Woody Island (Recherche Archipelago)

Meet the site

Woody Island is the most accessible island in the Recherche Archipelago and the only one with visitor facilities: a nature reserve 15 km south-east of Esperance with a small harbour, jetty and an eco-camp operated under licence. Woody Island Eco Tours runs cruises and a passenger ferry from Esperance's Taylor Street Jetty in the warmer months, with wildlife viewing of Australian sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, dolphins and seabirds along the way.

Marine Life Network describes the harbour as a sheltered 10 m dive with a rocky bottom of crevices and boulders, sea lions, small fish and colourful corals – ideal if you are carrying heavy scuba gear on foot. The island is also home to flesh-footed shearwaters and little penguins, which gather in the evening.

The diving is easy and shallow, suitable for Open Water divers and snorkellers. The granite boulders carry kelp, sponges, encrusting corals and ascidians, with wrasse, sweep, old wives, scalyfin, western blue devils and harlequin fish. Sea lions from nearby islands sometimes visit.

Woody Island is a good way to experience the Recherche without a dedicated dive charter – particularly for divers who want to combine snorkelling, wildlife watching and an overnight stay on an island. More serious diving in the archipelago, including the Sanko Harvest, requires a boat trip with Esperance Diving & Fishing.

Woody Island is the only island in the Recherche Archipelago Nature Reserve with public access and use; the MacKenzie family built the visitor jetty from 1973 and has run tourism on the island since. The wider archipelago – 105 islands and more than 1,200 islets and rocks spread over 230 km – supports 263 recorded fish species and more than 450 sponge types, and a day on Woody Island is a gentle introduction to that diversity. Bring your own filled cylinders, weights and all equipment on the ferry, and check with the operator about gear limits.

What you might see

Australian sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, dolphins, wrasse, sweep, old wives, scalyfin, western blue devil, harlequin fish, kelp, sponges, encrusting corals; little penguins and flesh-footed shearwaters on the island

Location

Granite island 15 km south-east of Esperance with a sheltered harbour and jetty, eco-camp and ferry service; the harbour offers an easy 10 m dive over boulders and crevices.

Facilities nearby

Jetty, eco-camp accommodation (safari huts and camping), café/kitchen and toilets (seasonal) operated by Woody Island Eco Tours; no dive shop on the island – bring filled tanks from Esperance.