Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 8 Nov 2026
Venus Bay Jetty
Eyre Peninsula, South Australia · near Venus Bay
| Depth | 1–5 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Access | Shore |
| Entry | Steps from the jetty or beach entry |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 3-10 m |
| Water | summer 17-21 °C, winter 13-15 °C |
| Suit | 5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter |
| Best season | Year-round – sheltered |
| Bottom time | 55 min |
| Position | -33.23000, 134.67000 (approximate) |
| Permit | None required at the jetty |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – evacuation via RFDS Central Operations aeromedical retrieval from the nearest airstrip |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Venus Bay Jetty
An easy, sheltered village jetty dive on the swell-exposed west coast – day or night.
Near Venus Bay · Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
- Depth
- 1–5 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Shore
- Boat ride
- Shore entry
- Water
- 17-21 °C
- Visibility
- 3-10 m
Venus Bay Jetty1–5 m · Open Water · Shore
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
In season nowBest months: year-round.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 1–5 m
- Typical depth
- 3 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Shore
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- Yes
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 3-10 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 17-21 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 13-15 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 55 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- Yes
- Snorkel friendly
- Yes
Exposure suit
5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter
Location
Venus Bay · Eyre Peninsula – West Coast
-33.23000, 134.67000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
None required at the jetty
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – evacuation via RFDS Central Operations aeromedical retrieval from the nearest airstrip
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Venus Bay Jetty →
A day-by-day plan for Eyre Peninsula 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
Venus Bay Jetty is a jetty / pier shore dive you can do independently in Eyre Peninsula, SA, 1–5 m, suited to Open Water divers.
Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note boat traffic overhead and cold water.
Why dive here
- An easy, sheltered village jetty dive on the swell-exposed west coast – day or night.
- Commonly dived at night, when octopus, cuttlefish and crustaceans are out.
- Snorkel-friendly, so non-diving companions can join at the surface.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
Conditions to avoid
- Strong southerly or south-east swell and wind
- Strong northerlies
About Venus Bay Jetty
Venus Bay is a small fishing village on a large, sheltered bay on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula, between Elliston and Streaky Bay. The Marine Life Society describes the jetty as an often sheltered spot and an easy day or night dive with some small marine life. The jetty stands over sand and seagrass in shallow water.
Its piles carry algae, sponges and ascidians, with crabs, nudibranchs and small fish, and schools of tommy ruff, garfish and King George whiting move around the structure. Squid are attracted to the lights at night, and blue swimmer crabs and stingarees are common on the sand. The bay's seagrass meadows are an important nursery, and dolphins frequent the bay.
The dive is modest, but its sheltered position makes it a reliable option on the swell-battered west coast, and it is convenient for anyone staying at the caravan park. The surrounding area, including Venus Bay Conservation Park and the clifftop lookouts at the bay entrance, is spectacular. It suits beginners, snorkellers and travelling divers wanting an easy shore dive.
Data confidence is low; details are indicative.
Getting there & entry
Jetty at the fishing village of Venus Bay on a large sheltered bay between Elliston and Streaky Bay; an often-sheltered easy day or night dive with small marine life.
Venus Bay is signposted off the Flinders Highway between Elliston and Streaky Bay, about 90 km north of Elliston and 280 km north-west of Port Lincoln. The jetty is on the foreshore of the small village beside the caravan park and boat ramp. Park at the jetty and enter via the steps or beach.
Entry: Steps from the jetty or beach entry
Facilities: Parking, toilets, caravan park, kiosk and boat ramp.
Weather, swell & tides
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.
Best season: Year-round – sheltered
How the dive is usually run
Swim out along the piles to the end, look over the growth and seagrass for small life, and return; squid at night.
Marine life
- Tommy ruff
- garfish
- King George whiting
- southern calamari
- blue swimmer crabs
- stingarees
- crabs
- nudibranchs →
- dolphins
- seagrass fauna
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
- Night Diver – Commonly dived at night.
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
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
Fishing line; boat traffic from the ramp; shallow at low tide.
Dive centres that go here
No operator; visiting divers and holidaymakers.
Other dive centres in Eyre Peninsula
Calypso Star Charters
ListedPort Lincoln · Eyre Peninsula · SA
A Port Lincoln operation running great white shark cage experiences and sea lion swims. Classified as wildlife tourism rather than a scuba dive centre.
sharkcagediving.com.au · 1300 788 378
The Dive Shop Port Lincoln
ListedPort Lincoln · Eyre Peninsula · SA
A Port Lincoln business providing equipment, fills and dive services — a conventional dive business distinct from the region's cage tourism operators.
thediveshopportlincoln.com.au · (08) 8682 1656
Coffin Bay Scuba Co
Named by sitesCoffin Bay · Eyre Peninsula · SA
Website blocked fetch; phone from Tripadvisor listing (latest review 2023).
coffinbayscuba.com · 0401 811 020
Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience
Named by sitesBaird Bay · Eyre Peninsula · SA
Sea lion and dolphin swim tours (snorkel), not a scuba operator.
bairdbay.com · (08) 8351 1489
Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions
Named by sitesMile End · Eyre Peninsula · SA
Office in Adelaide; expeditions depart Port Lincoln.
rodneyfox.com.au · (08) 8363 1788
Tumby Bay charters
Named by sitesTumby Bay · Eyre Peninsula · SA
No dive charter operator found in Tumby Bay; only fishing charters located.
All dive centres in South Australia →
Operators mentioned: None
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views
Venus Bay Jetty: frequently asked questions
How deep is Venus Bay Jetty?
Venus Bay Jetty reaches a maximum depth of 5 m, with the shallowest part at about 1 m; most of the dive is spent around 3 m.
What certification do I need to dive Venus Bay Jetty?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated beginner: sheltered, shallow and manageable for a newly certified diver on a normal day, though note boat traffic overhead and cold water.
Can I shore dive Venus Bay Jetty?
Yes. Venus Bay Jetty is a shore dive that can be done independently: steps from the jetty or beach entry.
When is the best time to dive Venus Bay Jetty?
Year-round – sheltered.
What marine life will I see at Venus Bay Jetty?
Regularly recorded: Tommy ruff, garfish, King George whiting, southern calamari, blue swimmer crabs, stingarees, crabs, nudibranchs, dolphins, seagrass fauna.
What wetsuit do I need at Venus Bay Jetty?
5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter.
How cold is the water at Venus Bay Jetty?
Typically 17-21 °C in summer and 13-15 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Venus Bay Jetty?
Fishing line; boat traffic from the ramp; shallow at low tide. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Can you night dive Venus Bay Jetty?
Yes, Venus Bay Jetty is commonly dived at night.
Diving in Eyre Peninsula
Port Lincoln is the base for Australia's only great white shark cage diving at the Neptune Islands, and for sea lion swims at Hopkins Island and Baird Bay. Around the peninsula's coast are the Port Lincoln jetties, Tumby Bay, the wreck of the Fides and a great deal of clear, cold, unvisited reef.
Getting there: Fly to Port Lincoln or drive seven hours from Adelaide. Shark and sea lion operators run from Port Lincoln and Baird Bay; jetties are shore dives.
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Coordinates approximate.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
Nearby dive sites
More shore dives in South Australia
Explore more
This region
Similar dives
Marine life