The Navy Pier is voted one of the best shore diving sites in the world, and rightfully so! The life that hides below the waves is unbelievable. From Octopus to Sharks, there is something around every corner. We do believe that the Busselton Jetty is also one of the best shore diving sites in the world. Therefore, we are going to look into Western Australia’s most famous Northern and Southern Jetties and see what makes them so special. 

Visibility and the best time of year to dive

The visibility on both the Navy Pier and the Busselton Jetty is dependent on the season that you are visiting. However, average visibilities on both during their ‘on’ season are very different which is affected by their individual locations. The navy pier is located right on the tip of the Exmouth Gulf and is therefore more exposed to the elements of the Indian Ocean and affected by swells, currents and winds. Whereas the Busselton jetty is located in the sheltered waters of Geographe bay meaning that the dive site is not as exposed to the elements that may affect the dive site. 

Busselton Jetty average visibility September- April: 15 meters with highs of 20 meters.

Navy Pier average visibility March-October: 3-10 meters with highs of 10-12 meters. 

Both operators do not run consistently in their ‘off’ season, so it is worth checking online direct with the company before booking. 

Depth

Busselton Jetty: 9 meters

Navy Pier: 15 meters

Both dive sites are located in shallow waters and are perfect for every diver. Whether you have just finished your course, are getting refreshed or have hundreds of dives under your belt, both sites are fantastic and teeming with life!

What you’re going to see

The navy pier is home to over 200 species of reef fish and many more corals, sponges and macro critters. Whereas the Busselton jetty is home to over 300 species of marine life total. However, the species that you will see at both are different. 

The Navy Pier is most famous for their local friend the ‘BFG’ aka the big friendly grouper and towards the end of their season, the Nurse sharks which love to say hello. Therefore, lots of larger fauna to check out! Plus, coral trout’s, nudibranchs and many more marine species.  

The Busselton Jetty is called home by lots of smaller creatures such as large schools of Australian herring, octopus, cuttlefish and nudibranchs. We do get the occasional spotted catshark or smooth ray visitors that glide past the site.  

Image underneath the Busselton Jetty

Accessibility 

When it comes to getting to both of these sites, they have their own quirks. The Navy Pier is located on government military land and therefore you can only dive via going through a licensed operator, must bring valid ID and pay a $50 fee. From the start of the pier, the end is a short 300 meter walk. 

The Busselton Jetty is the longest in Australia (1.8km) to the end. So, you have a few options. You can either walk to the end with your gear in a trolley. We wouldn’t recommend swimming or putting it on your back- it is further than it looks (trust us)! Alternatively, you can hop onboard our comfortable vessel and cruise out to the end, saving you the hike and potentially spotting dolphins along the way! We offer guided and unguided dives both with gear and without gear- so there is something for everyone! 

Ocean conditions

As I talked about previously, the Navy pier is located at the mouth of the Exmouth Gulf and therefore is subject to strong currents, swells etc. Whereas the Busselton Jetty is located in the sheltered waters of Geographe Bay and it is not often we are affected by the elements. 

At the Navy Pier, there is often a strong current that acts as an obstacle for the dive site and therefore operators will only dive on slack tide and may have to adjust the dive plan to ensure the enjoyability and safety of divers. 

The navy pier hosts toasty dives between 19-24 ℃ and having highs of 28℃. Due to the fact that the Busselton jetty is located 1,470km South of the Navy Pier, you would think that our waters were cooler, however throughout our season we also range from 19-24℃! A 5mm wetsuit is preferred for both locations. 

Claim to fame

Both the Navy Pier and Busselton Jetty are historical icons in their own right. The Navy Pier was built in the 1960’s to bring materials from Texas to build Exmouth’s 13 VLF towers, the largest structures in the Southern hemisphere towering 387.5 meters aboveground! The pier also sits within the Ningaloo world heritage site and sanctuary zone, allowing life to flourish and explode. 

The Busselton jetty is the longest jetty in the Southern hemisphere stretching 1.8km out to sea and has been standing for over 160 years. It was originally built for international trade, opening up the Southwest to the rest of the world. The jetty also hosts 1 of only 6 underwater observatories, allowing those that don’t want to get wet, a chance to experience the underwater world. The last 150 meters of the jetty is both the dive/ snorkel site and a sanctuary zone which has built up a colorful and engaging ecosystem. 

Image of the Busselton Jetty from above

Overall, both sites are an underwater spectacle in their own right, and it is fantastic that their seasons run opposite to each other so that divers can follow both the sun and the great diving! 

Written by Meg.