Helga's Tunnels is one of the named Lighthouse Bay sites alongside Blizzard Ridge, The Labyrinth, Gulliver's and Dibley's, and it is the one marketed for tunnel exploration. Australia's Coral Coast lists it with a maximum depth of about 30 m, deeper than the 12–18 m typical of the rest of the bay, which makes it better suited to Advanced divers.

The reef here is cut by tunnels and swim-throughs formed in the limestone, which attract glassfish and sweepers, and give shelter to crayfish, moray eels, wobbegongs and resting whitetip reef sharks. Outside the tunnels the reef supports the same fish-rich environment as the rest of the bay — schooling reef fish, turtles and sea snakes — with pelagic visitors possible along the deeper margins.

Detailed published accounts of the individual tunnels are scarce, so the dive is best done with an operator who knows the layout. Tunnels are short and open-ended rather than true overhead cave, but they still demand good buoyancy and awareness of other divers kicking up sand. Because it is less frequently scheduled than Blizzard Ridge, it is worth asking operators for it on calm days if you have Advanced certification.

Like the rest of Lighthouse Bay, it was affected by the 2025 marine heatwave; check with operators on current coral condition. Expect to spend most of the dive shallower than the maximum; the tunnels themselves are the focus and the deeper sections are optional for those with appropriate certification and gas.

Planning notes: Advanced Open Water certification is recommended and the site is rated intermediate. Expect to spend most of the dive around 15 m, with a maximum of about 30 m. Access is by boat only, and site selection depends on wind, swell and tide on the day. Best season: April–November (whale sharks March–July, humpbacks July–October, mantas year-round). Traffic: moderate (occasional charters/club dives).

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 to the reef base, locate the tunnel entrances with the guide and pass through one at a time with good trim. Hold around 15 m through the tunnel section, avoid dropping deeper than planned (the site reaches about 30 m), then ascend gradually across the reef to the mooring or a DSMB for the safety stop.

Recreational; torch recommended for tunnels.

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.