Point Avoid is one of the scenic highlights of Coffin Bay National Park, where limestone cliffs and white beaches face the Southern Ocean. The Marine Life Society describes a sheltered limestone reef between Point Avoid and Golden Island, in 2-5 m, partly protected from the incessant south-westerly swell and only rarely dived on low-swell days. The shallow sheltered reef is good for snorkellers, with many small crevices and a thick covering of bushy brown algae (Cystophora monilifera and C. moniliformis), and it is an important nursery for juvenile and sub-adult fish including western blue groper.

The more exposed side is rockier and more varied, carpeted in strapweed (Ecklonia) and Acrocarpia, with larger fish. Expect magpie perch, zebrafish, wrasse, old wives, sweep and leatherjackets, with abalone and crayfish in the cracks. The difficulty is the swell: this coast is exposed to the Bight, and only on a handful of calm days does the reef become safely diveable.

Access is also a factor, requiring a 4WD drive through the national park. Point Avoid suits self-sufficient, experienced shore divers and snorkellers who can read the sea and pick their day. On a good day it offers clear water, juvenile blue groper and a spectacular wilderness setting.

The national park's camping areas allow divers to stay nearby and watch for a calm morning, and snorkellers can enjoy the sheltered inner reef when it is too rough for scuba on the exposed side.

From Coffin Bay township enter Coffin Bay National Park (entry fee) and follow the park road towards Point Avoid; the final section is suitable for high-clearance/4WD vehicles. Park near Point Avoid and walk down to the sheltered water between the point and Golden Island. About 45 km (1 hour) from Port Lincoln.

The west coast of Eyre Peninsula faces the Great Australian Bight and receives almost constant south-westerly Southern Ocean swell; open-coast sites need swell under about 1.5 m and are only diveable a handful of days a month, usually after several days of northerly or easterly winds, which blow offshore. The large sheltered bays (Coffin Bay, Waterloo Bay, Venus Bay, Baird Bay, Streaky Bay, Denial Bay) are protected from swell and can be dived in most conditions except strong onshore winds. Summer brings strong afternoon south-easterly sea breezes; winter brings cold fronts with big swell but also calm, clear spells.

Water is cool: about 14-15°C in winter and 17-21°C in summer. The Marine Life Society notes Point Avoid is only rarely dived, on low-swell days.

Enter in the lee of Golden Island, explore the shallow sheltered reef and crevices at 2-4 m, and only venture to the rockier exposed side if swell is minimal.

No operator; Coffin Bay Scuba Co. may advise; otherwise independent divers on rare calm days.