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Divers Den

ROTTNEST ISLAND

Rottnest Island is surrounded by spectacular dive sites, particularly the island’s ‘West End’.

‘Rotto’, as Rottnest Island is known to the locals, is a small low-lying limestone-based sandy island 18 kilometres (11 mi) to the west of Western Australia’s capital city, Perth.

Its name, ‘Rotte nest’ or ‘rat’s nest’, comes from the resident Quokkas, small marsupial kangaroos which looked like rats to the first Dutch visitors in 1696.

In the past, the island has been used as an Aboriginal prison, a boys’ reformatory, a ships pilot station, an internment camp during both World Wars and a military base.

Although Rottnest Island is now an A-class Reserve with only around 100 permanent residents, it is one of Perth’s most popular holiday destinations visited by over half a million people a year.

The Rottnest Island Marine Reserve, established in 2012, is Perth’s premier diving location offering over 200 regularly dived sites.

The island is generally a year-round, all-weather dive destination; however, the West End is subject to swell and strong currents.

The island’s underwater terrain offers drop-offs, walls, caves, swim throughs, rocky outcrops and a host of shipwrecks.

Fantastic dive sites like Roe Reef, and Little Armstrong Bay, a marine sanctuary on the northside with shallow access, host a splendid array of marine life.

Ship wrecks include the Macedon, City of York, Transit, Lady Elizabeth, Mira Flores and Denton Holme – just to name a few, some of which are easily accessed in shallow tranquil, clear water. They are great snorkelling sites too!

However, it is the rugged exposed West End that provides the island’s most spectacular diving where the best window is the winter months.

The West End’s underwater terrain has been sculptured by the prevailing weather and swells, which has created spectacular underwater walls, drop offs and numerous caves. Caves often have opening allowing the penetration of sunlight and are large enough to safely swim through to shallower water.

The many underwater caves provide shelter for delicate corals and other invertebrates such as the beautiful venusta cowries, cuttlefish and crayfish plus huge schools of bullseye as well as wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks and western blue devils.

Grey nurse sharks, rays and large schools of pelagic fish are regularly encountered as well as resident schools of buffalo bream, western footballer sweep and Woodford’s pomfret.

West End premier dive sites such as Shark Cave with its grey nurse sharks, Swirl Reef, and underwater caves like Crystal Palace and Blue Cave are simply awesome.

Special thanks to the Image Dive, Bucket List Diver & Perth Scuba teams.           
Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair

OTHER GREAT DIVES WHILE YOU ARE THERE
Stragglers Rock, North & South Molle, Ammo Jetty, Carnac Island Seals, Point Peron and Marmion Marine Reserve.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
To register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
NOTE: Entrants should do this dive with one of the following preferred dive services.

DIVE SERVICES

DIVE TRAVEL SERVICES

WATER TEMPERATURES: