Murray Reefs

Meet the site

The Murray Reefs are a long ribbon of limestone reef running parallel to the coast from Mandurah north towards Warnbro Sound, a few kilometres offshore. They have wrecked a number of ships, including the James Service (1878), the Highland Forest (1901) and the Chalmers (1874, on the Sisters at the northern end), and they are also a productive reef dive in their own right.

The Marine Life Network describes the reef as 4–6 m deep, covered in Ecklonia radiata kelp, with overhangs and crevices sheltering gorgonian sea fans and good fish life. Divers find buffalo bream, sweep, wrasse, herring cale, leatherjackets and western rock lobster, with the chance of blue groper and dhufish on the deeper edges. Because the reef sees little diver traffic, fish are relatively unwary.

The reef is exposed, and visibility is poor after heavy weather. The best days come after several days of easterly wind in late summer and autumn.

This is a general record for the reef system, useful for divers with their own boats who want to explore beyond the named wrecks. The Marine Life Network is the only detailed source, so depths and positions should be checked on the sounder before diving.

Mandurah and Port Kennedy are good bases, and the three wrecks give obvious focal points for a two-dive day.

When planning, allow for the run back to the Mandurah entrance channel, which can be rough on the ebb tide against a westerly wind. Small boats should aim to be back inside the estuary before the afternoon sea breeze builds, and should carry a VHF radio and log trips with the local volunteer marine rescue group.

What you might see

Gorgonian sea fans, buffalo bream, sweep, wrasse, herring cale, leatherjackets, western rock lobster, blue groper, Ecklonia kelp

Location

A long ribbon of kelp-covered limestone reef lying a few kilometres offshore from Mandurah north to Warnbro Sound, holding the James Service, Highland Forest and Chalmers wrecks.

Facilities nearby

Mandurah and Port Kennedy boat ramps.