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Site # 5 Cheynes III Boat Dive 80 – 100 M west of Michealmas Island Depth 22M | Scuttled June 23rd 1982 as a dive wreck. First purpose prepared wreck in Southern Hemisphere. The ex whale chaser is now home for a diverse range of marine life. Clouds of Bulls Eye swim around the bridge in vast schools and share the site with Queen Snapper, Blue Groper, Harlequin, Blue Devils and countless small colourful reef fish. Sponges, soft corals, coral fans and marine plants litter the decks and gangways.
The site has a permanent mooring, which makes for easy and safe descent – ascent and boating. Not advisable to enter into the wreck due to its broken condition.
A fantastic dive in most weather except for S-SW winds of any real strength. Good shelter from easterly winds due to the proximity of Michealmas Island. |
HMAS Perth Boat Dive Depth 36M. | The masthead protrudes the surface to height of 4M. The ship lies E-W with the bow to the East. Scuttled November 24th 2001 as a dive wreck. This dive site is just awesome for novice to “technical” divers. A visually impacting dive with much of the ships equipment and machinery left in place. The growth has surprised everyone sponges, mussels, oysters, scallops, cuttlefish, large kingfish, and a plethora of local fish. Leaving the surface the first structure that is seen is a large horizontal platform at 5M and again at 10M perfect for a safety stops and deco stops while surrounded by fish and marine life. From dive to dive you may be visited by, an Australian Sea Lion who shows great interest in what the divers are doing.
HMAS Perth is a “must dive” when you visit Albany
Permits are required to dive this site. They are available from the Albany Visitors Centre, City of Albany or Local dive shops. |
Site # 1 The Cables Boat Dive Depth 9 – 28M Northern side of Breaksea Is. “under the lighthouse” 100M offshore. | Named from the old mainland communication cable that is tangled around and through the site. Made up of tall bommies this dive is again some of Albany’s diving at its best. Large fan & plate corals, sponges and even larger blue groper, a swim around this site is likened to walking through the high rise area of a busy city. With hundreds of busy fish in narrow deep swim throughs. Slip down between these granite walls and enjoy a spectacular dive. Protected from any southerly swell. Visability good all year round.
All winds barring NW – NE. |
Site # 2 Seal Cove Boat Dive Northern side of Breaksea Is. 250M from eastern end. Depth 2 – 18M | The resident seals laze about on the rocks just waiting to enjoy the company of any diver and ready to perform for any photographer that cares to pass by. In the very corner of this cove is an interesting rock overhang which is sometimes suspect to surge. However on good days this is a very interesting swim a torch being essential. Out from this cave the depth drops off into 15 – 18M and you will find some interesting plate corals and gutters lined with Gorgonian fans. Resident Port Jackson shark families are often found resting on the sandy areas between rocky outcrops. |
Site # 2 Seal Cove Dive 2 Depth 18 – 30M | North of the cove by approx 80M you will come across a group of bommies that have some of the biggest gorgonian fans on their walls you are likely to see. Along with these fans are spires of southern black coral and the Brittle Star that makes them their host entwined in their branches. On the sand at the base of these bommies large King George Whiting swim in schools. Reef fish of many species can be seen along the swim throughs. This site always has something new to offer with a broad range of marine life living on and visiting the site.
Visibility is rarely less than 20M and the site is sheltered from all winds barring any strong from N – E. |
Site # 3 Two Sisters Depth 3 – 18 M
Eastern end of mistaken Is. Boat Dive | Great dive! Loads of colour, kelp, ledges, bommies, often-large cuttlefish, leather jackets, nudibranchs, sea stars, crayfish and many other local fish. Should take a torch for the ledges to take full advantage of the colour. Excellent night dive.
