Navy Pier

Navy Pier in pictures

Photos: © Dive Ningaloo / Delphia Manietta · View the original gallery

Beneath the jetty, a different kind of reef

From above, Navy Pier looks like a working jetty on the edge of Exmouth Gulf. Underwater, its pylons become a busy neighbourhood of fish, soft corals and sponges. There is something wonderfully unexpected about finding so much life beneath an industrial structure: a large grouper can steal the scene, then a tiny nudibranch brings your attention back to a single patch of colour.

This is a dive to savour slowly. The attraction is the life gathered around the supports, rather than a long swim across open reef. Schools of fish fill the gaps between the pylons, while sheltered corners reward a closer look. For photographers, that creates an enjoyable dilemma: frame the whole scene, or spend time with the smaller inhabitants?

What shapes the dive

The shallow depth does not tell the whole story. Strong tidal flow means dives are timed around slack water, and the guide’s plan follows the conditions. Visibility can be modest, so this is often a close-up experience: staying near your buddy and moving carefully around the structure matter more than covering distance. Keep fins clear of the growth and seabed, and leave animals undisturbed.

When operations resume, arrange access through the licensed operator rather than travelling to the pier independently. Dive Ningaloo currently identifies itself as the sole scuba-tour licence holder. Ask about certification, recent diving experience, identification and the day’s timing before booking; shallow water should not be mistaken for unrestricted access or an automatic beginner dive.

For visitors who prefer broad coral landscapes and clearer, open-water views, other Ningaloo sites may be a better fit. Navy Pier’s particular charm is the concentration of life in a small space — there is no need to rush from one end to the other.

Navy Pier underwater landmarks

Get a feel for the structure before a future dive: the broad pier head, the approach toward shore and four landmarks described in a published dive guide. This illustrated cutaway opens up the view beneath the deck while preserving the landmarks’ relative positions on the historical plan. Heights, pile spacing and surface textures are illustrative, not surveyed.

This diagram is not a dive guide and must not be used to plan or navigate a dive. It is for general orientation only and does not replace the licensed operator’s briefing. Current layout not verified after maintenance. Navy Pier remains closed according to Dive Ningaloo, checked 2 November 2026. On reopening, use the operator’s current briefing to confirm entry, exit, permitted areas and conditions.

1. Main pier head: the broad structure and its supporting pylons are the principal reference. Pylon symbols show the type of structure, not an exact count.
2. Historical ladder: shown on the published plan beside the shoreward side of the pier head. Its current position and availability must be confirmed; this is not a designated exit for a present dive.
3. Octopus Gardens: a named area on the published plan, beside the approach. The outline is symbolic and does not mark a fixed animal location.
4. Broken sections: detached structural pieces recorded beside the pier head. Their present arrangement is unverified.

Depth labels reproduce approximate values from the historical plan and vary with tide. Strong tidal currents restrict diving to the operator’s slack-water window; no compass bearings, distances or route are prescribed here.

Original Divezone schematic based on the geographic landmarks in The Dive Spots of Western Australia, p. 45. Access status: Dive Ningaloo. On smaller screens, swipe horizontally to see the complete diagram.

Where is Navy Pier?

The pier is at Point Murat, north of Exmouth, on the gulf side of North West Cape in Western Australia. Exmouth is the nearby base for accommodation and dive arrangements.

Open the larger map ↗ · Location reference only. The marker does not indicate a public entrance or permission to enter Defence land. Satellite imagery © Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics and the GIS User Community.

Navy Pier · Meet the residents

Meet the reef.

From impressive groupers to tiny nudibranchs, these are animals documented at Navy Pier. Choose a card to discover more. Sightings vary; the list describes the site’s recorded wildlife, not a survey during the current closure.

Giant grouperGrey nurse sharkWobbegong sharkReef sharksBatfishBarracudaSnapperTrevallyFrogfishMoray eelsNudibranchsSea snakesLionfishAngelfishParrotfishOctopus

Big presence, slow pace

Giant grouper

Large groupers are among Navy Pier’s best-known residents. Give them room to move; an encounter is far more rewarding when the fish chooses the distance.

A seasonal visitor

Grey nurse shark

Grey nurse sharks are documented here, particularly in cooler months. These are not nurse sharks: the names refer to different animals. A sighting is a possibility, not a promise.

Camouflage beneath the pier

Wobbegong shark

Wobbegongs are reported at the site and can blend beautifully into their surroundings. Watch where you settle your fins and enjoy these resting sharks without approaching closely.

Shadows between the supports

Reef sharks

Reef sharks are part of the pier’s recorded marine life. The illustration represents a whitetip reef shark; it does not mean every shark seen here belongs to that species.

An unmistakable silhouette

Batfish

The operator’s Navy Pier photographs feature batfish. Their deep, rounded bodies make a lovely contrast to the straight lines of the jetty supports.

Silver in the blue

Barracuda

Tourism Western Australia lists barracuda among the site’s schooling fish. Pause to take in the water around the pylons as well as the smaller life on them.

Life in a school

Snapper

Snapper gather around the pier, and striped snapper feature in Dive Ningaloo’s site gallery. Watching a school shift direction adds another dimension to this compact dive.

A moving curtain of fish

Trevally

Schools of trevally are a documented highlight. These open-water fish bring movement to the spaces around the structure, especially striking against the darker supports.

The art of going unnoticed

Frogfish

Frogfish are recorded among the pier’s smaller inhabitants. They reward patient observation; resist the temptation to touch the growth while searching for a well-hidden outline.

A face in the shelter

Moray eels

Moray eels are reported around the structure. A slow look into sheltered spaces may reveal one, but keep hands and equipment outside any opening.

Small subjects, rich colours

Nudibranchs

Colourful nudibranchs are a well-documented attraction here. They make a good reason to slow down, with careful buoyancy helping protect both the animal and its surroundings.

A very different swimmer

Sea snakes

Sea snakes are included in the operator’s site description. Give them space, keep their path clear and observe without touching or following closely.

An elegant fan of fins

Lionfish

Lionfish are listed by Tourism Western Australia and Diveplanit. Their outline is striking, but the venomous spines are another reason to maintain a respectful distance from the structure.

Colour among the pylons

Angelfish

Angelfish are part of the documented reef-fish community. This illustration represents the group rather than a confirmed individual species at Navy Pier.

Reef fish in an unusual setting

Parrotfish

The operator records parrotfish around the pier’s coral- and sponge-covered structure. They are one part of a wider community that also includes butterflyfish and moorish idols.

Look twice

Octopus

Octopus are recorded here by both the operator and Diveplanit. Finding one is a reminder that the pier’s appeal extends well beyond its larger fish and sharks.

Also reported: sweetlips, butterflyfish, moorish idols, rabbitfish, fusiliers, scorpionfish, shrimps and flatworms. Illustrations represent animal groups, not a photographic identification of a particular sighting.

A glimpse beneath Navy Pier

See the structure and its marine life in Dive Ningaloo’s site film. This footage predates the current closure.

Video: Dive Ningaloo · Watch on Vimeo ↗

A few things worth knowing