Western Australia
Diving in Albany & Great Southern
Albany has the HMAS Perth, a 133 m destroyer scuttled in King George Sound in 2001, the Cheynes III whale chaser wreck, and the granite islands and kelp reefs of Michaelmas and Breaksea islands with sea lions, leafy seadragons and clear cold water. Bremer Bay and Denmark add more shore and boat sites.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Albany & Great Southern
Western Australia’s directory ranges from Perth and Rottnest to Ningaloo, offshore groups and the south coast. Use those regions as separate planning units. A long list of attractive places can hide a demanding transport schedule, especially when boat departures, equipment collection and onward travel must all connect.
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 38 published site records in Albany & Great Southern. The recorded categories include shore/rock platform (11), wreck (8), island (6), reef (6). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Albany & Great Southern site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.
Research operators in Western Australia →Ask before booking
- Which town is the practical base for this departure?
- What transport and baggage limits apply?
- What is the plan if the departure is delayed?
Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.
Record your trip questions →Questions, answered
How do I choose a dive in Albany & Great Southern?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 38 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.
When should I visit Albany & Great Southern for diving?
Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.
Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?
No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.
Regional planning context: Tourism Western Australia — maritime heritage and shipwrecks ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Dive sites in this region
WreckAlbany & Great Southern
Arpenteur Wreck (Hassell Beach, Cheyne Bay)
Frames and planking of an 1849 French whaling brigantine, one of the south coast's earliest wrecks.
Details need confirmationShore/Rock PlatformAlbany & Great Southern
Back Beach Bommie (Bremer Bay)
A granite bommie with seadragons, groper and colourful sponges, reached from the beach – good at night.
Details need confirmationIslandAlbany & Great Southern
Bald Island
A remote, steep granite nature-reserve island with sea lions and fur seals, rarely dived.
Details need confirmationWallAlbany & Great Southern
Breaksea Island Southern Dropoff
Ocean-facing granite wall to 40 m with caves, sponge gardens, black coral trees and schooling pelagics.
Details need confirmationReefAlbany & Great Southern
Bremer Bay – Fishery Beach & Glasse Island
Granite coves and islands around Bremer Bay's entrance with sponge gardens, seadragons and sea lions.
Details need confirmationIslandAlbany & Great Southern
Coffin Island
Sea lion and fur seal colonies with caves, gutters and sponge gardens, a short boat run from Two Peoples Bay.
Details need confirmationReefAlbany & Great Southern
Fish Eyes (Black Point, Bremer Bay)
A granite 'eye socket' on a boulder reef with corals, seadragons and visiting sea lions.
Details need confirmationReefAlbany & Great Southern
Football Field (King George Sound)
Deep, rarely visited canyons and bommies to 66 m with pristine sponge gardens, huge gorgonians and black coral.
Details need confirmationReefAlbany & Great Southern
Gia Batta Patch
Easy, shallow limestone patch reef in the sound – a dependable training and night dive.
Details need confirmationWreckAlbany & Great Southern
Mandalay Wreck (Mandalay Beach, Walpole)
An occasionally exposed 1911 Norwegian barque wreck on a wild Walpole beach – a heritage walk, not a dive.
Details need confirmationShore/Rock PlatformAlbany & Great Southern
Mutton Bird Island (Albany)
Easy sandy entry to granite island reef on the wild coast west of Albany – a good night dive on calm days.
Details need confirmationShore/Rock PlatformAlbany & Great Southern
Peaceful Bay (Walpole)
A rare sheltered bay on the wild Walpole coast, good for easy snorkelling and shore diving.
Details need confirmationReefAlbany & Great Southern
Seal Cove (King George Sound)
Deeper reef with big gorgonians, black coral and a coral garden, and visibility rarely below 20 m.
Details need confirmationShore/Rock PlatformAlbany & Great Southern
Tourist Rock (Cheynes Beach)
Easy granite shore dive at a quiet holiday beach, with Bald Island and the Arpenteur wreck nearby.
Details need confirmation