Western Australia

Diving in Pilbara & Dampier

The Dampier Archipelago and the Montebello Islands have coral reefs, WWII and pearling wrecks and turtles in warm, tidal, often turbid water. Onslow is the launch point for the Mackerel Islands and the Montebellos, where the 1950s British nuclear test sites are now a marine park with excellent, remote diving.

Open my trips →Estimate trip costs →

YouDive turtle in an illustrated Western Australia setting; not a photograph of Pilbara & Dampier

Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by Western Australia. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.

Your bearings, in a minute

Pilbara & Dampier at a glance

Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.

Explore
31 site records
Recorded settings
Island · Reef · Wreck
Map coverage
31 locations to explore
Plan with local help
Meet the listed operators

Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →

Sources, authorship and review status

Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.

Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.

Who can contribute and how reviews work →

Find your bearings

Explore Pilbara & Dampier on the map

Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.

31 matching records · 31 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.

The local notebook

Where should you start in Pilbara & Dampier?

Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.

Different outings to look into

Details drawn from individual published site records
Local exampleRecorded nearby placeRecorded accessFollow the evidence
Mermaid Passage (Dampier)DampierBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
Bessieres IslandOnslowBoatRecorded source ↗
Thevenard Island PierOnslowShoreRecorded source ↗
Bare Rock (Dampier)DampierBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
How to use this shortlist

Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.

A closer look at Pilbara & Dampier

Get a feel for the diving

Our Pilbara & Dampier directory currently includes 31 published site records. The largest recorded category is island (9 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

The YouDive turtle introducing this destination’s guide

Pilbara & Dampier: what’s in the directory?

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.

Island9 records
Reef8 records
Wreck6 records
Pinnacle/Bommie3 records
Shore/Rock Platform2 records
Other recorded types3 records

Source: published YouDive directory records for Pilbara & Dampier. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.

A few local records to compare

Start with Mermaid Passage (Dampier), Bessieres Island, Thevenard Island Pier. These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.

One alphabetical example per recorded type, up to four types
SiteRecorded typeAccessDepth
Mermaid Passage (Dampier)

Details need confirmation

DriftBoat (day trip)8–18 m
Bessieres IslandIslandBoat12–19 m
Thevenard Island PierJetty/PierShore2–4 m
Bare Rock (Dampier)

Details need confirmation

Pinnacle/BommieBoat (day trip)15–20 m

How the recorded depths compare

A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.

The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.

Pick a WA base before you pack

Western Australia is a collection of very different trip ideas. Use a specific region to narrow the search, then make the departure, equipment support and travel arrangements the centre of your plan.

Name the activity you want

Be clear whether you want certified scuba diving, a course, snorkelling or a wildlife excursion. Similar photographs can advertise different activities. If friends are travelling together, list each person’s intended activity separately and ask whether a shared departure is possible. That makes the quote easier to compare and helps avoid booking a memorable-looking trip that does not include the experience you wanted.

Connect the island or coast with the departure

A ferry, accommodation booking and dive trip may need separate reservations. Check how their meeting and return times fit together and which operator supplies each part. For a coastal road trip, anchor the diving around one confirmed base at a time. A broad region name is a browsing label, not a transfer estimate or a promise of equipment support in every town.

Reserve the details that matter

Ask about hire sizes, guiding, gas and equipment services relevant to your actual plans. Record the response and its date rather than assuming a service from a business name. Keep an alternative activity in the itinerary and understand the terms for a changed departure. Buying flexibility in the travel plan can be more useful than collecting extra site names.

Three conversations worth having before you book

Island visit

Do the passenger transfer and dive booking connect?

Check each supplier’s timetable.

Coastal road trip

Which town supports the actual outing?

Build transport around the meeting point.

Wildlife booking

Is this scuba, snorkelling or sightseeing?

Compare the right activity and inclusions.

From “that looks lovely” to a plan

Make Pilbara & Dampier your kind of dive trip

Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.

