Meet the site
Marion Bay is the gateway township to Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park and the launch point for most Innes and Althorpe boat dives. Its small jetty is included here because the regional brief names it, but it is not documented in the SDFSA, Dive Shack or Marine Life Society site lists, so its value as a dive is uncertain. Shallow jetties on this coast typically support encrusting sponges, ascidians and algae on the piles, with small fish (magpie perch, leatherjackets, zebrafish), crabs, nudibranchs and the chance of seahorses or pipefish, and southern calamari at night. The bay floor is sand and seagrass. The jetty's main practical use for divers is as a sheltered fallback or night dive when the exposed Innes sites are unworkable, or as a quick shore dive for those staying in town. The Stenhouse Bay jetty, 5 km away inside the park, is the far better-known and richer jetty dive. Recorded here with low data confidence; divers should check it themselves before planning around it. For visiting divers the township's real value is logistical: it has the nearest boat ramp, fuel, accommodation and supplies for the whole Innes and Althorpe dive area, and many Adelaide groups base themselves in the caravan park or holiday homes here for a weekend of boat diving. There is no dive shop or air fill in Marion Bay, so bring enough cylinders or a compressor.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Marion Bay Jetty is recorded as Jetty/Pier in Yorke Peninsula. 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 Marion 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 Marion 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
Expected: sponges and ascidians on piles, magpie perch, leatherjackets, zebrafish, crabs, nudibranchs, southern calamari, seagrass fauna
Location
Small jetty at the Marion Bay township on the sheltered north-east-facing shore of Marion Bay, just outside Innes National Park.
Facilities nearby
Parking, toilets, general store, caravan park and pub in Marion Bay.
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
thediveshack.com.auvisityorkepeninsula.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.