Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
Louth Bay Jetty
Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf, South Australia · near Louth Bay / Port Lincoln
| Depth | 1–4 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Steps from the jetty or beach entry |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 4-10 m |
| Water | summer 17-20 °C, winter 13-15 °C |
| Suit | 5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter |
| Best season | Calm westerly days |
| Bottom time | 55 min |
| Position | -34.56000, 135.93000 (approximate) |
| Permit | None required |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – evacuation via RFDS Central Operations aeromedical retrieval from the nearest airstrip |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Louth Bay Jetty
Also known as Louth Bay
An easy 4 m jetty and foreshore reef near Port Lincoln, with a deeper boulder reef to 15 m at the south end of the bay.
Near Louth Bay / Port Lincoln · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf, South Australia
- Depth
- 1–4 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- Shore entry
- Water
- 17-20 °C
- Visibility
- 4-10 m
Louth Bay Jetty1–4 m · Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
In season nowBest months: year-round.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 1–4 m
- Typical depth
- 3 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Shore
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Yes
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 4-10 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 17-20 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 13-15 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 55 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- Possible
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter
Location
Louth Bay · Eyre Peninsula – East Coast (Spencer Gulf)
-34.56000, 135.93000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
None required
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – evacuation via RFDS Central Operations aeromedical retrieval from the nearest airstrip
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Louth Bay Jetty →
A day-by-day plan for Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf 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
Louth Bay Jetty is a jetty / pier shore dive you can do independently in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf, SA, 1–4 m, suited to Open Water divers.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note boat traffic overhead and cold water.
Why dive here
- An easy 4 m jetty and foreshore reef near Port Lincoln, with a deeper boulder reef to 15 m at the south end of the bay.
- Snorkel-friendly, so non-diving companions can join at the surface.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
Conditions to avoid
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
- Afternoon north-easterlies
- Strong westerlies
About Louth Bay Jetty
Louth Bay is a small settlement north of Port Lincoln, and the Marine Life Society lists two dives here. The jetty is an easy shallow shore dive in about 4 m, with some hard foreshore reef and a good variety of small marine life. The south end of Louth Bay offers moderate-depth diving to about 15 m among rocky boulders and crevasses.
Under the jetty and along the foreshore reef, divers find nudibranchs, crabs, sea stars, small octopus and cowfish, with magpie perch, leatherjackets and wrasse around the rocks and schools of tommy ruff and garfish in the shallows. The deeper boulder reef at the south end supports sponges and algae and larger fish – old wives, sweep, blue groper and morwong – in its crevasses. Louth Bay's appeal is that it is close to Port Lincoln but quieter than the town sites, and it offers both a novice jetty dive and a more interesting reef within one bay.
Being on the Spencer Gulf side, it is sheltered from westerly weather that affects the lower Eyre coast. It suits beginners, snorkellers and Port Lincoln visitors wanting an easy shore dive, while the south-end reef rewards those with a boat. Details are sparse, so treat depths as indicative.
Getting there & entry
Jetty at the small settlement of Louth Bay, about 25 km north of Port Lincoln, offering an easy shallow shore dive (4 m) with some hard foreshore reef; the south end of the bay has deeper boulders and crevasses to 15 m.
Louth Bay is signposted off the Lincoln Highway about 25 km north of Port Lincoln (roughly 30 minutes). The jetty is on the foreshore of the small shack settlement; park near the jetty and enter via the steps or beach. For the deeper south-end reef, a small boat or longer shore swim is needed.
Air fills and hire are available in Port Lincoln, half an hour to the south.
Entry: Steps from the jetty or beach entry
Facilities: Limited – parking at the jetty; services in Port Lincoln (25 km).
Weather, swell & tides
The east coast of Eyre Peninsula faces Spencer Gulf, so easterly, north-easterly and south-easterly winds blow onshore, raise chop and stir the sand and seagrass, while westerly winds blow offshore and give the flattest, clearest water. There is little ocean swell this far inside the gulf, although strong south-easterlies can produce a short, steep sea. Tides are moderate, and shallow jetties are easiest around mid to high water.
Summer afternoons often bring south-easterly sea breezes, so mornings are best; winter has more westerly weather, which suits this coast, but colder water (about 13-14°C).
Best season: Calm westerly days
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Louth Bay Jetty doesn't.
- Kirton Point Jetty · 18 km · Max 12 m
- Port Lincoln Town Jetty · 19 km · Max 4 m
- Cape Donington · 20 km · Max 12 m
- Degei Wreck · 20 km · Max 11 m
How the dive is usually run
Dive the jetty and foreshore reef at 2-4 m, or for more depth boat to the south end of the bay and explore the boulders and crevasses at 10-15 m.
Marine life
- Nudibranchs →
- crabs
- sea stars
- octopus →
- cowfish
- magpie perch
- leatherjackets
- wrasse
- tommy ruff
- garfish; old wives
- sweep
- western blue groper →
- morwong on the south-end reef
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
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
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
Fishing line; boat traffic; easterly winds reduce visibility.
Dive centres that go here
No operator; Port Lincoln locals.
Other dive centres in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Diving Adelaide
ListedMarleston · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide training and guided diving operation serving local sites and organised trips.
divingadelaide.com.au · (08) 8122 5003
Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries
Named by sitesAdelaide · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf · SA
Not-for-profit guided snorkel program (EMS), not a dive shop; operates statewide including Whyalla.
emsau.org
Tony Bramley cuttlefish tours
Reported closedWhyalla · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf · SA
Tony Bramley's Whyalla Diving Services; he has since sold the Whyalla Dive Shop (whydive.com.au), which now runs cuttlefish tours under new owners.
All dive centres in South Australia →
Operators mentioned: Port Lincoln dive shop (air)
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views
Louth Bay Jetty: frequently asked questions
How deep is Louth Bay Jetty?
Louth Bay Jetty reaches a maximum depth of 4 m, with the shallowest part at about 1 m; most of the dive is spent around 3 m.
What certification do I need to dive Louth Bay Jetty?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note boat traffic overhead and cold water.
Can I shore dive Louth Bay Jetty?
Yes. Louth Bay Jetty is a shore dive that can be done independently: steps from the jetty or beach entry.
When is the best time to dive Louth Bay Jetty?
Calm westerly days.
What marine life will I see at Louth Bay Jetty?
Regularly recorded: Nudibranchs, crabs, sea stars, octopus, cowfish, magpie perch, leatherjackets, wrasse, tommy ruff, garfish; old wives, sweep, western blue groper and more.
What wetsuit do I need at Louth Bay Jetty?
5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter.
How cold is the water at Louth Bay Jetty?
Typically 17-20 °C in summer and 13-15 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Louth Bay Jetty?
Fishing line; boat traffic; easterly winds reduce visibility. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Louth Bay Jetty?
Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – evacuation via RFDS Central Operations aeromedical retrieval from the nearest airstrip. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Every winter tens of thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish gather on the rocky reef between Point Lowly and Stony Point to breed, in 2–6 m of water a few metres from the shore. It is the only mass aggregation of its kind in the world and one of the great wildlife dives anywhere. The Whyalla jetties and the Point Lowly reefs are worthwhile the rest of the year.
Getting there: Four hours north of Adelaide. Stony Point and Black Point have car parks and steps to the water; local dive shops hire gear in season.
All Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Coordinates approximate.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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