Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)
Pilbara & Dampier, Western Australia · near Onslow
| Depth | 8–12 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Advanced Open Water |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Access | Boat (multi-day/liveaboard) |
| Entry | Giant stride or backward roll from charter vessel or tender |
| Current | Variable/Tidal |
| Visibility | 5-20 m |
| Water | summer 28-30 °C, winter 22-24 °C |
| Suit | 3 mm full suit |
| Best season | April–October |
| Bottom time | 45 min |
| Position | -20.39000, 115.56000 (approximate) |
| Permit | Montebello Islands Marine Park (State) – large sanctuary zones (no take); check zoning |
| Nearest chamber | Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – RFDS evacuation via Karratha or Onslow; very remote |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)
Also known as HMS Plym, Plym wreck, Trimouille Island atomic test ship
Site of Britain's first atomic test, 1952.
Near Onslow · Pilbara & Dampier, Western Australia
- Depth
- 8–12 m
- Minimum level
- Advanced Open Water
- Access
- Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)
- Boat ride
- ~480 min
- Water
- 28-30 °C
- Visibility
- 5-20 m
HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)8–12 m · Advanced Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 8–12 m
- Typical depth
- 12 m
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Depth tier
- Open Water (10–18 m)
- Access
- Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)
- Offshore
- 120 km
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~480 min
- Current
- Variable/Tidal
- Visibility
- 5-20 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 28-30 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 22-24 °C
- Water
- Tropical
- Bottom time
- 45 min
- Dive traffic
- Remote/expedition only
- Night dive
- Possible
- Snorkel friendly
- Partial
Exposure suit
3 mm full suit
Location
Montebello Islands · Pilbara – Montebello & Barrow Islands
-20.39000, 115.56000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: imagedive.com.auMarine park & permits
Montebello Islands Marine Park (State) – large sanctuary zones (no take); check zoning
Nearest recompression chamber
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – RFDS evacuation via Karratha or Onslow; very remote
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands) →
A day-by-day plan for Pilbara & Dampier 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
HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands) is a wreck liveaboard-only site in Pilbara & Dampier, WA, 8–12 m, suited to Advanced Open Water divers, variable/tidal current, about 480 minutes by boat.
Rated advanced because of tidal current that must be timed.
Why dive here
- Site of Britain's first atomic test, 1952.
- Sunk in 1952.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
- Visibility often reaches 5-20 m.
Conditions to avoid
- Spring tides (strong current)
- Any time other than slack water
- Cyclone season (roughly December–April)
About HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)
HMS Plym (listed by Image Dive as HMAS Plym, about 1,300 tonnes) was the River-class frigate that carried Britain's first atomic device, detonated inside the ship off Trimouille Island on 3 October 1952 in Operation Hurricane. The vessel was destroyed and little remains beyond fragments on the seabed; Image Dive lists the site at about 12 m.
It is one of the strangest dive sites in Australia — less a wreck than a historic location — and should only be visited with local knowledge and awareness of radiation advice for the adjacent islands.
About the Montebellos: the group of more than 200 small limestone islands and islets lies 120 km west of Dampier and is protected as the Montebello Islands Marine Park, with more than 150 hard coral species, over 450 fish species, 170 echinoderms and 630 molluscs recorded. Flatback, green and hawksbill turtles nest here, and humpback, minke and Bryde's whales, dolphins and dugong frequent the waters. The islands carry a unique history: British atomic tests were conducted on and near Trimouille and Alpha islands in 1952 (Operation Hurricane) and 1956 (Operation Mosaic), and visitors are advised to visit rather than camp on those islands. Pearl farming has operated in the lagoons since the early 1900s.
Planning notes: Advanced Open Water certification is recommended and the site is rated advanced. Expect to spend most of the dive around 12 m, with a maximum of about 12 m. It can only be reached on a multi-day expedition or liveaboard, so it is usually one of several sites dived on the trip and choices are made by the crew on the day. Currents are significant, so timing around the tide is part of the plan. Best season: April–October. Traffic: remote/expedition only.
