Tourist Rock at Cheynes Beach is a simple, reliable shore dive in a quiet holiday settlement about an hour east of Albany. Cheynes Beach is linked in name to the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company, whose origins lie in shore whaling on Cheyne Bay, and is best known today for its caravan park, which draws fishers and bushwalkers exploring the nearby Waychinicup National Park and Mount Manypeaks.

Marine Life Network describes Tourist Rock as granite rocks in 10-13 m with a good selection of marine growth and fish life, and as a relatively safe shore dive. The granite forms rounded boulders and slabs with kelp and sargassum on top and sponges, ascidians and encrusting coralline algae on the shaded faces. Common fish include old wives, sweep, herring, wrasse, scalyfin, leatherjackets, harlequin fish and boarfish, with blue groper around the deeper boulders. The surrounding sand holds rays and flathead.

The site is ideal as a relaxed dive for visitors staying at Cheynes Beach, a checkout dive before heading out to Bald Island, or a snorkel on calm days. Nearby, off the western end of Hassell Beach in Cheyne Bay, are the scant remains of the French whaling brigantine Arpenteur, wrecked in a north-east gale in 1849 and rediscovered by fishermen in 1965 – a few frames and planking showing above the sand in 3 m, 100 m offshore.

There is no dive shop at Cheynes Beach, so fill tanks in Albany before driving out, and bring oxygen and a first-aid kit because the settlement is an hour from the nearest hospital.

From Albany drive east on the South Coast Highway for about 55 km and turn south onto Cheyne Road, following it to Cheynes Beach (about 70-80 km, 1 hour). Park near the beach by the caravan park; Tourist Rock is a granite outcrop at the beach reached by a short walk carrying gear across the sand. Enter from the sand beside the rocks.

The Cheynes Beach Caravan Park has a small shop.

Cheynes Beach faces east into Cheyne Bay, sheltered from westerly and south-westerly weather by the headlands at the western end of the bay; Marine Life Network describes it as a relatively safe shore dive exposed to east-south-easterly winds. Easterly and south-easterly winds (common summer sea breezes in the afternoon) bring swell and chop onto the beach, so dive in the morning or in westerly weather.

Enter beside Tourist Rock and follow the granite seaward to 10-13 m, circling the rock and its scattered boulders, then return along the other side to the beach.

No operator – independent shore dive. Air fills only in Albany.