Windmill Beach

Sheltered shore dive with excellent granite topography and macro life.

Shore Access
8m Avg Depth
12m Max Depth

About this dive site

This dive site, known as Windmill Beach, presents a fascinating underwater landscape. The origin of its name remains unknown. The area offers depths ranging from approximately 8 meters near the shore to around 300 meters offshore, with the 10-meter contour marking the boundary of the deeper waters. Topographically, it features a sand bottom interspersed with large granite outcrops and boulders exhibiting significant relief – some rising nearly to the surface. The north cove slopes gently before becoming rockier near the mouth, creating sheltered areas for various invertebrates and fish. The south cove initially descends more steeply and flattens out, bordered by rocks. Notably, steep pinnacles rise from approximately 8-9 meters down to 3-5 meters, offering interesting formations. The site is known for its good visibility, making it a rewarding location for photography; macro lenses are particularly effective, though wide-angle shots can also be successful. A diverse range of marine life inhabits the area, including invertebrates like the Striped sand slug (found east of Windmill Beach) and the Gilchrist's sand slug. Shoals of yellowtail may also be observed. This site is generally considered suitable for divers with some experience.

Diving Freediving Snorkeling

Site Ratings

Big Marine Life Good
Macro Marine Life Excellent
Landscape Quality Excellent
Water Visibility Very Good Viz
Famousness Well Known

Plan Your Visit

shore divemacro photographywide anglerocky reefpinnaclesinvertebratesnudibranchs

Marine Life

YellowtailStriped sand slugGilchrist's sand slugPajama sharkPipefishCuttlefishOctopusNudibranchsSea fansKlipfish

Things to Note

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Variable depths and complex topography suggest some prior diving experience is beneficial for navigation and buoyancy control.

Current Strength:

Mild

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