Where are you on your diving journey?

These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.

People to talk to about Pilbara & Dampier

These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.

Compare these local operators →

Browse all operator profiles in this state or territory →

Let’s put the pieces together

Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.

Open my trips

Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.

THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF

Understand the options around Pilbara & Dampier

What this regional directory records

There are 31 published site records in Pilbara & Dampier. The recorded categories include island (9), reef (8), wreck (6), pinnacle/bommie (3). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.

Use the Pilbara & Dampier 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

  1. Which town is the practical base for this departure?
  2. What transport and baggage limits apply?
  3. 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 Pilbara & Dampier?

Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 31 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 Pilbara & Dampier 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

Find local operators
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Pilbara & Dampier

Crown of England

A cyclone-wrecked sailing ship with anchor, masts and bow above water.

BoatUp to 9 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Pilbara & Dampier

Eddystone

A triple-expansion engine and bent propeller shaft swept by giant trevally.

BoatUp to 8 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Pilbara & Dampier

No. 20 McDermott Barge

A giant cyclone-wrecked derrick barge in shallow water.

Boat (day trip)Up to 5 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Pilbara & Dampier

Barrow Island Marine Park (Biggada Reef & Turtle Bay)

A fully no-take marine park with a green turtle breeding aggregation.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 15 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Bessieres Island

Friendly potato cod and turtles on coral ridges.

BoatUp to 19 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Pilbara & Dampier

Black Flag

The Mackerel Islands' best dive: caves, ledges and canyons full of fish.

BoatUp to 17 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Pilbara & Dampier

Brewis Reef

Shallow arches and ledges with schooling snapper.

BoatUp to 9 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Delambre Island

Branching coral gardens on a remote turtle island.

Boat (day trip)Up to 14 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Direction Island

Easy shallow snorkelling around a tiny island.

BoatUp to 3 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Enderby Island

Coral-dominated fringing reefs with gorgonians on the deeper edge.

Boat (day trip)Up to 17 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Pilbara & Dampier

Great Australian Bight (Thevenard)

Nudibranch-rich bommies close to Thevenard.

BoatUp to 8 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Pilbara & Dampier

Greg's Grotto

Colourful caves and ledges with sharks.

BoatUp to 14 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Kendrew Island

Gutters and pinnacles on an exposed outer island.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Legendre Island

The archipelago's best drop-off, with gorgonians and pelagics to 30 m+.

Boat (day trip)Up to 35 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWall

Pilbara & Dampier

Montebello Islands – North West Island Drop-off

A 30 m gorgonian-covered drop-off with groper and sharks on the remote Montebellos.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 30 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Montebello Islands Lagoons

Remote, rarely dived lagoons and reefs in a large sanctuary-zone marine park.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 20 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteShore/Rock Platform

Pilbara & Dampier

Pebbles Beach (King Bay)

Epaulette sharks among shallow rocks on the Burrup.

ShoreUp to 6 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Pilbara & Dampier

Rankin Road

A deeper ridge named for its Rankin cod.

BoatUp to 20 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the sitePinnacle/Bommie

Pilbara & Dampier

Rob's Bommie

Resting nurse sharks and wobbegongs on a shallow bommie.

BoatUp to 6 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteIsland

Pilbara & Dampier

Rosemary Island

Sheltered bays and varied reefs on a large outer island.

Boat (day trip)Up to 15 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Pilbara & Dampier

Sultan's Reef

Coral shallows and a pelagic-patrolled wall.

BoatUp to 14 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteJetty/Pier

Pilbara & Dampier

Thevenard Island Pier

An easy macro dive on coral-covered pylons.

ShoreUp to 4 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Pilbara & Dampier

Trap Reef

Crevices and small caves with sharks and rays.

BoatUp to 13 m
WAYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Pilbara & Dampier

Tryall Wreck (Tryal Rocks)

Australia's oldest known shipwreck (1622), with cannons and anchors in 6 m.

Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)Up to 8 m