Western River Cove

Meet the site

Western River Cove is the classic Kangaroo Island shore dive and a regular fixture on Adelaide dive-club trips. A small beach at the mouth of the Western River is flanked by rocky headlands, and the reef runs out from both sides. The Department for Environment and Water lists it in South Australia's top snorkel spots – 'head to the reef just east of the beach for a variety of colourful reef fish' – and it lies within the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park.

The eastern side is shallow, about 5 m, and ideal for snorkelling and easy dives. The western side drops to 11 m and, according to the Marine Life Network, to about 18 m, with a transition from weed to sponges in deeper water. Diving Adelaide found gorgonian sea fans, blue groper and a variety of fish, and Tourism Kangaroo Island adds horseshoe leatherjackets, banded seaperch and common bullseyes; Wander's guide mentions seals. The Marine Life Network lists nudibranchs, blue devilfish, cowfish and old wives. The rock is granite and sedimentary, forming boulders, ledges and gutters, and the colour and fish density increase noticeably on the deeper western side.

The cove is well protected from the south-west but open to the north, so conditions vary: on a southerly it can be glassy, while a northerly brings surge. Access is part of the experience – red dirt roads, a campground car park, a footbridge and a 500 m carry – and there are no services beyond the campground. It suits divers from beginner (eastern side) to experienced (western side) and is one of the best places on the island to meet a western blue groper.

What you might see

Western blue groper, gorgonian sea fans, sponges, horseshoe leatherjacket, banded seaperch, common bullseye, blue devilfish, cowfish, old wives, nudibranchs, seals occasionally

Location

A rocky cove at the mouth of the Western River on KI's north-west coast, with reef on both sides of the beach from about 5 m (east) to 11-18 m (west).

Facilities nearby

Campground with car park and footbridge (basic toilets at campground); no fills – bring cylinders from Kingscote.