When the old Tanker Jetty was demolished, the site of its seaward end – known locally as 'The Island' and now marked by a navigation beacon – became a no-fishing zone, and the area's tyre-module artificial reef remains a key habitat for the marine life that made the old jetty famous. Esperance Diving & Fishing describes the Tanker Jetty Artificial Reef as tyre modules in a no-fishing zone, accessible to all divers and home to leafy and weedy seadragons, seals and many fish species, and popular with underwater photographers. Perth Scuba describes it as recently reopened.

The tyre modules sit on sand and seagrass in shallow water, now encrusted with sponges, ascidians and algae. Seadragons use the weed around the modules, while old wives, skipjack trevally, herring, whiting and wrasse gather over the structures. Australian sea lions and fur seals occasionally swing by – as they regularly did under the old jetty.

Because fishing is banned here, the fish are more numerous and relaxed than elsewhere around the jetty. The main practical issue is the surface swim from the jetty platform; a surface marker buoy and dive flag are essential given boat traffic.

It is an easy, rewarding dive for Open Water divers and photographers and pairs naturally with a dive under the new jetty. Ask the local dive shop for the latest seadragon sightings and advice on the best route. Because the reef is small, a slow, methodical search pattern works best, and a macro lens is ideal for the seadragons and nudibranchs on the modules.

Walk the new Esperance Jetty on The Esplanade to the dive platform near its end, then swim out toward the navigation beacon marking 'The Island', the site of the old Tanker Jetty's end. The distance is short but in open water – use a surface marker buoy and flag. Esperance Diving & Fishing (72 The Esplanade) can guide divers or run them out by boat.

Like the jetty, the reef is protected from ocean swell by the Recherche islands but exposed to south-easterly wind chop, which reduces visibility and makes the surface swim tiring. Choose calm mornings before the sea breeze and avoid days when the 'Esperance Doctor' easterly is blowing. Winter storms can reduce visibility for days.

There is no tidal current of note, and the depth never exceeds about 9 m.

Swim out on the surface to the beacon, descend onto the tyre modules and explore them slowly for seadragons, seals and fish, then return underwater on a compass heading toward the jetty end if air allows.

Esperance Diving & Fishing (72 The Esplanade, Esperance; operating since 1983) – boat dives in the Recherche Archipelago on demand/weather permitting, minimum numbers apply for long trips – lists the Tanker Jetty artificial reef as a shore dive; Perth Scuba Esperance trips include it.