The Durack family established Argyle Downs homestead on the Behn River in 1885; at its peak, the Duracks' holdings approached the size of Belgium. When the Ord River Dam flooded the valley in 1971, the main residence was dismantled and rebuilt on higher ground (now a museum), but the outbuildings and machinery were left to the water.

Divingwawrecks documents a windmill and water tower structure (the 'tripod'), large sheds, a generator shed, power lines, tractors, Land Cruisers and petrol bowsers spread across at least 100 x 100 m. Depth is up to 17.5 m when the dam is at 100% capacity and as little as 6 m late in the dry season. Visibility is typically about 2 m, dropping below 20 cm deeper than 15 m where fine silt hangs. Large schools of fork-tailed catfish replace the reef fish of the coast.

About Lake Argyle: the lake was created when the Ord River Dam was completed in 1971–72, flooding the Durack family's Argyle Downs station. When full it holds about 10.7 billion cubic metres — more than 18 times Sydney Harbour — and has more than 70 islands. The lakebed is very fine silt that is easily disturbed and slow to settle, so perfect buoyancy is essential, and divers should use lines or stay in contact with structures. Johnston River (freshwater) crocodiles are common along the shores but timid; saltwater crocodiles are not expected in the lake. It is a genuinely unusual Australian dive — a drowned outback station — best suited to experienced, self-reliant divers.

Lake Argyle is about 72 km (roughly an hour) south of Kununurra via the Victoria Highway and the sealed Lake Argyle Road. Launch at the public boat ramp at Lake Argyle Resort in Pannikin Bay. There is no dive operator (Pilbara Dive and Tours lists its Lake Argyle trip as not available), so divers must be self-sufficient with their own boat, cylinders and emergency communications; tell the lake cruise operators your plans.

The Argyle Downs Homestead site is about 13 nautical miles from the ramp.

Diving is best in the dry season (May–October). Strong easterly winds mid-year can make the open lake rough — check forecasts and go early. Water levels fall through the dry, so depths shrink late in the season.

Visibility is poor (around 2 m) and falls to almost nil below about 15 m where fine silt hangs above the bottom. The wet season (November–April) brings storms, extreme heat and inflows. Water is warm (roughly 24–32 °C).

Shot or anchor near the windmill/water tower 'tripod' (S16°16.965' E128°47.885'), descend the line and explore the sheds, generator shed, tractors and bowsers within a 100 x 100 m area, staying above the silt layer (about 15 m) where visibility is best. Use a reel back to the line and ascend it for a safety stop.

Line/reel navigation recommended; torch essential.

No dive operator – self-sufficient private boats only (Pilbara Dive and Tours' Lake Argyle trip is listed as not available).