Naturaliste Reef is the most remote site in the South West dive listings. Marinelife.org.au describes it as about 20 nautical miles offshore, with depths to 50 m, big drop-offs and excellent fish and marine life, but hard to reach and rarely dived.

That is almost all that is published. The distance offshore implies clear oceanic water, strong currents and the chance of large pelagic fish, and the drop-offs to 50 m put much of the reef beyond recreational depths. Any dive here would be an expedition: a large boat, experienced skipper, full offshore safety gear, technical diving training for the deeper sections and a long weather window.

The record is included for completeness because it appears in a regional site list, but it is not a practical destination for most divers, and its location has not been confirmed. Anyone planning an exploratory trip should seek local knowledge from offshore fishers and technical divers first, and should treat the site as unknown territory.

For most divers visiting Dunsborough, Wrights Bank offers a far more accessible taste of offshore pinnacle diving off the cape, with a regular charter and known conditions. If more information about Naturaliste Reef is found, this record should be expanded and its position added.

The coast from Cape Naturaliste south is the Indian Ocean side of the Capes, where the sheltered conditions of Geographe Bay give way to open-ocean swell. Sites here and offshore demand far more attention to forecasts than the bay sites: long-period south-westerly groundswell can arrive on an otherwise calm, sunny day, and conditions can change within an hour.

About 20 nautical miles offshore - a long run in a large, well-equipped boat from the Dunsborough/Quindalup ramps or Port Geographe. Hard to reach and rarely dived; go only with experienced skippers and full offshore safety equipment. Boat ramps along Geographe Bay include Bunbury (Casuarina), Busselton, Port Geographe, Quindalup and Dunsborough; on the Capes coast the Canal Rocks, Gracetown and Hamelin Bay ramps are small and swell-exposed.

Check the forecast, carry a marine radio and log a trip plan with the local Marine Rescue group.

Open ocean 20 nm offshore; requires an extended period of calm weather, low swell and light winds. Strong currents likely. General pattern in Geographe Bay: sheltered from south-westerly swell by Cape Naturaliste; summer mornings are calm before the afternoon sea breeze, while winter north-westerly fronts roll swell and chop into the bay and reduce visibility for several days.

Shot the drop-off, descend to a planned depth on the wall, and ascend with staged decompression if required, drifting under a DSMB with a chase boat. Agree a turn pressure before descending (half gas, or a third where current is likely), carry a DSMB, and make a 3-minute safety stop at 5 m.

Trimix/deco planning required for deeper sections; full offshore safety equipment and chase boat.

No operator - rarely dived; private expeditions only. Nearest dive services: Swan Dive (Busselton/Port Geographe) for fills, hire, nitrox and charters; no dive shop in Margaret River or Augusta.