THE
MONTEBELLO
ISLANDS 2021
The Montebello Island are off the coast of central WA.
They consist of 174 islands and are 130km off the Pilbara Coast.
The area was the location of 3 British nuclear weapons tests with 1 in 1952 (Operation Hurricane) and 2 in 1956 (Operation Mosaic G1 & G2).
The G2 Operation Mosaic bomb was the largest atomic explosion in Australia. It was an exceptionally dirty bomb and was reported to be around 98 kiloton and much bigger than the estimated 60 kiloton.
Fallout fell right across Australia with recording in the QLD towns of Longreach, Rockhampton, Mt Isa and Julia Creek.
Today it still a hazardous area and only a limited time can be spent ashore at the detonation sites.
However, the area has wonderful islands, fine white sand beaches, incredible limestone cliffs & headlands with stunning weathering, great diving & snorkeling and world class fishing.
Many of the names of the islands and beaches were named by the British after alcoholic drinks.
TRAVELLING FROM EXMOUTH TO THE ISLANDS
MOSELLE BEACH
Moselle Beach is on North West Island which is the northern most island in the Monte's group.
It is full of mating and nesting turtles.
Just north is the lighthouse and a series of offshore reefs and rocky islands that are excellent for diving, snorkeling and bird watching.
VODKA BEACH
Vodka Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Monte's group.
It is on the SE side of the Trimouille Island and with the right conditions, you could stay there for many days as there is so much to see and do both on the main island and within the dozens of surrounding smaller islands.
On the southern Point (Churchill Point) there is a bunker from the atomic tests and a lot of left over debris throughout the area.
On the southern Point (Churchill Point) there is a bunker from the atomic tests and a lot of left over debris throughout the area.
LILY ISLAND
Lily Island is just out from Vodka Beach. It has a fantastic group of rock islands, bird life and fantastic diving and snorkelling.
SOUTH EAST ISLAND
South East Island is about 1nm out from Vodka Beach. It has a great sand spit that is usually full of birds.
The other side of the island has a long sandy beach that is wonderful for a swim at mid to high tide.
The snorkeling is also excellent.
The other side of the island has a long sandy beach that is wonderful for a swim at mid to high tide.
The snorkeling is also excellent.
KERANGI ISLAND & WHALE ROCKS
The Kerangi Island group are about 2.5nm out from Vodka Beach. They are a series of small inaccessible rocky islands.
However, the area is surrounded by shallow coral reef that has loads of fish life and stunning coral gardens.
Whale Rocks is popular with nesting birds.
In our time there we had feeding tuna, working birds, dolphins and false killer whales breaching all around us, feeding and riding in the bow wave on the tender - all in less than 7m of water depth in crystal clear water.
It was an incredible experience.
EPSILON, RHAGODIA, DAISY ISLANDS
(and the surrounding Islands)
These islands are south of Vodka Beach and can be viewed from the awesome lookout point near the concrete bunker on Churchill Point. They are certainly worth a drive around in the tender in good conditions as there is a load of marine and bird life in the area. We found loads of schools of small bait fish pushed up against the rock walls and within the small rocky bays all around most of the islands in the group. (and the surrounding Islands)
There are loads of Oysters too.
MAIN BEACH
Main Beach is the site of the first Nuclear Test - Operation Hurricane.
The bomb was detonated inside a Ship called the HMS Plym.
It was 350m offshore from Main Beach.
The bomb was 2.7m below the surface and after the explosion, all that was left was a black slick on the surface.
A crater 300m wide and 6m deep was in the ocean floor and a black shape of the ship was embedded into the sand.
The radiation cloud rose to 14,000ft and covered many areas of northern Australia.
Today the beach is hugely popular with mating and nesting Green Turtles.
LOUIS WILLIAM LAGOON
The lagoon is right next to Gladstone beach and is beautiful for an explore on high tide. It's shallow fine white sand and was full of rays, fish and sharks. We even saw a Tiger Shark.
GLADSTONE BEACH
Gladstone Beach is the access point to the Operation Mosaic G1 nuclear blast site.
It was a land based detonation and it was suspended in a tower above the ground.
The Wood swallows followed us the whole time and caught the Grasshoppers we scared out of the vegetation.
CHARTREUSE BAY
Chartreuse Bay is a very protected Bay north of Alpha Island.
It is home to a charter company pontoon, may dive sites in the surrounding area, lots of shallow areas to explore and Chianti Beach.
We did a 6am search for new dive sites in the tender which made for some great photo opportunities.
CHIANTI BEACH
Chianti Beach is the access point to go and see the area where Operation Mosiac G2 nuclear test was detonated.
Chianti Beach is the access point to go and see the area where Operation Mosiac G2 nuclear test was detonated.
It was the largest atomic test ever in Australia.
ALPHA ISLAND RIDGE WALK
One day it was blowing around 30 knots and was just too windy to do any snorkeling activities so Paul rallied together all the guests that wanted to do an extended walk and we started at Chianti Beach and walked right along the ridge line all the way to the other end of the island.
It took over 2.5 hours but the views were incredible .
We saw a lot of the Rufous Hare Wallabies (Mala's) but it was impossible to get a photo of them as they moved so fast.
The Wood Swallows followed above us for the entire way.
DRAMBUIE BAY
Drambuie Bay is right on the end of North West Island and is very exposed. It is a calm weather location only It is a beautiful beach and point to explore. Whilst walking around the point we saw a large pack of Bull Sharks patrolling the shallow waters quite close to the shore.
PITT BEACH
Pitt Beach is another beautiful beach with 3 rocky headlands that splits the beach up into 3 sections.
There is some great dive/snorkel spots off the coast and some awesome rocky bays and weathered cliffs to explore either sides of the beaches. The bays were full of Green Turtles when we were there.
BALFOUR POINT
Balfour Point is a large rocky headland that had excellent snorkelling below the cliff face.
VIOLET ISLAND
Violet Island had some amazing snorkeling.
It was 2.5nm off the coast and there were heaps of smaller islands out there that are worthy of an explore for more snorkel/dive sites.
WHISKY BAY COMMAND CENTRE
On Hermite Island is the remains of a large atomic testing command centre that is the largest structure built in the group.
It is only a short walk from the protected lagoon and the views are stunning over Stephenson's Channel, Whisky Bay and south over Claret Bay.
We saw Malas and finally managed to get a few photos of them.
We saw Malas and finally managed to get a few photos of them.
STEPHENSONS CHANNEL
& WILLY NILLY LAGOON
This area is a maze of lagoons, channels and small waterways that are all formed from the crazy shape of Hermite Island.
NORTH TRIMOUILLE ISLAND
At the top of the island are a series of large cliffs that are very protected in the SW winds and prefect for snorkeling and diving below them.
Just off the coast are two rocky islands called Gunboat and Submarine Rocks.
SERRURIER ISLAND (LONG ISLAND)
This island is only about 35nm from Exmouth and is a popular stop on the way to or from Exmouth to the Montebello Islands.
The coral onthe point is stunning and is an excellent snorkel or shallow dive location.
The island is a popular spot for Green Turtles to mate and nest and at times the area is packed with them.
On one occasion we had over 50 females lying on the beach and over 300 swimming in the shallows just of the beach.
