Busselton Jetty

The Busselton Jetty is an iconic and unmissable stop on your South West adventure. The Jetty is the longest timber jetty in the Southern hemisphere stretching 1.8km out to sea! Having been there for over 160 years, there is an extraordinary amount of ever-growing life to be found underneath the waves. 

The Jetty plays host to over 300 marine species including hard corals, soft corals, sea sponges, sea fans and so many colourful, playful fish. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a stingray gliding beneath. The depth at the Jetty is between 7-9metres therefore, you cannot touch the bottom. We would highly recommend getting involved in a guided snorkel tour to get the most out of your Jetty snorkel experience.

Swimming around, there is so much to see! With average visibility between September- April being 15-20+ meters, it’s like you’re gliding through an aquarium! The busy ecosystem hosts many layers of life. On the bottom, you may see larger fauna such as cuttlefish or octopus. Whereas on the surface, you have the opportunity to get eye to eye with playful crabs and an amazing bloom of comb jellyfish. 

The underwater sculpture trail also makes for an engaging experience. There are 13 sculptures hidden under the Busselton Jetty, all made by local artists! From whales to shipwrecks, there is something fun for everyone!

P.S. You can literally swim with mermaids – Come join us and we will show you!

Best time to snorkel: September – April 

Appropriate for: Everyone 6+. Due to the bottom being out of reach for standing, and the snorkel site being at the very end of the Jetty, we would recommend that snorkelers are at minimum confident swimmers if attempting this independently. If you are joining a guided snorkel tour with Swan Dive, one of our experienced guides are more than happy to assist you both in and out of the water, even if you have never been swimming before! This really is the best way to experience the Busselton Jetty. 

Dunsborough

The Cape Naturaliste coastline is one of the most beautiful in Australia where soft white sands meet clear, turquoise waters. There are several beautiful snorkeling spots along this stretch of coast. Some of the most popular include;

• Meelup Beach- An iconic beach with a gentle slope entry and suitable for beginner snorkelers. Follow the rocky wall along and find crabs, octopus, small fish and sometimes even a small ray gliding past!
• Point Piquet- Enjoy one of the most pristine beaches along the Cape Naturaliste path all to yourself. This site is beginner friendly, just follow the rocky reef and discover the small critters and fish living beneath.
• Gannet Rock- Gannet Rock is without a doubt one of the best beginner friendly on the Cape Naturaliste path. Regular sightings of octopus, small fish and rays make for an exciting snorkel adventure! Gannet Rock is often the snorkel stop on our infamous ‘Dunsborough Eco Tour’. On this tour, we take you on a boat cruise from Quindalup – Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse where we can access ancient caves and our local Sea Lion colony. P.S these spots are only accessible by boat! We will also give you a wildlife, culture and history talk about the land and how it has evolved over time! 

For all of the spots mentioned in Dunsborough, the best time to snorkel is Nov-Feb. Whales can also be spotted in the area from Sept-Nov. 

Aquarium 

The Aquarium is a protected lagoon nestled among granite outcrops along the Cape to Cape Track. It’s an ideal spot for snorkeling, offering a safe environment with calm waters and abundant marine life – Just make sure you stay within the outer rocks. You can expect to see a variety of fish, octopuses, and other sea creatures. You may even spot the local wobbegong, he’s friendly!

The trail to access this snorkeling paradise is a 1.3km hike across a rocky steep hill, so make sure to wear shoes! 

Best time to snorkel: Nov-April.

Appropriate for: Beginners. 

Written by Meg.