Australia is home to some incredible snorkelling spots, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Ningaloo Reef – and there are even some great places to snorkel in Perth. Western Australia’s capital city is home to some amazing snorkelling opportunities, offering the chance to see an abundance of marine life from octopuses to dolphins to sea lions – and much more! When it comes to snorkelling in Perth there is something for everyone, whether you want to explore the underwater world of places like Rottnest Island and Omeo Wreck on your own or join a tour to snorkel with wild dolphins in Rockingham. We cover the best places to snorkel in Perth, including some of the best snorkelling tours available in Western Australia!
Looking for more wildlife experiences in Western Australia? We suggest a trip to Esperance to see kangaroos on the beach at Lucky Bay!
Best snorkel spots in Perth
Rockingham – Snorkelling with dolphins
The suburb of Rockingham is arguably the best place to go snorkelling in Perth, as you have the chance to snorkel with wild dolphins. Over 200 dolphins live in the area’s waters, and so snorkelling here offers a rare chance to get up close to this incredible species.
Rockingham is around a 45-minute drive south from Perth CBD, making it easily accessible if you have a car. A local operator runs regular trips to snorkel with the dolphins in Rockingham, which we recommend booking in advance to secure your spot.
The tours are run by an experienced crew, and dolphins are seen on over 99% of trips. Of course the dolphins are completely wild and the crew do not feed them, so it’s an ethical wildlife encounter.
Trips last up to 6 hours depending on how long it takes to find the dolphins, but once you do find them their playful and inquisitive nature makes for an unforgettable encounter. Tours cost $299 AUD per person, which is reasonable value for the opportunity to snorkel with wild dolphins in Perth!
The tour includes lunch and complimentary photos of the trip, and can be booked online in advance via the Get Your Guide website. These tours do often sell out, so it’s best to book as far in advance as possible!
Click here to book this amazing trip on the Get Your Guide website!
Omeo Wreck and Coogee Maritime Trail
Just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, the Omeo Wreck is one of the best places to snorkel in Perth. The Omeo was a ship that sank in 1905, and its wreckage is now teeming with marine life.
Located around 25 metres from the shore of Coogee Beach, the shipwreck is easily accessible by swimming out from the beach. An underwater snorkelling trail known as the Coogee Maritime Trail starts from the Omeo Wreck and stretches for around 200 metres.
Along the trail you will discover the shipwreck, underwater sculptures and artificial reef, as well as a mix of marine life. The sea is relatively shallow along the trail and is generally between 2.5 and 5 metres deep, with a maximum depth of around 7 metres.
Common species found in the area include Western Smooth Boxfish, Weeping Toadfish, Skipjack Trevally, and Pink Snapper. Other species that can be seen along the Coogee Maritime Trail include octopuses, cuttlefish, lionfish, seahorses, manta rays, Port Jackson sharks, and much more!
On our visit we saw some of the common species, as well as a puffer fish and a huge crab. In our opinion, the varied marine life makes the Omeo Wreck and Coogee Maritime Trail one of the best places to snorkel in Perth.
Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island is best known for its friendly resident quokkas, with a population of around 10,000 of these cute marsupials on the island. For many visitors the quokkas are the main attraction, but the island’s incredible marine life also makes it home to some of the best snorkelling in Perth.
The island is home to 63 beaches and 20 bays, which means there is no shortage of great spots to go snorkelling. It’s possible to see a variety of species in the waters around Rottnest, including octopuses, lobsters, a variety of fish, and even dolphins – so it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best places to go snorkelling in Perth!
There are several brilliant places to go snorkelling on Rottnest Island, in particular Little Salmon Bay, The Basin, and Parker Point. We snorkelled at several spots on the island and had our best encounters at these three spots.
Little Salmon Bay is a beautiful sheltered bay with calm waters and a lovely sandy beach. It has its own designated snorkel trail featuring underwater plaques with information on the area’s marine life. The visibility tends to be very good here, and species found in the area include lobsters, octopuses, and a variety of colourful fish.
The Basin is another great place to snorkel on Rottnest Island, thanks to the abundance of fish in the area. In some cases there are schools of thousands of fish, which makes for brilliant snorkelling!
