boat Harbour. It lies within a Marmion Marine Park sanctuary zone, is closed to vessel traffic and is marked by four yellow buoys. An underwater trail of about ten educational plaques guides divers around the reef.

The reef is small enough to explore in one dive but full of structure. Passages cut through the limestone, opening and closing again, and there are ledges, small caves, undercuts and carvings. Sponges, tube worms, bryozoans, ascidians and corals grow on it, and the corals are a decent size for such shallow, cool water. Fish include bream, leatherjackets, wrasse, scalyfin, drummer, western blue devils, blue groper and schools of garfish on the reef top, with crayfish and Port Jackson sharks under the ledges. Seagrass beds surround the reef.

Howies' Boy in a Boat page places the site at Hillarys, so the two rows have been merged here.

The hardest part is getting there. The shortest route involves climbing down steep, slippery breakwater rocks at the T-junction; the alternative is a 400 m surface swim from the steps near the car park. Neither should be attempted in swell over about 1.5 m.

Boyinaboat suits Open Water divers with some shore experience, and it is an excellent snorkel for strong swimmers. Divers who prefer an easy entry can join a boat dive from Hillarys.

What you might see

Sponges, corals, tube worms, bryozoans, ascidians, bream, leatherjackets, wrasse, scalyfin, drummer, western blue devils, blue groper, garfish schools, western rock lobster, Port Jackson sharks, seagrass fauna

Location

Limestone reef at the southern end of an inshore reef chain in Marmion Marine Park, 75–100 m from the Hillarys Boat Harbour sea wall, marked by four yellow buoys; a sanctuary zone closed to vessels.

Facilities nearby

Free parking behind AQWA; toilets, cafes, restaurants and shops at Hillarys Boat Harbour; dive shops and air fills at Hillarys.