Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)
Broome & Kimberley, Western Australia · near Kununurra
| Depth | 2–10 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Backward roll from private boat |
| Current | None |
| Visibility | 0.2-2 m |
| Water | summer 29-32 °C, winter 24-26 °C |
| Suit | 3 mm suit or skin |
| Best season | May–October (dry season) |
| Bottom time | 40 min |
| Position | not published |
| Permit | No permit required; Lake Argyle is a Ramsar-listed wetland |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Darwin Hospital (Darwin) – RFDS evacuation from Kununurra; Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) is further |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)
Also known as Crocodile Cove
Underwater encounters with timid freshwater crocodiles.
Near Kununurra · Broome & Kimberley, Western Australia
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- —
- Water
- 29-32 °C
- Visibility
- 0.2-2 m
Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)2–10 m · Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: May, June, July, August, September, October.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 2–10 m
- Typical depth
- 5 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- No
- Current
- None
- Visibility
- 0.2-2 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 29-32 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 24-26 °C
- Water
- Tropical
- Bottom time
- 40 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- No
Exposure suit
3 mm suit or skin
Location
Lake Argyle · Kimberley – Lake Argyle
No published coordinates. The map above shows the general area, estimated from documented sites across the Broome & Kimberley region.
Primary source: pilbaradiveandtours.com.auMarine park & permits
No permit required; Lake Argyle is a Ramsar-listed wetland
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Darwin Hospital (Darwin) – RFDS evacuation from Kununurra; Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) is further
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle) →
A day-by-day plan for Broome & Kimberley 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
Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle) is a freshwater lake / river boat dive in Broome & Kimberley, WA, 2–10 m, suited to Open Water divers.
Rated advanced by the operators who dive it.
Why dive here
- Underwater encounters with timid freshwater crocodiles.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
About Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)
Pilbara Dive and Tours lists Crocodile Cove among Lake Argyle dive sites, describing it as home to Johnston River freshwater crocodiles — timid, not man-eaters — plus terrapins and fish. Exact location and depth are not published.
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.
Planning notes: Open Water certification is recommended and the site is rated advanced. Expect to spend most of the dive around 5 m, with a maximum of about 10 m. Access is by boat only, and site selection depends on wind, swell and tide on the day. Best season: May–October (dry season). Traffic: rarely dived (private boat/club only).
Getting there & entry
Lake Argyle cove noted for Johnston River freshwater crocodiles, terrapins and fish.
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.
Entry: Backward roll from private boat
Facilities: Lake Argyle Resort (Pannikin Bay): boat ramp, caravan park, infinity pool, café, fuel. No air fills – bring filled cylinders from elsewhere.
Weather, swell & tides
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).
Best season: May–October (dry season)
How the dive is usually run
Shallow dive along the cove margins, moving slowly and keeping a respectful distance from any crocodiles.
Marine life
- Freshwater crocodiles
- terrapins
- freshwater fish
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Shallow enough for snorkellers and for a first dive under supervision. Any certified diver can dive it.
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
Freshwater crocodiles can bite if harassed – do not approach; poor visibility; silt.
Dive centres that go here
No dive operator – self-sufficient private boats only (Pilbara Dive and Tours' Lake Argyle trip is listed as not available).
Other dive centres in Broome & Kimberley
The Great Escape Charter Company
Named by sitesBroome · Rowley Shoals · WA
Website live for 2026 advertising 5- and 7-night Rowley Shoals dive and snorkel cruises for the 2026 and 2027 seasons (March–November).
greatescapecruises.com.au · (08) 9193 5983
Broome Historical Walking Tours
Named by sitesBroome · Broome & Kimberley · WA
Walking tour operator, not a dive business; departs Town Beach, Broome.
broomehistoricalwalkingtours.com
All dive centres in Western Australia →
Operators mentioned: None (Lake Argyle Cruises for local knowledge)
General area
No position has been published for Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle). The circle shows where it is likely to be, worked out from documented sites across the Broome & Kimberley region. Ask a local operator for the exact site.
Dashed circle: general area (about 60 km), from documented sites across the Broome & Kimberley region. 6 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle): frequently asked questions
How deep is Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle) reaches a maximum depth of 10 m, with the shallowest part at about 2 m; most of the dive is spent around 5 m.
What certification do I need to dive Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated advanced by the operators who dive it.
Can I shore dive Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
No, it is reached by boat.
When is the best time to dive Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
May–October (dry season).
What marine life will I see at Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
Regularly recorded: Freshwater crocodiles, terrapins, freshwater fish.
What wetsuit do I need at Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
3 mm suit or skin.
How cold is the water at Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
Typically 29-32 °C in summer and 24-26 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
Freshwater crocodiles can bite if harassed – do not approach; poor visibility; silt. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Crocodile Cove (Lake Argyle)?
Royal Darwin Hospital (Darwin) – RFDS evacuation from Kununurra; Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) is further. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Broome & Kimberley
Broome's diving is tidal and turbid but full of history: the pearling-lugger wrecks, WWII flying boats sunk in Roebuck Bay in 1942 and reachable on the lowest tides, and the reefs off Gantheaume Point. The Kimberley coast beyond is liveaboard country with huge tides, crocodiles and untouched reef.
Getting there: Fly to Broome. Local operators dive on neap tides; Kimberley coast trips are multi-day expedition charters.
All Broome & Kimberley dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
- divingwawrecks.com/argyle-downs-homestead
- pilbaradiveandtours.com.au/scuba-diving-in-western-australia-lake-argyle
- divingwawrecks.com/kimberley
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Location and depth.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
