Winifred Beach is one of the small coral-sand beaches of the west coast, set below the forested terraces near The Dales, a Ramsar-listed wetland. Parks Australia describes it as suited to snorkelling and rock pool exploration, but its walking track has been closed permanently for safety reasons, so the only way in is by boat.

Extra Divers call it a great all-rounder – a calm, protected site from shore to 20 m with reef gullies and healthy coral heads. The reef runs down from the beach in a series of spurs and gullies, with sand channels between coral ridges and large coral heads dotted across the slope, before dropping off at the edge. The coral is in excellent condition, as befits a site that sees few divers, and the fish life is typical of the island: butterflyfish, angelfish, wrasse, surgeonfish and parrotfish in the shallows, with fusiliers, trevally and reef sharks on the edge. Extra Divers mention dolphins and nudibranchs, and the gullies are a good place for macro.

The west coast is the least visited part of the island's waters: a long run from Flying Fish Cove that only works on calm days. When it does work, Winifred Beach offers a relaxed, sheltered dive in clear water, and the beach itself – white sand under towering cliffs – is one of the prettiest in the territory.

It suits all levels, including snorkellers on the boat, and makes a good second dive after Pig Rock or Egeria Point to the south.

Fly from Perth (about 4 hours, two to three flights a week, some via Cocos Islands) and hire a car – there is no public transport. Both dive centres are in The Settlement and launch their boats from the jetty/boat ramp at Flying Fish Cove, normally at about 8 am for a two-dive morning trip. From the cove the boat runs west along the north coast and then south down the west coast along the coast for roughly 45–50 minutes to Winifred Beach.

There is no land access to the dive, and the vertical sea cliffs mean no exit other than the boat. Operators choose sites on the morning according to swell and wind. The walking track to the beach is permanently closed for safety reasons.

On the exposed west coast, a long run from Flying Fish Cove, so it is only dived on calm days. The site is sheltered from the south-east trades (roughly May–November) but wide open to north-westerly monsoon swell (December–April) and to long-period south-west groundswell generated in the Southern Ocean, which wraps around Egeria Point. Operators generally need less than about 1–1.5 m of swell and light winds to make the trip; the calmest spell is usually August–November.

The west coast has a reputation for stronger and less predictable currents than the north, and for the clearest water on the island (often 40 m+). Visibility can drop during red crab spawning (Oct–Jan). Cyclone season is November–April.

Descend onto the reef below the beach, follow the gullies seaward to around 15–20 m, then work back through the coral heads, looking for nudibranchs on the way, and finish in the shallows.

Extra Divers Christmas Island – dives the west coast sites including Winifred Beach on calm days; CI Wet'n'Dry Adventures – occasional.