The Labyrinth

Meet the site

The Labyrinth takes its name from its layout: a maze of limestone formations, gutters and swim-throughs that divers wind through at 10–14 m. It is one of the three sites operators regularly use in Lighthouse Bay, along with Blizzard Ridge and Gulliver's, and is described as accessible in almost all conditions because the bay is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly swell.

The feature that sets it apart is a turtle cleaning station. Green and hawksbill turtles queue at a coral head to have parasites and algae picked off by cleaner fish, and divers who settle quietly nearby can watch at close range for many minutes. It is one of the more reliable turtle encounters in the Exmouth area.

The gutters shelter crayfish, octopus and moray eels, porcupinefish and pufferfish hover under ledges, stingrays rest on the sand patches and sea snakes weave through. Reef fish, whitetip reef sharks and occasional leopard sharks round out the list, and larger animals — dugong, whale sharks and humpback whales — are occasionally seen in the bay in season.

The swim-throughs are short and open, with daylight visible, but they reward good buoyancy control and a trim position to avoid contact with the reef. The site suits Open Water divers and is used for Discover Scuba dives with an instructor.

Coral in the bay was affected by the 2025 bleaching event; the structure and animal life remain the draw. Surface intervals in the bay often come with dolphins or, in winter, humpback whales breaching near the boat.

What you might see

Green and hawksbill turtles (cleaning station), crayfish, octopus, moray eels, porcupinefish, pufferfish, stingrays, sea snakes, leopard sharks, whitetip reef sharks, reef fish; occasional dugong, whale sharks and humpbacks

Location

Maze of limestone ridges and swim-throughs in Lighthouse Bay, off the northern tip of North West Cape near Vlamingh Head Lighthouse.

Facilities nearby

Bundegi boat ramp: toilets, shade, parking; air fills and hire at Exmouth dive shops