Rockingham, just south of Perth, is a fantastic destination for scuba diving enthusiasts, offering a rich and diverse underwater environment within the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. With shipwrecks, reefs, and an abundance of marine life, Rockingham provides both beginners and experienced divers with memorable diving experiences. Here’s a guide to scuba diving in Rockingham, including top dive sites and what to expect while exploring the underwater world.

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1. Diving in Shoalwater Islands Marine Park

The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is one of Western Australia’s most biodiverse marine environments, making it a popular location for diving. The park is home to seagrass meadows, rocky reefs, limestone caves, and an array of marine species, from playful Australian sea lions to colourful reef fish.

Key Features:

• Calm, protected waters ideal for diving
• Abundant marine life, including dolphins, sea lions, rays, and fish
• Diverse underwater landscapes, from reefs to wrecks

The marine park's waters are generally calm, making it a safe diving environment for beginners while offering plenty of depth and variety for more advanced divers. Some of the most popular dive sites within the park are outlined below.

2. The Saxon Ranger Wreck

Depth: 18 metres
Best for: Wreck diving and marine life encounters

One of the highlights of diving in Rockingham is the Saxon Ranger, a former oil rig tender intentionally sunk in 2004 to create an artificial reef. Now resting on the ocean floor at a depth of around 18 metres, the Saxon Ranger wreck has transformed into a thriving habitat for marine life. The wreck is covered in corals and sponges, attracting schools of baitfish, snapper, and mulloway, as well as larger predators like bull rays and stingrays.

Exploring the wreck’s structure gives divers a close-up look at the vibrant underwater ecosystem that has developed around it. The wreck is easily accessible for intermediate divers, and its location within Shoalwater Islands Marine Park means visibility is usually good, with clear water and excellent opportunities for underwater photography.

What to Expect:

• A well-preserved shipwreck with plenty of marine life
• Excellent visibility, especially during summer months
• Large schools of fish, rays, and other reef inhabitants

3. Penguin Island and Seal Island Dive Sites

Depth: 10–15 metres
Best for: Marine life encounters and underwater photography

Penguin Island and Seal Island are two of the most popular diving spots within the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. These islands are home to colonies of little penguins and Australian sea lions, which often interact with divers in the water, creating an unforgettable experience.

The shallow waters around these islands are ideal for beginners, with depths ranging between 10 and 15 metres. The reefs and rocky outcrops are teeming with marine life, including colourful reef fish, octopuses, and nudibranchs. You may also spot stingrays and seahorses as you explore the underwater habitats. The waters around the islands offer good visibility, making these dive sites perfect for underwater photography.

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What to Expect:

• Encounters with playful Australian sea lions and little penguins
• Shallow, clear waters perfect for beginner divers
• Vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine species

Tip: Be respectful of the wildlife, especially the sea lions, and avoid touching or disturbing them. Let them come to you, and enjoy the interaction on their terms.

4. Point Peron Reef

Depth: 5–12 metres
Best for: Reef diving and exploring underwater caves

Point Peron offers one of the most diverse and interesting dive sites in Rockingham. The Point Peron Reef is known for its limestone caves, ledges, and overhangs, which provide shelter for various species of fish and marine invertebrates. With depths ranging from 5 to 12 meters, this dive site is perfect for both beginner and intermediate divers.

The reef is home to a range of marine life, including moray eels, octopuses, and reef fish like western blue groper and boxfish. You’ll also encounter hard and soft corals, sponges, and anemones, which add a burst of colour to the underwater landscape. The site’s underwater caves and swim-throughs are fun to explore and offer plenty of opportunities for discovery.

What to Expect:

• Limestone caves and overhangs to explore
• Rich marine life, including reef fish, octopuses, and eels
• Ideal depths for beginner and intermediate divers

Tip: Always bring a dive torch when exploring caves or overhangs to illuminate hidden spots and ensure you don’t miss out on any of the marine life hiding in the shadows.

5. Mangles Bay Artificial Reef

Depth: 12–18 meters
Best for: Artificial reef diving and fish spotting

Located within Mangles Bay, the Mangles Bay Artificial Reef is a relatively new addition to Rockingham’s underwater attractions. Created from purpose-sunk concrete structures and specially designed reef modules, this artificial reef has become a habitat for a variety of marine species, making it an excellent spot for divers who want to see a wide range of fish.

The artificial reef has already attracted snapper, herring, yellowtail, and many other species, creating a vibrant underwater environment. The reef modules are designed to mimic natural reef formations, offering plenty of hiding spots for marine life and opportunities for divers to explore.

What to Expect:

• A developing artificial reef with diverse marine life
• Ideal for fish spotting and underwater photography
• Clear, calm waters within Mangles Bay

6. Garden Island

Depth: 5–15 metres
Best for: Marine life encounters, shallow reef diving

Garden Island is another fantastic dive location near Rockingham, offering shallow reefs and rocky outcrops to explore. The island is located within the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, and its surrounding waters are known for abundant marine life, including dolphins, stingrays, crabs, and a wide variety of reef fish.

The dive sites around Garden Island are relatively shallow, making them suitable for all levels of divers. You can explore seagrass meadows, which are home to seahorses and pipefish, or venture around the reefs where larger species like port jackson sharks and rays can often be spotted. The island’s proximity to Perth makes it a convenient diving destination, with boat charters regularly heading out to the island.

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What to Expect:

• Shallow reefs and seagrass meadows teeming with marine life
• Great opportunities to see dolphins and rays
• Ideal for beginner and intermediate divers

7. Kwinana Wreck

Depth: 5 metres
Best for: Shallow wreck diving, beginners, and underwater photographers

The Kwinana Wreck, located close to the shore near Kwinana Beach, is an easy and accessible wreck dive suitable for beginners. The wreck is the remains of the SS Kwinana, a steamship that ran aground in 1922. Though the ship is now largely broken apart, parts of the wreck remain visible, providing an interesting dive site just 5 metres below the surface.

The wreck is home to schools of small fish, nudibranchs, and crustaceans, making it a fun and safe introduction to wreck diving. The shallow depth also means it’s ideal for snorkelers who want to explore the site from the surface.

What to Expect:

• A shallow, accessible wreck dive suitable for beginners
• Schools of small fish and vibrant marine life
• Easy shore access from Kwinana Beach

Diving Tips for Rockingham

• Best Time to Dive: The best diving conditions are usually from October to April, when the water is warmer and visibility is at its best. During these months, you can expect visibility of up to 15 metres in most areas.
• Dive Shops and Tours: There are several local dive shops and tour operators in Rockingham that offer equipment rentals, guided tours, and diving certifications. It’s always a good idea to book in advance, especially during peak diving season.
• Marine Park Regulations: Be mindful of marine park regulations when diving within Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Some areas may be protected, and certain species are protected by law, so always follow local guideline

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Final Thoughts

Scuba diving in Rockingham offers an unforgettable experience, whether you’re exploring shipwrecks, gliding through reefs, or encountering marine life like dolphins and sea lions. With a variety of dive sites suited to all skill levels, from shallow reefs to deeper wrecks, Rockingham is a must-visit destination for divers of all abilities.