Exmouth is famous for the world heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, a paradise for ocean lovers and snorkellers.
It’s no wonder that despite the 13-hour drive from Perth, people will still return to Exmouth again and again for the incredible marine life that lives around here.
We will cover the 5 best spots to snorkel in Exmouth in this ultimate guide and give our best tips to make your experience even better.
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Overview:
- Best snorkel equipment
- Lakeside
- Turquoise Bay
- Turquoise Bay Drift Snorkel
- Oyster Stacks
- Osprey Bay
- Alternative snorkel spots
- Tips for the best experience
Best snorkel equipment:
Before we dive in (pun intended) there are a few things we would recommend investing in before making the trip up to Ningaloo Reef.
Our number one is a good underwater camera to help you capture the amazing world underneath the ocean surface. We personally use this one and would highly recommend it, because it’s super user friendly and the quality for underwater footage is great. If you’re not into video/photo editing and just want recordings of your snorkel encounters, the DJI Osmo Action is a really good choice.
We’ve had so much fun rewatching our footage and reliving our snorkel memories!
We’d also recommend getting the floating handle which stops the camera from sinking and makes it easier to swim around with the camera.
Next, we’d recommend investing in a good mask, a snorkel and some fins.
The best way to go about finding what suits you the most is honestly by visiting a dive shop and letting them help you.
We would also recommend bringing some anti fog spray for your mask, this made such a huge difference for us!
Tip: You can mix your own anti fog spray by using baby shampoo and water.
Lakeside
This snorkel spot is known for its sheltered and calm waters, big bommies and a good chance for spotting some of the incredible marine life that call Ningaloo Reef home.
To get to Lakeside, you will need to turn down towards Milyering Discovery Centre and keep going until you reach the parking lot for Lakeside.
You’ll also need to walk for about 20 minutes along the beach to get to the sanctuary zone, but it’s a nice walk and definitely worth it.
Turquoise Bay
This is probably one of the most popular spots to snorkel in Exmouth as it’s super beginner and kids friendly.
The bay is in a more sheltered location so it doesn’t get as windy which makes it super ideal for a calm spot to snorkel in Exmouth
Tip: Get here early as it’s one of the most popular spots
Turquoise Bay Drift Snorkel
Another option at Turquoise Bay if you’re after something a little more advanced is to do the drift snorkel.
You can either walk from the bay around the sandy tip or you can park up at the parking lot that is designated for the drift snorkel area.
If coming from the parking lot, turn left onto the beach and walk about 100 meters south and enter the water and let the current take you back up.
Important: It’s important to exit the water again before getting to the sandy tip as the current is strong there.
Oyster Stacks
Oyster Stacks is one of the best spots to snorkel in Exmouth as it feels a little different to the other spots. However, it requires a bit of planning as it’s only possible to snorkel if the tides are high. Make sure to check this online beforehand or head to Milyering Discovery Centre if you don’t have reception.
It’s a great spot for families or snorkellers with less experience as the reefs are located very close to shore.
Tip: Learn from our mistake and get out of the water before you get down to the rocky parts as it can be a little difficult getting out of the water there and quite painful to walk back on the stones.
Osprey Bay
This was one of our favourite spots to snorkel in Exmouth due to the high possibility of seeing turtles right off the beach.
Osprey Bay is one of the best spots to snorkel in Exmouth for both inexperienced snorkellers and families with young kids as it’s super easy to get in and out of the water and the reef is located within about 10-15 meters from the beach.
Swimming with turtles was one of the biggest highlights of our trip so we’d definitely recommend coming here.
Other snorkelling spots:
We think the above 5 locations are some of the best spots to snorkel in Exmouth but there are plenty of other spots to check out if you have more time to explore Ningaloo.
The below options are still worth mentioning in case you are looking for something a bit different.
Mildura Wreck
The wreck of Mildura SS is only about 15 minutes away from Exmouth town and is free to visit.
It’s a very interesting spot to snorkel as it offers something a little different compared to the snorkel spots within Cape Range.
However, the reason we haven’t mentioned Mildura SS as one of the best spots to snorkel in Exmouth is because the tides can be quite dangerous and the current can be very strong, so it’s not ideal for beginners or families.
Sandy Bay
This is a lovely spot for families to chill due to its shallow waters.
It’s located right next to Osprey Bay, so it would be a great option to add if you are near Osprey Bay and are looking for something a little more lowkey that will be enjoyable for the whole family.
Bundegi Beach
Exmouth Gulf isn’t as renowned as the Ningaloo Reef side and the visibility can be hit and miss here.
The reef at Bundegi Beach still has impressive coral gardens and amazing marine life though and is worth checking out if you have time to spare.
We unfortunately didn’t get to experience this ourselves, but locals advised that manta rays are often passing through here.
Tips for the best experience
Snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef is an experience we will never forget and there are few tips we’d love to share across to help make your experience even better!
First up, we can’t recommend investing in good snorkel gear enough, especially a good mask.
It can honestly make such a huge difference to your experience.
Don’t forget to mix your own anti fog spray by using baby shampoo and water or buy a little spray from Amazon like this one or from a local dive store. They make a huge difference.
Next, there can be stingers around the Ningaloo Reef, so if you have concerns about it, make sure to bring a stinger suit.
We also recommend familiarising yourself with the weather and wind forecast and plan your snorkel spots around when the visibility will be best. Visibility is often best in the morning before the wind starts coming in.
Lastly, please always make sure to wear reef safe sunscreen and do not attempt to touch any marine life and please do not touch or stand on any coral.
Ningaloo Reef experienced one of the worst bleaching events in 2024 and the ocean life is still recovering from it, so please do your part in helping us protect the ocean.
Final words
This covers the 5 best spots to snorkel in Exmouth and our best tips to help you to an even better experience.
If you’re still feeling unsure about snorkelling in Ningaloo, we’d recommend going on a guided tour.
The local guides are great at spotting marine life and know the best way to finding them.
If you’re looking for inspiration on other things to do in Exmouth, make sure to also check out our list of 15 of the best things to do in Exmouth.