Can be subject to surge and divers should pay attention to wave action over the sisters. Best on NW - W winds. |
Site # 4 Blue’s Canyon SW corner of Breaksea Island Boat Dive Depth 9 – 45M | Should only be dived on days with little or no swell due to its exposure to the open ocean. The canyon is 5 – 6M wide and approx 300M long with the walls towering above you. As you start the dive from the deep end and slowly make your way towards the island you see the walls covered sponges on which cowry shells are often seen. There are also many deep ledges in which the occasional crayfish may be living along with resident wobbegongs. The canyon is home for very large blue groper and queen snapper, which swim about their business unafraid of the divers. Best on calm conditions and no swell. |
Site #5 Breaksea Cove SW Corner of Breaksea Is. North of site # 4
Boat Dive
Depth 5 – 28M
| A great dive fully protected from the hard easterly winds. Walls and swim throughs, bommies all with good colour and bucket loads of plate corals. A great site for small colourful fish which living on and around the many vast plate corals. Smallish caves and overhangs torch of great benefit. Some crays can be often found in season. Good anchorage for boats with interesting rock formations above the water as well. Avoid on SW winds and S swell over 2M. |
Site # 6 Breaksea Boulders Northern side of Breaksea Is. West of landing.
Boat Dive Depth 5 – 20M | This has got all that you want, fans, sponges, overhangs, coral plates, walls, swim throughs, fish, good visibility and comfortable depth range.
It makes a fantastic night dive. Nice easy dive for all levels of experience.
Found hard up on the northern point of Breaksea Island on the western end. Just above the water are a few large round boulders.
Good on most winds bring strong SW-NW. |
Site # 7 Seal Island Boat Dive Depth 5 - 20 M | Seal Island offers Plate Corals (SE corner), occasional seals, Blue Devils, Pineapple (Knight Fish) Fish, Scorpion fish, Queen Snapper, King Fish, Blue Groper, Harlequin, Sea Dragons, Nudibranchs plus more. This dive site has it all and in shallow water. Top dive and an excellent night dive. Shallower on the western end and deepest on the east. Good most weather barring heavy easterlies. |
Site # 8 The Caves SE corner of Michealmas Is. Boat Dive Depth 7 – 26 M | This is “Dive Albany” at some of it’s best. Huge caves, gorgonian fans, colourful sponges, shells, prolific fish life and the famous “Grinding Rock”. Identified from the surface by a jumble of broken rocks on the SE corner of Michealmas Island. Anchor on sand line and swim in. Swim around these amazing rock formations, feel and hear the grinding as this huge rock moves with the water. It’s both frightening and exciting at the same time. Swim through the many caves and grottos, which seem to go on forever. A torch is a must and you “will be back”.
Best dived with 0 – 1M swell & SW – N winds as the surge can be quite severe inside these caves. Exposed to the easterlies. |
Site # 9 Eastern End Michealmas Island Boat Dive Depth 12 – 27M | Anchor 50 – 60 M off the flat wall on the east end of the island. Very colourful, take your time when diving this area. Each bommie has it’s own beauty. There are some very big fan corals, black coral ledges and walls. Very good visibility 15 – 25 M. Schools of kingfish photographer’s paradise. This site is subject to some tide at times and can be quite strong (boat person highly recommended). Best in S – N winds and is exposed to easterlies. |
Site # 10 Boat Dive Depth 0 – 18M | Situated on the northern side of Michealmas Island about halfway along. A rock sits up out of the water by approx 1M just west of a big bay. Coral plates, gorgonian fans, sponges, a few small caves, walls, usually lots of cuttlefish, sometimes lionfish on the plate corals often large groper, kingfish, queen snapper. Excellent night dive. Good on all winds excepting strong NW-E. |
Site #11 Boat Dive Depth 1- 6M | This site is found on the northern side of Michealmas Island 300M from western end of island. The shoreline is very steep limestone and the site is 80 – 100M off shore. Two limestone bommies give a perfect snorkel dive. Good colour, fish of all sizes, ribbon weed banks with squid and cuttlefish. Perfect spot to anchor up for lunch and have a quick snorkel dive.
Good on all winds barring strong northerlies. |
