Ardrossan Jetty Snorkel
LOCATION Ardrossan, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
DEPTH 1-6 Meters
WATER TEMP 17-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
Easy access but it does have deeper water
FEATURE
Google Map data © 2024 Imagery © Airbus, CNES / Airbus, Maxar Technologies
Ardrossan Jetty Snorkel
LOCATION Ardrossan, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
DEPTH 1-6 Meters
WATER TEMP 17-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
Easy access but it does have deeper water
FEATURE
Ardrossan Jetty Snorkel
Less than 2 hours from Adelaide, Ardrossan on the northeast coast of Yorke Peninsula is a fun snorkel spot. Don’t be put off by what might be a long walk over the sand if the tide is out. There are steps at the end of the jetty that take you down into a world of colourful sponges and plenty of life between the pylons.
What Can I See?
- Eagle Rays
- Dusky morwongs, moonlighters, zebra fish, goat fish, magpie perch
- Cow Fish
- Crabs
- Sea Stars
- Soft Corals/sponges
Getting There
Ardrossan is on eastern Yorke Peninsula about 150km from Adelaide. There are 2 jetties in Ardrossan, we are talking about the smaller one here that is at the end of Jetty Road.
Where & How do you get in?
You could get in at the sand at the start of the jetty or there is a set of stairs on the left about three quarters of the way down the jetty. If the tide is out, the stairs are the best option.
Best Season
There are no seasonal wildlife considerations, but for the warmer water the best time is December to March. You’ll want a wetsuit outside of the these months.
Potential Hazards
- Fishing lines from the Jetty
How Busy / Crowds
- Over summer holidays in particular but also on long weekends, Ardrossan is a popular spot so there will be people fishing on the jetty. It is another reason to enter the water form the steps – it is the easiest way to avoid fishing lines.
Parking
- The parking area right alongside the jetty isn’t huge so if it is busy you might have to go to the car park just behind the foreshore car park.
The information for each snorkel spot is provided by people who have snorkelled there. However, snorkelling conditions change daily. Please be aware that wind, swell, tides and cloud cover can all affect visibility and your experience in the water.
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Best Conditions
You will want light winds and preferably for them to be coming from the west or north. Wind from the east will spoil it completely and southerlies aren’t much better. As you see from our pics, there is a bit of tidal movement here. We snorkelled around low tide. There was plenty of water, it was more shallow and there was no current.
High tide would be fine too but go at the top of the tide to avoid currents.
Windy Map Instructions – Click on the wind icon in the top right to see other conditions such as swell, temperature, rain. To clear the four day forecast click and close the wind icon.
Facilities at Ardrossan Jetty
Food and drinks are available just a short walk up Jetty Road.
Toilets
Picnic Tables
Parking
Shade
Food & Drinks
About the Snorkel
The tide was well and truly out when we made it to the Ardrossan Jetty, but after a few failed attempts to snorkel here because of bad conditions, we weren’t going to let the water level put us off!
The wait was worth it because there is lots to see here. If you are newer to snorkelling, getting in the water here at low tide is a good option. There is easy access to the water from some steps and the marine life is quite close to you.
The pylons have lots of colours with pink, orange, purple, yellow and white soft corals and sponges. They are fascinating to look at and the more patient you are, the more small invertebrates you will see darting around them. There were lots of sand and blue swimmer crabs on the pylons too.
There was no shortage of fish. Sightings included dusky morwongs, moonlighters, zebra fish, goat fish, magpie perch and curious little sweep. There were a few little cow fish bumping around the place too.
So, if you make it to Ardrossan and see only half the jetty over water, don’t be put off. There is still plenty to see. If the tide is in, you might be a better chance of seeing some stingrays cruising by.
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