Wreck details
River-class frigate, ~1,300 tonnes (destroyed in atomic test) · Sunk 1952
Era: post-war. Oldest wrecks · Wartime wrecks · Scuttled warships
Other wrecks of the same era
- J P Webb Wreck (Ledge Point) · Max 4 m · Turquoise Coast
- HNLMS K XI Submarine Wreck · Max 38 m · Rottnest Island
- ALC40 & Gay Dragon Wrecks (Bicton) · Max 8.5 m · Perth
- Uribes Wreck · Max 4 m · Rottnest Island
- Town Beach Flying Boat Wrecks (low-tide walk) · Max 1 m · Broome & Kimberley
- D9 Dredge Wreck · Max 13 m · Perth
Getting there & entry
Remains of the frigate HMS Plym, vaporised in the 1952 Operation Hurricane atomic test off Trimouille Island; site in about 12 m.
The Montebellos lie about 120 km west of Dampier, 80 nautical miles from Onslow and 120 from Exmouth. There is no day-trip access for most divers: visits are by liveaboard or charter vessel (Montebello Island Safaris, based in Exmouth, runs multi-day charters and advertises dive liveaboards) or by private ocean-going boat, typically a 6–10 hour passage, anchoring in the islands' sheltered lagoons. Carry full safety and communications gear; there are no facilities.
Entry: Giant stride or backward roll from charter vessel or tender
Facilities: None – remote uninhabited islands. Radiation warning signs on Trimouille and Alpha islands.
Weather, swell & tides
Diving is best April–October outside cyclone season. The islands have a large tidal range (about 6 m at springs), driving strong currents through the channels; dive at slack water. Visibility is unpredictable — one operator suspended charters in 2022 partly because visibility often struggled to exceed 5 m — while the western outer reefs can be much clearer on calm days.
South-westerly and easterly winds limit which anchorages are usable.
Best season: April–October
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands) doesn't.
- Tryall Wreck (Tryal Rocks) · 22 km · Max 8 m
How the dive is usually run
Only with an operator who knows the site: descend to about 12 m and view the remaining fragments and crater area; avoid disturbing sediment.
Marine life
- Reef fish
- corals recolonising the area
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Within the 18 m limit of an entry-level certification.
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
Radiation advice for Trimouille/Alpha islands (do not camp; limit time ashore); remote; tidal current; poor visibility.
Dive centres that go here
Montebello Island Safaris (Exmouth) – multi-day charters and dive liveaboard trips; Image Dive suspended its Montebello dive charters in 2022. Otherwise private vessels only.
Operators recorded for HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)
Other dive centres in Pilbara & Dampier
Pilbara Dive and Tours
Named by sitesKarratha · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
pilbaradiveandtours.com.au · 0410 890 077
Lethal Adventures
Named by sitesKarratha · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Dampier Archipelago boat tours/charters; postal address only (PO Box 20, Karratha WA 6714).
lethaladventures.au · 0418 906 963
Mackerel Islands resort
Named by sitesOnslow · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Island resort (Thevenard Island) off Onslow; reservations office is in Cottesloe (1/589 Stirling Hwy), Onslow reception (08) 9184 6586.
mackerelislands.com.au · (08) 9184 6444
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands): frequently asked questions
How deep is HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands) reaches a maximum depth of 12 m, with the shallowest part at about 8 m; most of the dive is spent around 12 m.
What certification do I need to dive HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
Advanced Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated advanced because of tidal current that must be timed.
Can I shore dive HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
No, it is reached by boat (about 480 minutes). A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
April–October.
What marine life will I see at HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
Regularly recorded: Reef fish, corals recolonising the area.
What wetsuit do I need at HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
3 mm full suit.
How cold is the water at HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
Typically 28-30 °C in summer and 22-24 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
Radiation advice for Trimouille/Alpha islands (do not camp; limit time ashore); remote; tidal current; poor visibility. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to HMAS Plym (Montebello Islands)?
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – RFDS evacuation via Karratha or Onslow; very remote. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Pilbara & Dampier
The Dampier Archipelago and the Montebello Islands have coral reefs, WWII and pearling wrecks and turtles in warm, tidal, often turbid water. Onslow is the launch point for the Mackerel Islands and the Montebellos, where the 1950s British nuclear test sites are now a marine park with excellent, remote diving.
Getting there: Fly to Karratha or Onslow; charters and liveaboards when available.
All Pilbara & Dampier dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
- marinelife.org.au/?page_id=201
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montebello_Islands_Marine_Park
- imagedive.com.au/scuba-diving/trips-and-tours/montebello-islands-diving
- montebello.com.au/diving
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: What remains underwater; exact position; depth.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction









