Busselton Jetty

Busselton Jetty, the second longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere, is a magnet for scuba divers and fishers alike. Or you can view the magnificent marine life at an underwater observatory

The breathtaking beauty beneath Busselton Jetty is hard to beat. On a calm, clear day, you can look down to see thousands of fish swirling around the piles.

Snorkel, or dive, and you will be surrounded by enormous schools of yellowtail, Australian herring and longfin pike. Juvenile globefish congregate in groups of a dozen or more, sometimes hiding among the branches of telesto corals that protrude from the piles. Schools of old wives cruise around with western talma, leatherjackets and wrasse as they pick invertebrates from the timbers. Young dusky morwong, bighead gurnard perch, anglerfish, wobbegongs, rays and occasionally seadragons shelter among the algae and seagrasses around the jetty.

The Busselton Jetty Underwater Observatory that was opened in 2002 allows visitors to view the marine life in dry comfort and to learn about the ecosystem through displays, videos and talks. With piles within a metre of the viewing windows, everyone can experience the wonder of this fascinating underwater world. Busselton Jetty is operated by a non- profit community organisation known as BJECA (Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association). All profits contribute to jetty maintenance and improvements. To find out more visit their website.

This information was provided by the department of Parks and Wildlife: dpaw.wa.gov.au