Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 9 Nov 2026
Pebbles Beach (King Bay)
Pilbara & Dampier, Western Australia · near Dampier
| Depth | 1–6 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Shore entry from beach/rocks at slack high tide |
| Current | Variable/Tidal |
| Visibility | 2-10 m |
| Water | summer 28-30 °C, winter 21-23 °C |
| Suit | 3 mm shorty/full summer; 5 mm full suit winter |
| Best season | April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months) |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | -20.62000, 116.77000 (approximate) |
| Permit | Dampier Archipelago nature reserves / Murujuga National Park on land; no marine park permit required for diving |
| Nearest chamber | Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – evacuation via RFDS from Karratha |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Pebbles Beach (King Bay)
Also known as Pebbles Beach, King Bay shore dive
Epaulette sharks among shallow rocks on the Burrup.
Near Dampier · Pilbara & Dampier, Western Australia
- Depth
- 1–6 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- Shore entry
- Water
- 28-30 °C
- Visibility
- 2-10 m
Pebbles Beach (King Bay)1–6 m · Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months)
- Best months
- Now (November)
- Stinger suit Nov–May
Dive facts
- Depth
- 1–6 m
- Typical depth
- 4 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Shore
- Offshore
- 0 km
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Yes
- Current
- Variable/Tidal
- Visibility
- 2-10 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 28-30 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 21-23 °C
- Water
- Tropical
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Moderate (occasional charters/club dives)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
3 mm shorty/full summer; 5 mm full suit winter
Location
Burrup Peninsula (Murujuga) · Pilbara – Dampier Archipelago
-20.62000, 116.77000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: pilbaradiveandtours.com.auMarine park & permits
Dampier Archipelago nature reserves / Murujuga National Park on land; no marine park permit required for diving
Nearest recompression chamber
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – evacuation via RFDS from Karratha
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Pebbles Beach (King Bay) →
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
Pebbles Beach (King Bay) is a shore / rock platform shore dive you can do independently in Pilbara & Dampier, WA, 1–6 m, suited to Open Water divers, variable/tidal current.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note tidal current that must be timed.
Why dive here
- Epaulette sharks among shallow rocks on the Burrup.
- Snorkel-friendly, so non-diving companions can join at the surface.
Conditions to avoid
- Any time other than slack water
- Cyclone season (roughly December–April)
- Stinger season without a full suit (November–May)
About Pebbles Beach (King Bay)
Pebbles Beach is Pilbara Dive and Tours' second recommended shore dive, on King Bay on the western side of the Burrup Peninsula, about 30 minutes from Karratha. Large rocks lie close to shore over a sandy bottom with small corals, reaching 5–6 m at high tide.
Marine life includes anemones, rays, tropical fish, turtles, nudibranchs and epaulette sharks, with manta rays occasionally seen. Visibility and temperatures follow the seasons — under 5 m and 30 °C in summer, up to 10 m and 21 °C in winter.
About the Dampier Archipelago: the archipelago's 42 islands off Dampier and Karratha hold one of the most diverse marine environments in Western Australia, with more than 650 recorded fish species, coral reefs, sponge gardens and seagrass meadows — all set against red Pilbara rock and the world's largest concentration of Aboriginal rock art on the Burrup Peninsula (Murujuga). It is heavily fished and boated by locals but lightly dived, and visiting divers usually go with Pilbara Dive and Tours or a local club. The combination of big tides, turbid inshore water and strong currents means the outer islands generally offer the best visibility and coral, and dive timing is planned around slack water.
Planning notes: Open Water certification is recommended and the site is rated beginner. Expect to spend most of the dive around 4 m, with a maximum of about 6 m. It is a shore-access site that can be visited independently when conditions suit. Currents are significant, so timing around the tide is part of the plan. Best season: April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months). Traffic: moderate (occasional charters/club dives).
Getting there & entry
Shore dive at Pebbles Beach on King Bay, western Burrup Peninsula, about 30 minutes from Karratha; rocks near shore with sandy bottom and small corals, max 5–6 m at high tide.
From Karratha drive about 30 minutes onto the Burrup Peninsula, turning left off Burrup Road onto a dirt track to Pebbles Beach on King Bay (4WD or AWD required). Park near the beach and enter over the rocks close to shore. Dive at slack high tide; snorkel at low tide.
Fly a dive flag. The Burrup is an industrial and heritage area – obey access signage.
Entry: Shore entry from beach/rocks at slack high tide
Facilities: None on site. Air fills in Karratha.
Weather, swell & tides
The Dampier Archipelago is sheltered from ocean swell by its islands, but the big Pilbara tides (spring ranges approaching 5 m) drive strong currents between the islands and control visibility; dive near slack water and plan around neap tides for the clearest water. Visibility is usually under 5 m in summer and up to 10–15 m in the cooler months, better at the outer islands. Strong easterly winds in winter and afternoon sea breezes chop up the crossings.
Cyclone season runs November–April and the Pilbara coast is Australia's most cyclone-prone; charters stop during warnings. Irukandji and box jellyfish can occur in the warmer months. Water temperature ranges from about 21 °C in July–August to 30 °C in January–February.
Best season: April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months)
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Pebbles Beach (King Bay) doesn't.
- Withnell Bay · 4 km · Max 6 m
- West Lewis Island · 16 km · Max 10 m
How the dive is usually run
Enter at slack high tide, explore the large rocks close to shore and then the sand and small corals beyond at 4–6 m, returning before the tide turns.
Marine life
- Epaulette sharks
- manta rays (occasional) →
- turtles →
- rays
- anemones
- nudibranchs →
- tropical fish
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
- 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
Tides and currents; low visibility; boats and other water users; industrial port area nearby; 4WD track.
Dive centres that go here
Self-guided; Pilbara Dive and Tours (Karratha) provides gear hire, fills and site briefings ('Self Guide Dive and Snorkel').
Operators recorded for Pebbles Beach (King Bay)
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
Other dive centres in Pilbara & Dampier
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
Montebello Island Safaris
Named by sitesExmouth · Pilbara & Dampier · WA
Liveaboard fishing/dive charter out of Exmouth; postal address only (PO Box 388, Exmouth WA 6707).
montebello.com.au · 0419 091 670
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Pebbles Beach (King Bay): frequently asked questions
How deep is Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
Pebbles Beach (King Bay) reaches a maximum depth of 6 m, with the shallowest part at about 1 m; most of the dive is spent around 4 m.
What certification do I need to dive Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note tidal current that must be timed.
Can I shore dive Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
Yes. Pebbles Beach (King Bay) is a shore dive that can be done independently: shore entry from beach/rocks at slack high tide.
When is the best time to dive Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
April–October (outside cyclone season; best visibility in cooler months).
What marine life will I see at Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
Regularly recorded: Epaulette sharks, manta rays (occasional), turtles, rays, anemones, nudibranchs, tropical fish.
What wetsuit do I need at Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
3 mm shorty/full summer; 5 mm full suit winter.
How cold is the water at Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
Typically 28-30 °C in summer and 21-23 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
Tides and currents; low visibility; boats and other water users; industrial port area nearby; 4WD track. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Pebbles Beach (King Bay)?
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – evacuation via RFDS from Karratha. 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
Data confidence: Medium · Being verified: Coordinates.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
Nearby dive sites
More shore dives in Western Australia
Explore more
This region
Similar dives
Marine life










