Onslow
16 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Onslow →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.
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.
Bare Rock (Dampier)
Pinnacle/Bommie · 15–20 m
Approximate area
Barrow Island Marine Park (Biggada Reef & Turtle Bay)
Reef · 2–15 m
Approximate area
Bessieres Island
Island · 12–19 m
Approximate area
Black Flag
Reef · 10–17 m
Approximate area
Brewis Reef
Reef · 4–9 m
Approximate area
Crown of England
Wreck · 3–9 m
Recorded location
Delambre Island
Island · 5–14 m
Approximate area
Direction Island
Island · 1–3 m
Approximate area
Eddystone
Wreck · 4–8 m
Recorded location
Enderby Island
Island · 5–17 m
Approximate area
Great Australian Bight (Thevenard)
Pinnacle/Bommie · 5–8 m
Approximate area
Greg's Grotto
Reef · 10–14 m
Approximate area
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.
Dampier
12 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Dampier →Point Samson
3 site records refer to this town or area.
Look for operators around Point Samson →Different outings to look into
| Local example | Recorded nearby place | Recorded access | Follow the evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mermaid Passage (Dampier) | Dampier | Boat (day trip) | Recorded source ↗ |
| Bessieres Island | Onslow | Boat | Recorded source ↗ |
| Thevenard Island Pier | Onslow | Shore | Recorded source ↗ |
| Bare Rock (Dampier) | Dampier | Boat (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.
Pilbara & Dampier: what’s in the directory?
A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.
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.
| Site | Recorded type | Access | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mermaid Passage (Dampier) Details need confirmation | Drift | Boat (day trip) | 8–18 m |
| Bessieres Island | Island | Boat | 12–19 m |
| Thevenard Island Pier | Jetty/Pier | Shore | 2–4 m |
| Bare Rock (Dampier) Details need confirmation | Pinnacle/Bommie | Boat (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?
I’m just getting started
Find out how a first course works, compare your options and get comfortable asking questions.
I’m ready to explore more
Connect your next outing with useful reading and a conversation about the right training and support.
I’m thinking about teaching
Explore the professional pathway and prepare better questions for a training centre.
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.
Listed in this region
Lethal Adventures
Karratha
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Mackerel Islands resort
Onslow
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Montebello Island Safaris
Exmouth
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →Listed in this region
Pilbara Dive and Tours
Karratha
Open the profile for contact details and recorded services, then ask about current arrangements.
Meet this operator →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 Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
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
- 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 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
Search within Pilbara & Dampier, or narrow the list to a recorded dive type. Open a site for its map, sources and access notes.
31 matching site records. Listings do not confirm current access or availability.
WA
Island
IslandPilbara & Dampier
West Lewis Island
Shallow, easy coral gardens close to Dampier.
WAShore/Rock Platform
Shore/Rock PlatformPilbara & Dampier
Withnell Bay
An easy shore dive on the Burrup with turtles and rays.
WAPinnacle/Bommie
Pinnacle/BommiePilbara & Dampier
Bare Rock (Dampier)
Coral outcrops and ledges on a 15–20 m drop-off.
Details need confirmationWAReef
ReefPilbara & Dampier
Hamersley Shoal
An offshore fishing shoal with exploratory diving potential.
Details need confirmationWAWreck
WreckPilbara & Dampier
HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)
Site of Britain's first atomic test, 1952.
Details need confirmationWADrift
DriftPilbara & Dampier
Mermaid Passage (Dampier)
A macro drift over a sponge and sea-whip seabed.
Details need confirmationWAWreck
WreckPilbara & Dampier
Samson Wrecks
Trawler and barge wrecks turned into fish-rich artificial reefs.
Details need confirmation