Western River Cove is the classic Kangaroo Island shore dive and a regular fixture on Adelaide dive-club trips. A small beach at the mouth of the Western River is flanked by rocky headlands, and the reef runs out from both sides. The Department for Environment and Water lists it in South Australia's top snorkel spots – 'head to the reef just east of the beach for a variety of colourful reef fish' – and it lies within the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park.

The eastern side is shallow, about 5 m, and ideal for snorkelling and easy dives. The western side drops to 11 m and, according to the Marine Life Network, to about 18 m, with a transition from weed to sponges in deeper water. Diving Adelaide found gorgonian sea fans, blue groper and a variety of fish, and Tourism Kangaroo Island adds horseshoe leatherjackets, banded seaperch and common bullseyes; Wander's guide mentions seals. The Marine Life Network lists nudibranchs, blue devilfish, cowfish and old wives. The rock is granite and sedimentary, forming boulders, ledges and gutters, and the colour and fish density increase noticeably on the deeper western side.

The cove is well protected from the south-west but open to the north, so conditions vary: on a southerly it can be glassy, while a northerly brings surge. Access is part of the experience – red dirt roads, a campground car park, a footbridge and a 500 m carry – and there are no services beyond the campground. It suits divers from beginner (eastern side) to experienced (western side) and is one of the best places on the island to meet a western blue groper.

Take the SeaLink ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw (45 min), then drive west via Kingscote and the North Coast Road; the western north-coast sites are 1-1.5 hours from Kingscote on partly unsealed roads (red dirt, corrugations). Follow the signs to Western River Cove campground (about 1-1.5 hours from Kingscote), park at the campground car park and cross the footbridge to the beach – about a 500 m carry. The eastern reef is right off the beach; reaching the deeper western side adds about 300 m of walking or surface swimming.

There are no services at the cove.

Kangaroo Island's north coast faces Investigator Strait and is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly Southern Ocean swell, so it is the island's most reliable diving coast. It is exposed to northerly and north-westerly winds and swell, which bring surge, poor visibility and dangerous entries – dive on southerly to south-easterly winds or after a few days of southerlies. Summer and autumn have the most settled weather; winter fronts bring north-westerlies before they pass.

Visibility is often 10-20 m in good conditions. Mornings are calmer before sea breezes. Diving Adelaide describes the cove as quite exposed, with significant surge possible, though others describe it as sheltered in southerlies.

For an easy dive, follow the eastern reef at about 5 m; for more depth, walk or swim to the western side and descend along the reef to 11 m or more, where weed gives way to sponges and gorgonians. Return along the reef to the beach.

Kangaroo Island Dive & Adventures (Kingscote) – guided north-coast boat and shore dives (confirm current trading); Diving Adelaide includes it on Kangaroo Island trips.