Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
Bare Rock (Dampier)
Pilbara & Dampier, Western Australia · near Dampier
| Depth | 15–20 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Advanced Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Boat (day trip) |
| Entry | Backward roll or giant stride from anchored boat |
| Current | Variable/Tidal |
| Visibility | 5-15 m |
| Water | summer 28-30 °C, winter 21-23 °C |
| Suit | 3 mm shorty/full summer; 5 mm full suit winter |
| Best season | April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months) |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | not published |
| Permit | Dampier Archipelago nature reserves / Murujuga National Park on land; no marine park permit required for diving |
| Nearest chamber | Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – evacuation via RFDS from Karratha |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Bare Rock (Dampier)
Also known as Bare Rock
Coral outcrops and ledges on a 15–20 m drop-off.
Near Dampier · Pilbara & Dampier, Western Australia
- Depth
- 15–20 m
- Minimum level
- Advanced Open Water
- Access
- Boat (day trip)
- Boat ride
- ~45 min
- Water
- 28-30 °C
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
Bare Rock (Dampier)15–20 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months)
- Best months
- Now (November)
- Stinger suit Nov–May
Dive facts
- Depth
- 15–20 m
- Typical depth
- 17 m
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Advanced Open Water (18–30 m)
- Access
- Boat (day trip)
- Offshore
- 20 km
- Dive centre needed
- Recommended
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~45 min
- Current
- Variable/Tidal
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 28-30 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 21-23 °C
- Water
- Tropical
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Moderate (occasional charters/club dives)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- Partial
Exposure suit
3 mm shorty/full summer; 5 mm full suit winter
Location
Dampier Archipelago · Pilbara – Dampier Archipelago
No published coordinates. The map above shows the general area, estimated from other documented sites near Dampier.
Primary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
Dampier Archipelago nature reserves / Murujuga National Park on land; no marine park permit required for diving
Nearest recompression chamber
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – evacuation via RFDS from Karratha
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Bare Rock (Dampier) →
A day-by-day plan for Pilbara & Dampier with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Bare Rock (Dampier) is a pinnacle / bommie boat dive in Pilbara & Dampier, WA, 15–20 m, suited to Advanced Open Water divers, variable/tidal current, about 45 minutes by boat.
Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m, tidal current that must be timed.
Why dive here
- Coral outcrops and ledges on a 15–20 m drop-off.
Conditions to avoid
- Any time other than slack water
- Cyclone season (roughly December–April)
- Stinger season without a full suit (November–May)
About Bare Rock (Dampier)
Bare Rock is described by the Marine Life Network as a limestone reef with massive coral outcrops, gutters and ledges along a drop-off at 15–20 m, visited by trevally, gropers, batfish, turtles and stingrays. It is one of the few Dampier sites without shallow water, so it suits Advanced divers.
Its exact position is not published; ask local operators.
About the Dampier Archipelago: the archipelago's 42 islands off Dampier and Karratha hold one of the most diverse marine environments in Western Australia, with more than 650 recorded fish species, coral reefs, sponge gardens and seagrass meadows — all set against red Pilbara rock and the world's largest concentration of Aboriginal rock art on the Burrup Peninsula (Murujuga). It is heavily fished and boated by locals but lightly dived, and visiting divers usually go with Pilbara Dive and Tours or a local club. The combination of big tides, turbid inshore water and strong currents means the outer islands generally offer the best visibility and coral, and dive timing is planned around slack water.
Planning notes: Advanced Open Water certification is recommended and the site is rated intermediate. Expect to spend most of the dive around 17 m, with a maximum of about 20 m. Access is by boat only, and site selection depends on wind, swell and tide on the day. Currents are significant, so timing around the tide is part of the plan. Best season: April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months). Traffic: moderate (occasional charters/club dives).
Getting there & entry
Limestone reef with massive coral outcrops, gutters and ledges along a drop-off in the Dampier Archipelago, 15–20 m.
From Karratha drive 20 km west to Dampier and launch at the Dampier public boat ramp (Hampton Harbour) or the Withnell Bay ramp on the Burrup Peninsula; both have trailer parking. Pilbara Dive and Tours (Karratha) runs small-group dive boats (maximum about six divers) with pickup from Karratha. The inner islands are 20–40 minutes from Dampier and the outer islands (Rosemary, Legendre, Delambre) 45–90 minutes depending on conditions.
There are no public moorings at most sites; boats anchor on sand. The archipelago's 42 islands are mostly within Murujuga National Park or nature reserves.
