Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Houtman Abrolhos

The top 4 dive and snorkel sites in Houtman Abrolhos, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Houtman Abrolhos guide

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4
4 sites, ranked by diver reviews
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1

North Island

No reviews yetAustralia, WA, Abrolhos Islands Archipelago

North Island is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Australia, WA, Abrolhos Islands Archipelago which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

BeginnerMax depth 26.2 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
2

Morning reef

No reviews yetAustralia, WA, Abrolhos Islands Archipelago

Morning reef is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Australia, WA, Abrolhos Islands Archipelago which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

BeginnerMax depth 19.7 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
3

Batavia Shipwreck

No reviews yetAustralia, WA, Abrolhos Islands Archipelago

Batavia was a ship of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). It was built in Amsterdam in 1628, and armed with 24 cast iron cannons and a number of bronze guns. Batavia was shipwrecked on her maiden voyage, and was made famous by the subsequent mutiny and massacre that took place among the survivors. A twentieth century replica of the ship is also called the Batavia and can be visited in Lelystad, Netherlands. On 4 June 1629 the ship struck Morning Reef near Beacon Island, part of the Houtman Abrolhos off the Western Australian coast. Of the 322 aboard, most of the passengers and crew managed to get ashore, although 40 people drowned. The survivors, including all the women and children, were then transferred to nearby islands in the ship's longboat and yawl. An initial survey of the islands found no fresh water and only limited food (sea lions and birds). Pelsaert realised the dire situation and decided to search for water on the mainland. A group comprising Captain Jacobsz, Francisco Pelsaert, senior officers, a few crewmembers, and some passengers left the wreck site in a 30-foot (9.1 m) longboat (a replica of which has also been made), in search of drinking water. After an unsuccessful search for water on the mainland, they abandoned the other survivors and headed north in a danger-fraught voyage to the city of Batavia, now known as Jakarta. This journey, which ranks as one of the greatest feats of navigation in open boats, took 33 days and, extraordinarily, all aboard survived. After their arrival in Batavia, the boatswain, a man named Jan Evertsz, was arrested and executed for negligence and "outrageous behaviour" before the loss of the ship (he was suspected to have been involved). Jacobsz was also arrested for negligence, although his position in the potential mutiny was not guessed by Pelsaert. Batavia's Governor General, Jan Coen, immediately gave Pelsaert command of the Sardam to rescue the other survivors, as well as to attempt to salvage riches from the Batavia's wreck. He arrived at the islands two months after leaving Batavia, only to discover that a bloody mutiny had taken place amongst the survivors, reducing their numbers by at least a hundred. Source: Wikipedia.org Houtman Abrolhos Islands; 40 miles off the coast of Western Australia

BeginnerMax depth 19.7 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
4

Zeewijk Shipwreck

No reviews yetAustralia, WA, Abrolhos Islands Archipelago

The Zeewijk (or Zeewyk) was an 18th century East Indiaman of the Dutch East India Company that was shipwrecked at the Houtman Abrolhos, off the coast of Western Australia, on 9 June 1727. The survivors built a second ship, the Sloepie, enabling 82 out of the initial crew of 208 to reach their initial destination of Batavia on 30 April 1728. Since the 19th century many objects were found near the wreck site, which are now in the Western Australian Museum. The shipwreck itself was found in 1968. Source: Wikipedia.org Western side of halfmoon reef. Zeewijk Shipwreck is also known as Zeewyk.

BeginnerMax depth 16.4 ftBoat entry
Numbers match the ranked list of Houtman Abrolhos dive and snorkel sites.

Houtman Abrolhos diving guide

Ready to check out the best sites in Houtman Abrolhos for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 4 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.