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South Australia · Island

Stickney Island

A shallow reef honeycombed with caves and crevices full of gorgonians, soft corals, blue devils and boarfish in the Sir Joseph Banks Group.

Eyre PeninsulaBoat (day trip)
YouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph or site map

Mascot illustration — not a photograph or site map.

Depth
2–12 m
Certification
Open Water
Access
Boat (day trip)
Dive type
Island
Region
Eyre Peninsula

Depth describes the recorded site range, not a recommended dive depth. Certification is a recorded recommendation; suitability depends on your planned route, training, experience and current conditions.

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Location & map

Approximate area

Area reference only. The exact dive location has not been confirmed. This map is for orientation, not marine navigation or an entry-point recommendation.

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Meet the site

Stickney Island is a 70-hectare island in the Sir Joseph Banks Group. The Marine Life Society describes a shallow, bouldery bottom covered in thick seagrass and kelp, and a shallow reef that offers many caves and crevices, with morwong, groper, old wife, bullseyes, boarfish and blue devilfish, and colourful sponges, gorgonians, soft corals, nudibranchs, cowries, sea stars, feather stars and spider crabs. That list describes a classic temperate invertebrate reef, and the caves and crevices are where most of the colour is found: gorgonians and soft corals in the shaded overhangs, with blue devils and boarfish sheltering inside. Divers who move slowly with a torch will find cowries, nudibranchs and feather stars, while spider crabs and sea stars crawl across the boulders. Because the reef is shallow, it suits Open Water divers and confident snorkellers on calm days, and it makes a good second dive after a deeper site elsewhere in the group. The kelp and seagrass also support juvenile fish and cuttlefish. Access requires a boat crossing from Tumby Bay, so it is visited rarely. Combine with Spilsby and Duffield islands or the Langton Island sea lions for a full day in the group. The shallow depths make it an easy dive to fit into a long boat day, and on calm, clear days snorkellers in the party can enjoy the reef from the surface.

Some details in this record need confirmation. Check the source information and speak with a local operator.

What you might see

Morwong, western blue groper, old wives, bullseyes, boarfish, southern blue devils, sponges, gorgonians, soft corals, nudibranchs, cowries, sea stars, feather stars, spider crabs, kelp, seagrass

Location

70-hectare island in the Sir Joseph Banks Group with a shallow, bouldery bottom covered in seagrass and kelp and a shallow reef full of caves and crevices.

Facilities nearby

None; Tumby Bay services.

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.au

Record updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.