Seal Cove (King George Sound)

Meet the site

Seal Cove is one of the less publicised King George Sound sites, and one of the most attractive when conditions allow. Marine Life Network's Albany list describes a reef in 18-30 m with large gorgonian fans, black coral and a coral garden, supporting a wide range of reef species, and notes that visibility here is rarely below 20 m – considerably clearer than on the HMAS Perth and the inner sound.

The depth and clarity give the site a distinctly different feel from the shallow granite reefs around the islands. The fans are big and intact, the black coral forms bushes on the deeper ledges, and the plate and encrusting corals that turn up in patches across the sound form a more continuous garden here. Expect blue groper, queen snapper, harlequin fish, boarfish, western blue devils and schools of bullseyes, with kingfish and samson fish passing overhead.

Because the site starts at 18 m and runs to 30 m, it suits Advanced Open Water divers who are comfortable managing depth and no-decompression limits in cold water. Nitrox is useful. It is sheltered from ocean swell and most winds, but exposed to the north-easterly that blows into the sound on many summer afternoons.

Little has been published about Seal Cove beyond Marine Life Network's summary, and the exact location is not given in public sources. Divers should book through the local dive shop, which will select it when the weather suits. It is a good choice for experienced divers wanting deeper reef scenery on a day when the Breaksea walls are out.

What you might see

Large gorgonian fans, black coral, plate and encrusting corals, sponges, blue groper, queen snapper, harlequin fish, boarfish, western blue devil, bullseyes, yellowtail kingfish, samson fish

Location

Deeper reef in King George Sound known for large gorgonian fans, black coral and a coral garden in 18-30 m.