Entry: Backward roll or giant stride from anchored boat
Facilities: Dampier boat ramp and Withnell Bay ramp: parking, toilets at Dampier. Air fills, hire and cylinder testing at Pilbara Dive and Tours, Karratha.
Weather, swell & tides
The Dampier Archipelago is sheltered from ocean swell by its islands, but the big Pilbara tides (spring ranges approaching 5 m) drive strong currents between the islands and control visibility; dive near slack water and plan around neap tides for the clearest water. Visibility is usually under 5 m in summer and up to 10–15 m in the cooler months, better at the outer islands. Strong easterly winds in winter and afternoon sea breezes chop up the crossings.
Cyclone season runs November–April and the Pilbara coast is Australia's most cyclone-prone; charters stop during warnings. Irukandji and box jellyfish can occur in the warmer months. Water temperature ranges from about 21 °C in July–August to 30 °C in January–February.
Best season: April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months)
How the dive is usually run
Descend to the drop-off at 15–20 m, follow the ledges and gutters, and ascend over the coral outcrops for the safety stop.
Marine life
- Trevally
- gropers
- batfish
- turtles →
- stingrays
- massive corals
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Beyond 18 m an Advanced certification (which includes a deep dive to 30 m) is the accepted minimum. Anything past 25 m is a deep dive in practice.
Courses that help here
- Peak Performance Buoyancy – Silt and low visibility punish poor trim.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Depth; tidal current; low visibility at times.
Dive centres that go here
Pilbara Dive and Tours (Karratha) – Ultimate Dive Tour and Samson Wrecks tour (six-hour, max six divers), snorkel tours and private charters; otherwise private boats from Dampier. Lethal Adventures offers island boat tours.
Operators recorded for Bare Rock (Dampier)
Pilbara Dive and Tours
Named by sitesKarratha · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
pilbaradiveandtours.com.au · 0410 890 077
Lethal Adventures
Named by sitesKarratha · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Dampier Archipelago boat tours/charters; postal address only (PO Box 20, Karratha WA 6714).
lethaladventures.au · 0418 906 963
Other dive centres in Pilbara & Dampier
Mackerel Islands resort
Named by sitesOnslow · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Island resort (Thevenard Island) off Onslow; reservations office is in Cottesloe (1/589 Stirling Hwy), Onslow reception (08) 9184 6586.
mackerelislands.com.au · (08) 9184 6444
Montebello Island Safaris
Named by sitesExmouth · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Liveaboard fishing/dive charter out of Exmouth; postal address only (PO Box 388, Exmouth WA 6707).
montebello.com.au · 0419 091 670
General area
No position has been published for Bare Rock (Dampier). The circle shows where it is likely to be, worked out from other documented sites near Dampier. Ask a local operator for the exact site.
Dashed circle: general area (about 30 km), from other documented sites near Dampier. 6 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Bare Rock (Dampier): frequently asked questions
How deep is Bare Rock (Dampier)?
Bare Rock (Dampier) reaches a maximum depth of 20 m, with the shallowest part at about 15 m; most of the dive is spent around 17 m.
What certification do I need to dive Bare Rock (Dampier)?
Advanced Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m, tidal current that must be timed.
Can I shore dive Bare Rock (Dampier)?
No, it is reached by boat (about 45 minutes).
When is the best time to dive Bare Rock (Dampier)?
April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months).
What marine life will I see at Bare Rock (Dampier)?
Regularly recorded: Trevally, gropers, batfish, turtles, stingrays, massive corals.
What wetsuit do I need at Bare Rock (Dampier)?
3 mm shorty/full summer; 5 mm full suit winter.
How cold is the water at Bare Rock (Dampier)?
Typically 28-30 °C in summer and 21-23 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Bare Rock (Dampier)?
Depth; tidal current; low visibility at times. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Bare Rock (Dampier)?
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – evacuation via RFDS from Karratha. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Pilbara & Dampier
The Dampier Archipelago and the Montebello Islands have coral reefs, WWII and pearling wrecks and turtles in warm, tidal, often turbid water. Onslow is the launch point for the Mackerel Islands and the Montebellos, where the 1950s British nuclear test sites are now a marine park with excellent, remote diving.
Getting there: Fly to Karratha or Onslow; charters and liveaboards when available.
All Pilbara & Dampier dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
- marinelife.org.au/?page_id=201
- karrathaadventuresports.com.au/pages/diving-guide
- pilbaradiveandtours.com.au
- karrathaiscalling.com.au/activities/diving-water-sports
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Location unknown.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
Nearby dive sites
More pinnacle/bommie dives in Western Australia
Explore more








