Bald Island is one of the largest offshore islands on the south coast: about 8 km² of granite rising steeply to 310 m, lying 1.5 km off Cheynes Beach roughly 70 km east of Albany. It was cut off from the mainland by rising seas about 10,000 years ago and has been a class A nature reserve since 1964. Its isolation has made it a refuge for species under pressure on the mainland: quokkas, relocated populations of Gilbert's potoroo and noisy scrub-birds, breeding great-winged petrels and little penguins, and marine mammals including New Zealand fur seals and Australian sea lions.

There is little published dive information. The steep terrain continues underwater as granite boulders and walls, and divers who visit report typical south-coast outer reef life – kelp forests, sponges and gorgonians in the shaded faces, blue groper, harlequin fish, boarfish, queen snapper, sweep and crayfish – with seals and sea lions around the haul-outs. The waters around the island are rarely dived, so fish are relatively unwary.

This is a remote, self-organised dive for experienced divers with their own boat and good seamanship. There is no operator, no mooring and no shelter from easterly weather, and the nearest recompression is in Perth. The reward is a genuinely wild temperate island with abundant wildlife and very few visitors. Divers should respect the reserve: landing is prohibited, and hauled-out seals and sea lions must be given space.

Cheynes Beach, the launching point, also has an easy shore dive at Tourist Rock and the historic wreck of the Arpenteur off Hassell Beach nearby.

From Albany drive east on the South Coast Highway, then take Cheyne Road south to Cheynes Beach (about 70 km, 1 hour). Cheynes Beach has a caravan park and a beach launch/ramp area used by small boats; Bald Island is 1.5 km offshore (5-10 minutes). From Two Peoples Bay it is about 25 km by boat.

The island is a class A nature reserve – landing is prohibited without DBCA authorisation. There is no mooring; anchor in sand in the lee.

Bald Island is fully exposed to the Southern Ocean on its southern side. The northern side, facing Cheynes Beach, is diveable in westerly to south-westerly weather with moderate swell; easterly and south-easterly winds make both the island and the Cheynes Beach launch unsafe. Beach launching at Cheynes Beach requires small surf.

Autumn high-pressure days are the best window.

Anchor in sand off the northern shore, descend to the foot of the granite at 12-18 m and follow the island's edge, staying on the sheltered side. Plan a conservative profile given the remoteness.

No regular operator – private boats only (occasionally visited by Cheynes Beach-based fishers and experienced local divers).