Meet the site
Michaelmas Island guards the eastern side of the entrance to King George Sound, and its northern shore gives some of the most reliable reef diving close to Albany. The Marine Life Network's Albany guide describes North Michaelmas as a run of rock walls and small caves dropping from the surface to about 18 m, decorated with plate corals, gorgonian fans and sponges. Unlike the ocean side of the island, the northern face looks back into the sound and so stays diveable in most weather.
The character of the dive is classic south-coast temperate reef: granite and limestone faces covered in colourful sponges and ascidians, gutters lined with fans, and scattered patches of the flat encrusting plate coral that surprises visitors this far south. Cuttlefish are common, and large blue groper, kingfish and queen snapper cruise the reef edge; lionfish (the temperate red lionfish/butterfly cod type) are occasionally recorded. Harlequin fish, western blue devils, boarfish and schools of bullseyes shelter in the overhangs.
At the north-west end of the island there is a much shallower site, North West Michaelmas, where two limestone bommies rise from ribbon-weed seagrass in 1-6 m about 80-100 m off the cliff. It is a quick snorkel or a shallow second dive, and a good place to find squid and cuttlefish over the seagrass.
The island itself is a nature reserve with seabird colonies and a haul-out for New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions, so marine mammals sometimes turn up underwater. Michaelmas is usually combined on a charter with the Cheynes III wreck, which lies just off the western end of the island. The site suits Open Water divers and is a good introduction to Albany's temperate reefs before the more exposed Breaksea sites.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
North Michaelmas 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 North Michaelmas Island 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 North Michaelmas 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
Blue groper, queen snapper, yellowtail kingfish, cuttlefish, squid, harlequin fish, western blue devil, boarfish, bullseyes, scalyfin, plate corals, gorgonian fans, sponges, occasional fur seals and sea lions
Location
Granite and limestone reef along the northern (sound-facing) shore of Michaelmas Island, a nature reserve island near the entrance of King George Sound east of Albany.
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.
