Western Australia · Attraction
Navy Pier Dive
A pier dive among the world's best
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The jetty at HMAS Harold Holt naval communications station near Point Murat has been closed to the public for more than fifty years, and the result is an extraordinary accumulation of marine life that rivals much more exotic dive destinations. Ranked by many dive publications as one of the top shore dives in the world, the Navy Pier offers certified scuba divers an hour-long window into a thriving artificial reef accessible only through a single licensed operator.
Dive Ningaloo holds the exclusive licence to run dives under the pier, which sits 14 kilometres north of Exmouth. Because access to the active defence facility is tightly controlled, marine life has colonised the pylons and seabed undisturbed for decades. Grey nurse sharks, tasselled wobbegongs, massive Queensland grouper, moray eels, sea snakes, shovel-nosed rays, sleeping reef sharks, nudibranchs, and dense schools of pelagic fish are regularly encountered within a single dive. Soft corals and sponges carpet every surface below the waterline.
Dives are tidal-dependent and run only during slack water, so departure times change daily. Photo ID in original form is mandatory for defence clearance, and divers under 18 must submit documentation in advance.
The pier occasionally closes for maintenance work, so confirm availability before travelling.
Scenic views
Lookouts near Navy Pier Dive.
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