Meet the site
Peaceful Bay is a small holiday settlement of a few hundred cottages 33 km east of Walpole, set in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park and named for its sheltered bay. The Walpole visitor centre describes the bay as ideal for swimming, fishing, boating and diving – rare on a coastline otherwise dominated by high-energy surf beaches and cliffs.
There is little published detail about specific dive sites. The bay is protected by a reef and headland, and snorkellers and divers explore the inner edge of this reef and the rocks at the ends of the beach in shallow water. Expect south coast temperate habitat: limestone and granite rock with kelp and sargassum, sponges and encrusting algae, sand patches with seagrass, and fish such as herring, sweep, old wives, wrasse, scalyfin, leatherjackets and King George whiting, with stingrays, cuttlefish and octopus.
Peaceful Bay suits families and snorkellers and independent divers staying locally. It is remote from dive services – air fills are in Albany – and has no dive operator. Nearby, Mandalay Beach, 12 km west of Walpole, is the site of the 1911 wreck of the Norwegian barque Mandalay, whose hull is periodically exposed on the beach after storms, and the forests of the Valley of the Giants and the Tree Top Walk are a short drive away. Bring all dive gear and full tanks, and check local advice at the store about which parts of the bay are calmest on the day.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Peaceful Bay (Walpole) is recorded as Shore/Rock Platform in Albany & Great Southern. The listed access is shore or boat. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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 Peaceful Bay (Walpole) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Peaceful Bay (Walpole) 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
Herring, sweep, old wives, wrasse, scalyfin, leatherjackets, King George whiting, stingrays, cuttlefish, octopus, kelp, seagrass
Location
Sheltered bay and small holiday settlement 33 km east of Walpole, protected by a reef and headland, with swimming, snorkelling and diving on the inshore reef.
Facilities nearby
Peaceful Bay general store/caravan park, toilets, parking and beach launch area; nearest air fills in 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
walpole.com.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
