South Australia · 17 sites
Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf dive sites
Every winter tens of thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish gather on the rocky reef between Point Lowly and Stony Point to breed, in 2–6 m of water a few metres from the shore. It is the only mass aggregation of its kind in the world and one of the great wildlife dives anywhere. The Whyalla jetties and the Point Lowly reefs are worthwhile the rest of the year.
- Sites
- 17
- Wrecks
- 2
- Shore
- 9
- Boat
- 3
- Beginner
- 11
- Deepest
- 22 m
Conditions outlook · Late September – October 2026
Written 27 September 2026The giant cuttlefish aggregation at Point Lowly has finished for the year (May–August); the upper gulf's shore dives and Marek's Reef are diveable on calm westerly days in 13–14 °C water. Plan the cuttlefish for next winter.
Getting there
Four hours north of Adelaide. Stony Point and Black Point have car parks and steps to the water; local dive shops hire gear in season.
When to go
May to August for cuttlefish (peak June–July); calm westerly days in summer and autumn otherwise.
Water & suit
Summer 22-26 °C · winter 11-13 °C. 5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter
Nearest chamber: Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide)
Most recorded marine life in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
- Blue swimmer crabs 13
- Tommy ruff 11
- Crabs 8
- Leatherjackets 8
- Garfish 7
- King george whiting 7
- Magpie perch 7
- Squid 7
- Seagrass fauna 6
- Nudibranchs 5
- Dolphins 4
- Octopus 4
- Port jackson sharks 4
- Snapper 4
Plan a dive trip to Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf →Find your diveCompare the top 4 side by sideNew diver? Start here
The most-dived sites in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Suggested trip
A 3-day dive trip to Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
Built from the sites in this region: an easy start, the signature dives, then something deeper or further. Swap days around the weather; the site pages say which winds and swell close each one.
Build your own Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf plan: pick days, level and must-dive sites →Day 1 · Settle in
Start with Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf's easier shore dives: check your weighting, get used to the water temperature and dive the sheltered side of the coast.
- Stony Point – Giant Cuttlefish AggregationShore/Rock Platform · Max 8 m · Snorkel/Any
- Point LowlyShore/Rock Platform · Max 12 m · Open Water
Day 2 · The signature dives
A charter day on the sites people travel to Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf for, including Lady Kinnaird Wreck.
- Lady Kinnaird WreckWreck · Max 6 m · Open Water
- Marek's Reef (Whyalla)Artificial Reef · Max 12 m · Open Water
Day 3 · Deeper or further
For divers with the certification and the weather: the deeper walls, pinnacles or less-visited sites of Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf.
- Whyalla Jetty (Foreshore)Jetty/Pier · Max 5 m · Open Water
- Cowell JettyJetty/Pier · Max 4 m · Snorkel/Any
Dive centres and charters in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf
All South Australia operators →Operators recorded as running sites in this region. Each profile lists the specific sites it goes to.
Diving Adelaide
ListedConfirmed Sept 2026
Marleston · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide training and guided diving operation serving local sites and organised trips.
divingadelaide.com.au · (08) 8122 5003
TrainingCharter4 services69 sites
Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries
Named by sitesConfirmed Sept 2026
Adelaide · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf · SA
Not-for-profit guided snorkel program (EMS), not a dive shop; operates statewide including Whyalla.
emsau.org
1 site
Tony Bramley cuttlefish tours
Reported closedWhyalla · Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf · SA
Tony Bramley's Whyalla Diving Services; he has since sold the Whyalla Dive Shop (whydive.com.au), which now runs cuttlefish tours under new owners.
1 site
Map of Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf dive sites
Click a pin for the site.
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17 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
All 17 Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf dive sites
All Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf sites at a glance
17 sites in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf · click a column to sort
| Arno Bay Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Cowell Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Fitzgerald Bay / Black Point | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Occasional |
| Lady Kinnaird Wreck | Wreck | Max 6 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
| Leeton Tug Wreck | Wreck | Max 22 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Louth Bay Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 4 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Marek's Reef (Whyalla) | Artificial Reef | Max 12 m | Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Point Lowly | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 12 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Weekly |
| Point Lowly Artificial Reefs | Artificial Reef | Max 18 m | Advanced Open Water | Boat | Rare |
| Port Broughton Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 4 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Port Germein Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 4 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Port Neill Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Port Pirie Foreshore | Muck/Sand | Max 3 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Rare |
| Stony Point – Giant Cuttlefish Aggregation | Shore/Rock Platform | Max 8 m | Snorkel/Any | Shore | Daily |
| Tumby Bay Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Occasional |
| Whyalla Jetty (Foreshore) | Jetty/Pier | Max 5 m | Open Water | Shore | Rare |
| Whyalla Old Jetty | Jetty/Pier | Max 10 m | Open Water | Shore or Boat | Rare |
Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf diving FAQ
How do I get to the dive sites in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
Four hours north of Adelaide. Stony Point and Black Point have car parks and steps to the water; local dive shops hire gear in season.
When is the best time to dive Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
May to August for cuttlefish (peak June–July); calm westerly days in summer and autumn otherwise.
How many dive sites are there in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
17 documented sites, including 2 wrecks and 9 that can be dived independently from the shore. The deepest reaches 22 m.
Are there beginner dive sites in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
Yes, 11 sites are rated beginner. Look for the green Beginner tag in the list below, and check the weather notes on each page before diving.
How cold is the water in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
Typically 22-26 °C in summer and 11-13 °C in winter. Most divers wear 5-7 mm full wetsuit with hood in summer/autumn; 7 mm semi-dry or drysuit in winter.
Which dive centres operate in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
Diving Adelaide, Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries, Tony Bramley cuttlefish tours are recorded as running sites in Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf. Each site page lists the operators known to go there.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Whyalla & Upper Spencer Gulf?
Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
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