Burns Rocks sit about 1.5 km off Burns Beach at the northern end of Marmion Marine Park and are one of the places where Australian sea lions haul out near Perth. The Marine Life Network describes a 5–10 m dive with inshore shallows and seaward reefs of ledges and broken reef, requiring fine weather, with the exposed seaward reefs more challenging. It also lists Roger's Ledge, north-west of the rocks, as a 4–7 m reef used by sea lions as a haul-out area.

The limestone reefs have ledges, broken reef and small overhangs covered in kelp and algae. Fish include buffalo bream, wrasse, sweep, herring cale, western blue devils, old wives and leatherjackets, with western rock lobster in the crevices and dhufish on deeper edges. Sea lions often investigate divers and snorkellers, and dolphins are common.

Ocean Reef has since been developed into a large marina (Ocean Reef Marina), which changes shore access at Ocean Reef itself; the offshore reefs remain reachable by boat from its ramp. The shore reef at Burns Beach now has its own row.

Burns Rocks suit Open Water divers with their own boats who want a wildlife-focused reef dive in the quieter north of the park. As with all sea lion sites, keep 10 m away, never approach animals on the rocks and do not feed them.

Water temperatures range from about 17 °C in late winter to 22–23 °C in late summer; a 7 mm suit with a hood is comfortable for most of the year.

Launch at the Ocean Reef boat ramp (Ocean Reef Marina), off Ocean Reef Road, about 30 minutes from the Perth CBD. Burns Rocks lie about 1.5 km off Burns Beach, a few minutes' run north. Anchor in sand on the inshore side in calm weather, keeping at least 10 m from sea lions on the rocks.

Roger's Ledge is north-west of the rocks.

Marmion's reefs are exposed to south-westerly and westerly ocean swell and to the afternoon south-westerly sea breeze (the Fremantle Doctor), which in summer usually arrives between late morning and early afternoon. Burns Rocks need fine weather, and the exposed seaward reefs are challenging in any swell. Dive in swell under about 1 m with light easterly winds, before the sea breeze.

Dive the inshore shallows in poorer conditions, or on calm days the seaward reefs with their ledges and broken reef in 5–10 m. Keep well away from the sea lion haul-out.

No regular operator; private boats from Ocean Reef.