Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)
Perth, Western Australia · near Mindarie
| Depth | 15–20 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Advanced Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Boat; anchor in sand beside the reef or drop a shot |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 8–20 m |
| Water | summer 21–23 °C, winter 17–19 °C |
| Suit | 5–7 mm wetsuit with hood; 7 mm or semi-dry in winter |
| Best season | Summer and autumn mornings in light winds |
| Bottom time | 30 min |
| Position | -31.62633, 115.61000 (GPS) |
| Permit | None. |
| Nearest chamber | Fiona Stanley Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Murdoch, Perth) |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)
Also known as Dewy Ledge
An offshore Mindarie reef with a 50 m wide ridge at 15–20 m, rarely dived and with good fish life.
Near Mindarie · Perth, Western Australia
- Depth
- 15–20 m
- Minimum level
- Advanced Open Water
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- ~20 min
- Water
- 21–23 °C
- Visibility
- 8–20 m
Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)15–20 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: January, February, March, April, May, December.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 15–20 m
- Typical depth
- 18 m
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Advanced Open Water (18–30 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Dive centre needed
- Recommended
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~20 min
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 8–20 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 21–23 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 17–19 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 30 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- No
Exposure suit
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood; 7 mm or semi-dry in winter
Location
Offshore Mindarie reefs · Perth Metro – North (Mindarie, Quinns & Alkimos)
-31.62633, 115.61000
Published GPS position.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
None.
Nearest recompression chamber
Fiona Stanley Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Murdoch, Perth)
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Dewy Ledge (Mindarie) →
A day-by-day plan for Perth 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
Dewy Ledge (Mindarie) is a reef boat dive in Perth, WA, 15–20 m, suited to Advanced Open Water divers, about 20 minutes by boat.
Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m.
Why dive here
- An offshore Mindarie reef with a 50 m wide ridge at 15–20 m, rarely dived and with good fish life.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
- Visibility often reaches 8–20 m.
About Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)
North-west of Mindarie Marina, off Quinns Rocks and Alkimos, lies a cluster of limestone reefs at 12–23 m that local divers have named over the years: the Coral Garden, Grouper Gully, Crayfish Gully, Dewy Ledge, Gordon's Grotto, Ian's Cave Reef, Paul's Point, Snapper Peak, The 23 Metre Ledge and The Wall, along with Chris's Cliff, South Pass and Staggie Reef. The Marine Life Network's north-of-the-river list gives GPS positions and brief notes for most of them, and it is the main published source for these sites.
Dewy Ledge is a reef ridge about 50 m wide at 15–20 m, and the Marine Life Network notes large fish populations. It lies a few hundred metres from Crayfish Gully and Snapper Peak in the deeper reef cluster north-west of Mindarie. The ridge form means a clear edge to follow on each side, which makes navigation straightforward: descend on the top, follow one edge, cross and return along the other.
Like the other reefs in the group, the limestone here is covered in kelp and red algae on top, with sponges, sea whips and corals in the shaded ledges. Typical fish of this part of the coast include buffalo bream, western blue devils, old wives, bullseyes, wrasse and morwong, with pink snapper, dhufish and samson fish on the deeper edges and western rock lobster in the crevices. The Marine Life Network notes that on the Quinns reefs the more interesting species tend to be found at depth.
Because the reefs are well offshore, visibility is usually better than at the inshore sites, but they are exposed and need calm weather. They are dived mostly from private boats; no operator runs regular trips. Published detail is limited to brief notes, so this record gives the position, depth and main features, and divers should check the reef on the sounder before descending. The depth means short no-decompression times, so Advanced certification and nitrox are recommended. Water temperatures range from about 17–18 °C in late winter to 22–23 °C in late summer.
Getting there & entry
Offshore limestone reef with a 50 m wide ridge, at 15–20 m, in the cluster of reefs north-west of Mindarie Marina off Quinns Rocks and Alkimos.
Launch at the Mindarie Marina public ramp (Mindarie Keys, off Marmion Avenue, about 40 minutes from the Perth CBD). The reef is at S 31°37.580' E 115°36.600', a run of roughly 15–25 minutes north-west of the marina entrance depending on conditions. Use a sounder to find the reef edge and anchor in sand beside it rather than on the limestone.
Other charted reefs and the Conference, Two Fold Bay and Gemini wrecks are nearby, so two sites can be combined in one trip.
Entry: Boat; anchor in sand beside the reef or drop a shot
Facilities: Mindarie Marina: public ramp, parking, toilets, fuel, cafes.
