In 2005, my wife Eve and I were privileged to dive Point Murat Navy Pier, North West Cape, Western Australia. This is located near the confluence of the western side of Exmouth Gulf with the Indian Ocean. In 1963 the USA leased an area here for the establishment of a VLF Communications Station, as part of its worldwide nuclear submarine force communications network. The USA constructed 13 VLF towers, taller than the Eiffel Tower as well as Point Murat Navy Pier. The pier is approximately 1,100 feet long and is located 2.5 miles southeast of the tip of North West Cape. Point Murat Navy Pier is considered one of the best pier dives in the world and extends in an easterly direction from the shore into Exmouth Gulf. Its beams and pylons are covered in colourful soft corals and there is a highly impressive array of marine life for divers to enjoy. In 1992 the Australian Navy took over management of the base including the pier. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in New York, security was tightened and access to the pier restricted.
However through Exmouth Diving Centre we were able to dive the pier twice and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Our first dive (my dive 1046) on 26th April was led by Sharon Richards of Exmouth Diving Centre. Entry to the water was by means of a stride entry from the pier. The tide was low and it seemed a large drop down into the water. In fact I’m sure that that it was my largest stride entry drop todate. There was plenty to see including a large Whitetip Reef Shark, two Wobbegongs, a Map Puffer, Moray Eels, Groupers, Jacks, Moorish Idols, Potato Cod, Scorpionfish and Lionfish. But the highlight for me was my first sighting of a Banded Frogfish. Whether "Banded Frogfish" was its correct common name is debatable. Common names in Australia vary wildly from state to state and even from north to south. In Western Australia the name "Frogfish" not only described “my fish” but also what are known elsewhere as "Anglerfish" and over on the East Coast of Australia, “my fish” would be called a Toadfish not Frogfish.
One week later we returned to the site with Kristin Anderson of Exmouth Diving Centre. Kristin really spoilt us. In a fabulous 80-minute dive (my dive 1055) Kristin patiently pointed out 3 well-hidden Banded Frogfish as well as numerous other fish life. It was a good thing that I had a large memory card in my camera! Other highlights of this dive were Whitetip Reef Sharks, Wobbegong Sharks, Octopus, Potato Cod, Crocodilefish, Green Moray Eels, Scorpionfish, a Giant Moray Eel, Batfish, Sailfin Catfish and Lionfish.