Meet the site
Waikiki Beach, in Safety Bay, was once home to a whimsical artificial reef: chairs, benches, swing sets and tyre stacks placed in about 9 m to create habitat about 100 m off the beach. Most of it has since dispersed or been buried, and what remains is a roughly 10 m by 10 m patch of upright poles, ropes attached to buoys and scattered debris on a sandy slope that continues to about 15 m.
The reason to dive it now is the lionfish. Howies found a gang of unusually large mature lionfish, some about 300 mm long, living around the remnants, and the Marine Life Network also notes a strong lionfish population. Beyond them, divers report seahorses, rays, ascidians and sea stars, with the usual Cockburn Sound macro life on the structure.
Visibility is the limitation: typically a few metres and easily reduced by silt. The site has no dive flag, and boats use Safety Bay, so bring your own flag and follow the marker. At night, once the silt settles, it can be a calm and productive dive.
Waikiki suits local divers looking for something different on a day when southerly winds make other beaches rough, or a night dive close to Rockingham. It is not a destination dive, and anyone expecting the original playground reef will be disappointed.
For photographers, the lionfish are confiding and make good subjects, but keep a respectful distance from their spines and avoid lying on the debris, where stinging hydroids and sharp edges are common.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Waikiki Beach Artificial Reef Remnants is recorded as Artificial Reef in Perth. The listed access is shore. 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 Waikiki Beach Artificial Reef Remnants 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 Waikiki Beach Artificial Reef Remnants 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
Large lionfish (notable population), seahorses, rays, ascidians, sea stars, small reef fish
Location
Remains of a 10 m by 10 m artificial reef of benches, chairs, swing sets and tyres in 9 m off Safety Bay Foreshore Reserve, near Safety Bay Road and Malibu Road.
Facilities nearby
Car park, toilet block and foreshore reserve at Safety Bay; cafes nearby.
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
howiesscuba.comhowiesscuba.commarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
