South Australia
Diving in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Every winter tens of thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish gather on the rocky reef between Point Lowly and Stony Point to breed, in 2–6 m of water a few metres from the shore. It is the only mass aggregation of its kind in the world and one of the great wildlife dives anywhere. The Whyalla jetties and the Point Lowly reefs are worthwhile the rest of the year.
THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF
Understand the options around Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
What this regional directory records Counts describe published records, not bookable trips or confirmed open sites.
There are 17 published site records in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf. The recorded categories include jetty/pier (9), shore/rock platform (3), artificial reef (2), wreck (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.
Use the Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf 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 South Australia →Ask before booking
- Is the proposed activity open water or an overhead environment?
- Who manages access and where can we check current rules?
- Which equipment and transport arrangements must be booked ahead?
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 Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 17 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 Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf 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: South Australian Tourism Commission — regional trip information ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.
Dive sites in this region
Shore/Rock PlatformWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Stony Point – Giant Cuttlefish Aggregation
The world's only mass aggregation of giant Australian cuttlefish – tens to hundreds of thousands of displaying, mating animals in…
Jetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Tumby Bay Jetty
The Eyre Peninsula's leafy seadragon jetty, with large leafies camouflaged in the weed and colourful piles – an easy stop on the…
Shore/Rock PlatformWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Fitzgerald Bay / Black Point
Quieter cuttlefish viewing at the northern end of the breeding grounds, away from the Stony Point crowds.
WreckWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Lady Kinnaird Wreck
An 1880 iron barque with plating, chain, masts, winches and an anchor in 6 m, reached by a coastal walk from Port Neill.
WreckWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Leeton Tug Wreck
A small scuttled tug in 22 m in the Whyalla shipping channel – a slack-water, fish-rich challenge.
Artificial ReefWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Marek's Reef (Whyalla)
Car bodies, boilers, gantries and whitegoods turned into a sponge-covered fish haven in 12 m off Whyalla.
Shore/Rock PlatformWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Point Lowly
Eastern end of the cuttlefish aggregation with deeper ledges and fewer crowds, below the 1883 Point Lowly lighthouse.
Jetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Whyalla Old Jetty
Heavily encrusted piles of Whyalla's original 1901 ore jetty, disused for decades and now an artificial reef.
Jetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Arno Bay Jetty
A quiet country jetty on a coast of easy 2-4 m snorkelling reefs, with eagle rays and Port Jackson sharks on the seagrass.
Details need confirmationJetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Cowell Jetty
Shallow seagrass snorkel in sheltered Franklin Harbour, on a coast of easy 2-4 m reefs with eagle rays and Port Jackson sharks.
Details need confirmationJetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Louth Bay Jetty
An easy 4 m jetty and foreshore reef near Port Lincoln, with a deeper boulder reef to 15 m at the south end of the bay.
Details need confirmationArtificial ReefWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Point Lowly Artificial Reefs
Fish-attracting tyre reefs in 18 m off Point Lowly – a slack-water dive for artificial-reef enthusiasts.
Details need confirmationJetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Port Broughton Jetty
A shallow high-tide snorkel in one of South Australia's blue swimmer crab capitals – not a scuba destination.
Details need confirmationJetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Port Germein Jetty
A novelty shallow dive at the end of one of Australia's longest timber jetties (1881).
Details need confirmationJetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Port Neill Jetty
An easy shallow jetty dive with a historic barque wreck (Lady Kinnaird) a coastal walk away.
Details need confirmationMuck/SandWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Port Pirie Foreshore
Not a dive site – an industrial port town and road stop en route to the Whyalla cuttlefish coast.
Details need confirmationJetty/PierWhyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Whyalla Jetty (Foreshore)
A modern loop-ended promenade jetty opened in 2020 – not a documented dive site; dive the old 1901 jetty or Stony Point instead.
Details need confirmation