7 of SA’s best snorkelling spots

By John Pedler
Published: Thursday, November 21, 2019

Dip your head beneath the waters of our seas and lakes and you’ll find yourself in an alien landscape, teeming with all sorts of strange and wonderful creatures.

With just a mask, snorkel and a pair of fins, you can spend some quality time in this otherworldly environment.

Here are some of our favourite snorkelling locations.

Smooth Pool, Eyre Peninsula

Even when the ocean is roaring, Smooth Pool is likely to stay true to its name. Sheltered by a chunky reef, it’s well protected from the swells that roll in from the Great Australian Bight. This makes it a popular hangout for ocean fish that prefer the quiet life, and there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. There’s also a lot going on in the seagrass.

Spectacularly located beneath towering orange cliffs, this is a great place to visit, if only for the scenery. Any non-snorkellers in your group can spend their time checking out the action in the tidal rock pools and posting snaps to Instagram.

Smooth Pool, a quiet spot beside the raging sea.

Ewens Ponds, Limestone Coast

If you’ve long been on a quest to track down a pouched lamprey, a common galaxid or a golden pygmy perch, then you might consider a trip to Ewens Ponds. They’re just a few of the aquatic species that live there.

Set among extensive reedbeds, the 3 spring-fed ponds are connected by shallow channels, and the water’s so clear it’s almost like swimming in air. On the bottom is a lush garden of native vegetation, adding to the surreal experience of snorkelling in this unique spot. The water temperature is a chilly 10 – 15 degrees Celsius though, so you’ll need a wetsuit if you plan to hang around for more than 30 seconds.

To help preserve this delicate environment, the National Parks and Wildlife Service have introduced a permit system for scuba divers and snorkelers. For more information head to their website.

Note: Ewens Ponds is closed every spring to allow for regeneration; this year it reopens on 2 December.

The crystal clear waters of Ewens Ponds. Image: iStock

Pooches of the sea, Port Lincoln

Accessible by boat from Port Lincoln, Seal Cove is home to one of nature’s most curious animals.

As playful as they are adorable, sea lions are genuinely excited when topside visitors drop into their watery domain. Although clunky and awkward on land, once they hit the sea, their acrobatic twists and turns are truly remarkable, and they seem desperate for us to join in… or maybe they’re just showing off.

Alas, this is where we goggle-eyed and flippered terrestrial dwellers are at our most ungainly, and the best we can offer is admiration and enthusiastic applause.

Adventure Bay offer a swim with the sea lions experience.

Do I know you? Image: Adventure Bay Charters

Second Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula

At the start of the jetty, follow the path around the base of the cliffs, cross the pebbly beach, then head out to the end of the rocky point. When you’ve found a comfy rock, sit down and gaze in wonder at one of the best coastal views in the country.

Then head around to the next little cove with your snorkelling gear, to explore the mini undersea canyons and seagrass meadows that attract scuba divers and snorkellers from near and far.

This is a fair-weather dive, so if the conditions are a bit too lumpy, just head back to the comfy rock.

At Second Valley, the views are as good as the snorkelling.

Edithburgh Jetty, Yorke Peninsula

Plop a sturdy structure into the sea and it won’t be long before it becomes home to all kinds of marine life. There’s no better example than Edithburgh jetty, built in 1873 to ship grain, salt, lime and gypsum to Adelaide.

The ships are long gone, but the variety of sea creatures that have taken up residence under the jetty is astonishing. Being prime real estate, the pylons are thoroughly encrusted with colourful soft corals, sponges and whatever all those other things are.

Among the schools of old wives and bullseyes, you might be lucky enough to spot an elusive leafy sea-dragon. Pyjama squid, sporting stripy clobber that suggests they’re ready for either bed or prison, flit about near the sea floor.

You can access this underwater wonderland from the jetty steps.

Decorative leafy sea dragon. Image: SATC/Alex Wyschnja

Port Noarlunga Reef, Fleurieu Peninsula

The reef runs north to south from the end of the jetty, and the best time to snorkel is when the tide is low and the reef is fully exposed. This provides a barrier from the choppy surf that Gulf St Vincent regularly dishes up.

It’s part of the Port Noarlunga Reef Sanctuary Zone, meaning all marine life is protected. The fish seem to know this, so don’t be surprised if you come face-to-face with a fearless leatherjacket.

You’ll also find sea perch, old wives, zebra fish, the odd magpie perch, and a whole lot of other species, including colourful nudibranchs and starfish.

In November 2018 a storm destroyed the stairs at the end of the jetty, which were used by divers to enter the water. Access is now via the stairs closer to the beach, but if these get too busy, you can enjoy a leisurely paddle out from the shore. Plans to replace the damaged stairs are well under way.

Taking a break at Port Noarlunga Reef

Swimming with tuna, Victor Harbor

Spending most of their life in the depths of the open ocean, southern bluefin tuna have a top speed of around 70km/h. At his fastest, former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was clocked at a cracking 10km/h. So there’s little chance of the average snorkeller seeing a tuna in the wild, let alone catching up to one.

But in the outdoor aquarium at Oceanic Victor, just off Granite Island, you can get among these zippy speedsters and even have a go at feeding them. Keeping the tuna company are several other species, including snapper, salmon, mulloway and even Port Jackson sharks.

A mask, snorkel, gloves, booties and wetsuit are provided on an Oceanic Victor experience.

Getting to know the tuna at Victor. Image: SATC

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