Your First Dives After Open Water in Western Australia: Where to Go, Who to Ring, What to Hire
The 5 easiest, most rewarding dive sites in Western Australia for a newly certified diver, plus what a first boat day is like, what to hire, when to go and the next course.
Perth's new divers have shore sites along the whole metropolitan coast, from Rockingham's wreck trail to the Swan River, and Rottnest a ferry ride away. The pattern is autumn mornings before the sea breeze; learn to read the forecast for the Fremantle Doctor and you will dive more than anyone.
The 5 dives to do first
| Site | Access | Depth | Why first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammo Jetty, Woodman Point | Shore | 3–9 m | Perth's training jetty: sponge-covered piles, seahorses, a sheltered entry and a night dive that the whole city learns on. |
| Mettams Pool, Trigg | Shore | 2–7 m | A reef-ringed pool on the northern beaches, calm on small swell, with limestone ledges and fish life in less than 7 m. |
| Rockingham Wreck Trail | Shore | 10–18 m | Small boats, a plane and frames linked by rope lines in 10–17 m; a shore entry from Churchill Park and the site most WA divers did their course on. |
| SS Macedon, Rottnest | Shore | 3–7 m | An 1883 steamer upright on Transit Reef in 3–7 m, part of the Rottnest wreck trail: a ferry and a bike ride, then a snorkel or shallow dive on real history. |
| Busselton Jetty | Shore | 5–9 m | Take the jetty train 1.8 km out and drop in on a forest of coral-covered piles in 8 m. Sheltered bay water and life to rival a tropical pier. |
What your first boat day is like
Perth charters run double dives to Rottnest and the Rockingham reefs; Dunsborough boats run the HMAS Swan, which is deeper than a new diver should go but has a shallow crow's nest at 8 m and is often done as a guided orientation for Open Water divers on the top of the wreck. Leave early: the boats are back by early afternoon before the wind.
What to hire and what to buy
Full kit $70–100 a day. A 5 mm suit does Perth from January to May; 7 mm or a hooded vest for winter. Rottnest ferries carry dive gear for a fee.
When to go
March to May: warm water, calm mornings, best visibility. Ningaloo is a year-round destination in its own right.
Habits that make the first twenty dives safe
Dive with someone who knows the site for your first visit anywhere; every state has clubs and shop-run social dives for exactly this. Check the swell and wind against the site page's conditions section the night before, and have a sheltered alternative. Stay within your certification depth (18 m) and above your comfort depth, which is usually shallower. Do a proper buddy check every time, carry a surface marker on any boat dive, and log everything: operators ask how many dives you have and when the last one was, and honest numbers get you better sites.
The next step
Advanced Open Water for the Swan's decks, the Rottnest drop-offs and the HMAS Perth at Albany; a Ningaloo trip for the Navy Pier and the whale sharks.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I do my first dive after certification in Western Australia?
Ammo Jetty, Woodman Point: Perth's training jetty: sponge-covered piles, seahorses, a sheltered entry and a night dive that the whole city learns on.
How deep can I go with Open Water?
Recreational agencies certify Open Water divers to 18 m. Every site in this guide has its maximum depth listed, and all are within that limit or have a shallow section that is.
Do I need my own gear?
Full kit $70–100 a day. A 5 mm suit does Perth from January to May; 7 mm or a hooded vest for winter. Rottnest ferries carry dive gear for a fee.
When is the best time for a new diver?
March to May: warm water, calm mornings, best visibility. Ningaloo is a year-round destination in its own right.
Last reviewed September 2026. Rules and seasons change; confirm current requirements with operators and authorities before travelling.
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- When to Dive Australia: The Best Time to Visit Each Coast
- Scuba Certification Requirements in Australia: What Operators Actually Ask For
- Solo & Independent Shore Diving in Australia: Rules, Norms and How to Do It Safely
- How to Read a Swell Forecast for Shore Diving in Australia
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