Blizzard Ridge is regularly named the best dive in Lighthouse Bay, and it earns the title through fish rather than geology. The site is essentially a long crack in the reef platform that forms a ridge, running across a sandy bottom at 12–14 m on the two southernmost moorings in the bay. The ridge rises a few metres, with overhangs, cracks and ledges along its flanks.

The name hints at the main event: huge congregations of fish that at times obscure the reef. Schools of fusiliers, snapper, sweetlips and trevally swarm along the ridge, and resident reef fish crowd every ledge. Turtles rest in the cracks, sea snakes forage along the bottom, whitetip reef sharks and wobbegongs lie under the overhangs, and nudibranchs and other small life reward a slower pace. A manta cleaning station on the ridge brings occasional manta rays in, and during humpback season (July–October) whale song is often audible underwater and whales may pass the boat during surface intervals.

Lighthouse Bay works as a marine life magnet because the surrounding sea floor is largely sand; the ridge-lines are the only structure for some distance. The shallow depth and generally mild current make it suitable for new divers and Discover Scuba participants, while the fish density keeps experienced divers and photographers happy.

Hard coral at Lighthouse Bay was hit during the 2025 marine heatwave, and operators have steered trips here while the Muiron Islands are paused. Expect some bleached or dead coral, but the fish life that makes Blizzard Ridge famous has remained.

From Exmouth, charters meet at the operator's shopfront or collect divers from accommodation and either launch at Bundegi boat ramp (about 14 km north of town on Murat Road, sealed, 2WD) or travel from Exmouth Marina (Mortimer Road, 2 km south of town). Lighthouse Bay sits just north of Vlamingh Head Lighthouse at the very tip of North West Cape, roughly 30–45 minutes by boat from Bundegi depending on sea state. Operators run double-dive days with a lunch break on board; sites are on public moorings installed to protect the reef, so the boat ties off and divers giant-stride from the back deck.

Lighthouse Bay is on the northern tip of the Cape and is sheltered from the prevailing south to south-westerly swell that hits the western side, which is why it is the fallback when the west side and Muirons are blown out. It becomes rough in strong northerly or north-easterly winds and in the afternoon south-westerly sea breeze that wraps around the Cape (often 15–25 knots from late spring to autumn), so trips run in the morning. Visibility is 5–20 m, dropping around the March–April coral spawn and during plankton blooms.

Cyclone season runs November to April; trips are cancelled for cyclone warnings. Tidal flow is noticeable around the Cape on springs.

Descend the mooring line to the base of the ridge at 12–14 m. Swim along one side of the crack with the ridge on one shoulder, checking ledges for wobbegongs and nudibranchs, and pause at the manta cleaning station if mantas are present (keep low and still, do not block their approach). Turn at half air, cross over the top of the ridge at 8–10 m and return along the other side to the mooring for a safety stop.

Dive Ningaloo – double boat dives several days a week, all certification levels including Discover Scuba; Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo – regular Lighthouse Bay trips; Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim (Whalesharks Exmouth) and Ningaloo Whaleshark-N-Dive – Lighthouse Bay dives as weather allows.