Parker Point is home to some great coral if you swim our far enough, and on our visit we were fortunate enough to see dolphins whilst snorkelling here. They were just too far away to see underwater, but we could see them jumping out very nearby to us – which was a unique and unforgettable experience!
We cover all of the above snorkelling spots in more detail on our dedicated guide to snorkelling at Rottnest Island!
Other snorkelling spots on Rottnest include Henrietta Rocks, where you can spot a variety of marine life around a shipwreck, and Little Parakeet Bay, a more secluded spot for those looking for something a little different.
In order to visit Rottnest Island you need to take a ferry from either Fremantle or Perth CBD. Ferries can be booked online in advance through Get Your Guide, and cost just $79 AUD for a return trip with the island admission fee included in the price.
Click here to book your Rottnest Island ferry on the Get Your Guide website!
Shoalwater Islands Marine Park
The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is one of the best places to snorkel in Perth. There are some brilliant species in the marine park including dolphins and sea lions, and there are several amazing snorkelling spots to visit including Penguin Island, Seal Island, Bird Island, and Point Peron.
As many of these spots are islands, the only way to access most of them is to book a snorkelling tour around the marine park. These tours take you to spots only accessible by boat, including Penguin Island, Seal Island, and Bird Island.
The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park is blessed with stunning clear water, and the great visibility is one of the reasons it’s one of the best places to go snorkelling in Perth. There are a range of fish species to see in the area, and if you’re lucky you may even get to snorkel with the resident sea lions and dolphins.
Snorkelling tours of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park in Perth can be booked on Get Your Guide, and are the best way to properly discover the marine park. Tours start from $150 AUD per person, which includes snorkelling equipment, photos, a grazing platter, and more!
Click here to book this incredible tour on the Get Your Guide website!
Yanchep Lagoon
Yanchep Lagoon is a brilliant snorkelling spot located around a 45-minute drive north of Perth CBD. A thriving reef is located just 50 metres from the shore of Yanchep Beach, and is easily accessible by swimming out from the beach.
The visibility at Yanchep Lagoon tends to range from 10 to 30 metres, and with such good visibility it’s no surprise it’s considered one of the best places to snorkel in Perth. A variety of marine life can be seen in the lagoon, including whiting, herring, octopuses, cuttlefish, and the endemic Western Blue Devil.
Snorkelling at Yanchep Lagoon is fairly safe as the reef shelters the area from large predators such as sharks. There is an average depth of around 5 metres, but beware there can be strong rip currents at times. If you are caught in a rip current you need to swim parallel to shore until you are free of the current before attempting to return to shore.
Free parking is available near Yanchep Beach, which makes it an easy and convenient snorkelling spot. The best time to visit tends to be during low tide and earlier in the day before the sea breeze hits.
If you have time then it’s also worth considering visiting the nearby Yanchep National Park while you are in the area. The park is home to several walking and hiking trails, with some great wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies.
How to get around Perth
If you are just visiting Perth and don’t have your own vehicle, then it’s worth renting a car during your stay. Although some of these spots are accessible via public transport, it’s substantially quicker and easier to drive yourself there.
Renting a car can be more affordable than you think, and it’s worth the cost to be able to explore the best snorkelling spots in Perth. We recommend renting a car through Tripadvisor, as they compare between a number of local operators to get you the best possible price!
Click here to get a quote in seconds on the Tripadvisor website!
Tips for snorkelling in Perth
Bring your own snorkel – Unless you take one of the snorkelling tours you will need to have your own snorkelling equipment. Renting equipment isn’t really possible at these snorkelling spots in Perth, so it’s best to buy your own snorkelling gear from a sports store, Kmart, or similar shop.
Sun cream – As you are probably already aware, the sun in Australia can be pretty intense and it’s very easy to burn. It’s important to put on sun cream before snorkelling and take breaks regularly to top up in order to protect your skin.
Time your visit – The best time to go snorkelling in Perth tends to be early in the day, before the mid-afternoon sea breeze. Once the sea breeze comes in the water becomes choppier, and this reduces visibility – so try to snorkel in the morning for the best conditions!
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