Adelaide Metropolitan Waters
| Location | 4 km offshore from West Beach, Gulf St Vincent |
| Access | Boat dive from West Beach Boat Ramp |
| Depth | 15 metres |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Activity | Scuba Diving |
| Region | Adelaide & Adelaide Hills |
| Accommodation | Camping, mid-range and premium options — See accommodation options |
| Established | Late 1970s by Fisheries Department |
| Reef Type | Tyre squares — man-made artificial reef |
Adelaide’s Pioneer Artificial Reef
Before the Glenelg Tyre Reef, before the barge sinkings, before the concept of artificial reefs became mainstream in South Australia, the Fisheries Department laid down a series of squares of old tyres approximately 4 kilometres offshore from West Beach in the late 1970s. The Grange Tyre Reef was one of Adelaide’s earliest experiments in creating underwater habitat from recycled materials, and nearly five decades later, it continues to support a thriving marine community that rewards divers with a wide variety of life on every visit.
Over the years, the original squares have broken apart and spread the tyres across a larger area, creating an extended reef system rather than the compact structure originally intended. This dispersal has actually increased the reef’s effectiveness as habitat — the scattered tyres create multiple small shelter points across the sandy seabed, each attracting its own community of fish and invertebrates.
The Dive Experience
At 15 metres depth, the Grange Tyre Reef offers comfortable, extended bottom times for recreational divers. The scattered nature of the reef means exploration is open-ended — divers can move between clusters of tyres, each hosting its own assemblage of marine life. Sponges, sea squirts, and algae coat the rubber surfaces, providing food and shelter for fish species including leatherjackets, old wives, and various wrasse species. The sandy areas between tyre clusters often harbour rays and flathead.
The wide variety of life at this site reflects the decades of colonisation that have transformed industrial waste into genuine marine habitat. Macro photographers find the tyre surfaces particularly productive — nudibranchs, decorator crabs, and tiny shrimp can be found on close inspection, while the larger fish species provide opportunities for wider-angle shots.
Planning Your Dive
Access is by boat from the West Beach boat ramp. The site pairs well with other dives in the Glenelg/West Beach area. Standard open water certification is sufficient. The relatively shallow depth and easy conditions make this an excellent choice for newer divers looking to build experience, or for experienced divers seeking a relaxed, exploratory dive.
The Grange Tyre Reef stands as a quiet testament to the ocean’s remarkable ability to transform human discards into thriving habitat. Nearly fifty years after the Fisheries Department sank those first tyre squares, the reef continues to grow, diversify, and provide Adelaide’s diving community with an easy, accessible site where the variety of marine life never fails to surprise.
Where to Stay
Planning an overnight trip? See our Adelaide Hills Accommodation Guide for the best places to stay near this trail.