Point Peron is the best natural shore dive in the southern metro area and a standard weekend dive for Rockingham divers. The limestone headland at Cape Peron is surrounded by fringing reef with tall pinnacles, arches, overhangs, ledges and small caves, while the eastern side slopes gently over sandy patches and seagrass meadows. Maximum depth is about 10 m, and the variety of terrain means snorkellers, students and experienced divers can all find something suitable.

The western side is where the structure is. Close to shore there are gutters and swim-throughs in 3–7 m, and named features such as Goss's Grotto. Further out, around 150 m offshore, lie larger caves and outer reefs that should be left to experienced divers. Coralline and red algae give the limestone a distinctive pink and purple colour. The eastern side is flatter, with seagrass beds that suit beginners and macro photographers.

Fish life is varied rather than dense. Buff bream breed here, and there are wrasse, rainbow cale, catfish schools, leatherjackets, sweep, cod and herring cale. Look for weedy seadragons, wobbegongs, spider crabs, nudibranchs, southern baler shells and zoanthids. Stingrays are common, including a large resident one, and dolphins and Australian sea lions from the nearby islands sometimes pass through. Small hammerheads have been reported in summer.

The limestone is sharp and crumbly, so good buoyancy matters in the caves and overhangs. Fishing line, especially during the autumn salmon run, and cray-pot lines are common.

Point Peron suits Open Water divers and confident snorkellers on calm days, and it is an excellent site to learn limestone reef navigation before moving on to Rottnest.

From Rockingham take Safety Bay Road or Point Peron Road west onto Cape Peron and follow Point Peron Road to its end, turn left and continue to the last car park overlooking the dive area. Kit up there (there are no toilets at the western car parks), secure possessions and lock the car. Two main entry points lead down from this car park, and a third from a nearby secondary car park; a sandy path from the western car park is easier than the rocky route.

About 10 minutes from Rockingham, 30 from Fremantle and 55 from the Perth CBD.

Ideal conditions are swell no more than 1 m with a period around 11 seconds and gentle easterly winds; it can be managed up to about 1.8 m with a short period. Westerly swell drives surge into the caves and makes the shallows dangerous, and the summer south-westerly sea breeze usually roughens the surface by midday, so dive early. Visibility ranges from 2 m after swell (limestone particles in suspension) to over 20 m after calm spells.

The eastern side stays calmer in westerly weather. Take care at low tide when waves break over the reef.

From the western entry, swim out over the fringing reef, descend in 3–5 m and work south or north along the limestone, visiting pinnacles, arches and overhangs such as Goss's Grotto at 5–8 m. Caves and deeper outer reefs about 150 m offshore reach 8–10 m and suit experienced divers. Return along the reef edge to the same entry.

Beginners and photographers use the eastern side over seagrass instead.

Rockingham and Perth dive schools run guided shore dives and snorkel tours here regularly in good weather; widely dived independently.