Weather, swell & tides
These reefs lie several kilometres offshore in open ocean with no island shelter. Dive in swell under about 1.5 m and light winds, ideally easterly. The south-westerly sea breeze usually arrives late morning to early afternoon in summer and makes the run home rough, so start early.
Some reefs in the group are occasionally affected by current. Winter fronts bring north-westerly gales and large swell. Visibility is generally better than inshore, often 10 m or more.
Best season: Summer and autumn mornings in light winds
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Dewy Ledge (Mindarie) doesn't.
- Boyinaboat Reef · 25 km · Max 7 m
- Little Island (Marmion) · 22 km · Max 10 m
- Two Fold Bay Wreck · 5 km · Max 12 m
- Alkimos Wreck · 5 km · Max 7 m
How the dive is usually run
Anchor in sand beside the reef, descend to 15–19 m and follow the main reef feature (a 50 m wide ridge) in one direction, checking ledges and overhangs. Turn on half air and return along the reef top to the anchor, with a safety stop on the line.
Marine life
- Large schools of reef fish
- pink snapper
- dhufish
- samson fish
- buffalo bream
- bullseyes
- western rock lobster
- sponges
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.
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
Exposed offshore location; swell and afternoon sea breeze; occasional current; depth over 20 m (short no-deco limits); recreational fishing boats and lost line; carry a surface marker buoy.
Technical notes
Nitrox 28–32% extends bottom time.
Dive centres that go here
Private boats from Mindarie; occasional Perth dive club and charter trips (Perth Scuba, Image Dive & Charters, UWA Underwater Club). No operator schedules this reef regularly.
Other dive centres in Perth
Perth Scuba
ProfiledCanning Vale · Perth · WA
One of the most fully documented operations in Western Australia, covering recreational, professional, technical and freediving training alongside substantial equipment facilities.
perthscuba.com · (08) 9455 4448
Dolphin Scuba Diving
ProfiledWelshpool · Perth · WA
A Perth business providing training, equipment and service support.
dolphinscuba.com.au · (08) 9353 2488
ADRENO Perth
ListedO'Connor · Perth · WA
An equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
adreno.com.au/pages/contact-us-perth · (08) 6424 8480
Dive Imports
ListedMt Hawthorn · Perth · WA
A Perth equipment business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
diveimports.com · (08) 9443 1657
Dolphin Dive Fremantle
ListedSouth Fremantle · Perth · WA
A Fremantle operation serving local divers, with proximity to Rottnest Island departures.
dolphindive.com.au
Perth Diving Academy
ListedHillarys · Perth · WA
A Perth training business serving the metropolitan recreational market.
perthdiving.com.au · (08) 9448 6343
All dive centres in Western Australia →
Operators mentioned: Private boats from Mindarie; occasional Perth dive club and charter trips (Perth Scuba, Image Dive & Charters, UWA Underwater Club)
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views



Dewy Ledge (Mindarie): frequently asked questions
How deep is Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
Dewy Ledge (Mindarie) reaches a maximum depth of 20 m, with the shallowest part at about 15 m; most of the dive is spent around 18 m.
What certification do I need to dive Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
Advanced Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated intermediate because of depth beyond 18 m.
Can I shore dive Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
No, it is reached by boat (about 20 minutes).
When is the best time to dive Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
Summer and autumn mornings in light winds.
What marine life will I see at Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
Regularly recorded: Large schools of reef fish, pink snapper, dhufish, samson fish, buffalo bream, bullseyes, western rock lobster, sponges.
What wetsuit do I need at Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood; 7 mm or semi-dry in winter.
How cold is the water at Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
Typically 21–23 °C in summer and 17–19 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
Exposed offshore location; swell and afternoon sea breeze; occasional current; depth over 20 m (short no-deco limits); recreational fishing boats and lost line; carry a surface marker buoy. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Dewy Ledge (Mindarie)?
Fiona Stanley Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Murdoch, Perth). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Perth
Perth's metropolitan coast from Rockingham to Mindarie has limestone reef ledges, caves and swim-throughs in 5–20 m, the wreck trails at Rockingham and Coogee (Omeo, the Saxon Ranger, the Kwinana Grain Jetty), the Blackwall Reach river dive, and dozens of easy shore entries. Tropical fish arrive on the Leeuwin Current each summer to join the temperate regulars.
Getting there: All within an hour of the city with beach car parks; charters from Fremantle, Hillarys and Mindarie for the offshore reefs.
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Single source (Marine Life Network); species list partly inferred from regional descriptions; confirm depths on site.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction











