Chrisites Beach Port Jackson Shark Snorkel
LOCATION Christies Beach, Adelaide, South Australia
DEPTH 1-2 Meters
WATER TEMP 17-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
This snorkel is only a short distance off the beach in shallow water.
FEATURE
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Chrisites Beach Port Jackson Shark Snorkel
LOCATION Christies Beach, Adelaide, South Australia
DEPTH 1-2 Meters
WATER TEMP 17-22 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
This snorkel is only a short distance off the beach in shallow water.
FEATURE
Chrisites Beach Port Jackson Shark Snorkel
Finding the Port Jackson sharks at Christie’s Beach was an incredible experience. We first spotted them under a shallow ledge, with four or five sharks’ tails sticking out. The ledge stretches 10-20 meters from the coast and is home to numerous sharks despite its small size. We saw plenty of the docile sharks in the clear, shallow water and the close encounter made this snorkel unforgettable.
What Can I See?
- Port Jackson Sharks
- As well as the Port Jackson sharks, keep an eye out for large eagle rays in the sand between the reef and the beach. There are also plenty of fish around the reef too.
Getting There
Christies Beach is about 35 minutes south of Adelaide. The easiest way to get there is by car. You can usually get a car park along the Esplanade and from there it is a short walk to the beach.
Where & How do you get in?
From the entry onto Christies Beach, walk south as far as you can with the rock wall on your left. Hop in here and snorkel south staying about 15m – 25m from shore. Look for the post sticking out of the rocky bottom, keep going a bit further to find the rock ledges.
Beware of the tide. If it is low tide when you get in, make sure your gear is stored out of reach of the incoming water at the rock wall!
Best Season
The Port Jackson Sharks arrive in the area to lay their eggs sometime in November. We snorkelled here a couple of times in November without seeing them. They were literally not there one week, and there the next! We saw them in mid November.
Recommended Gear
- A full length wetsuit is preferable as the water will be under 20 degrees
How Busy / Crowds
- The water is still cold at this time of year, so usually there will be not be many people in the water. The exception will be if EMS are running a guided tour at the location (see below)
Parking
- Carparking is available at Christie’s Beach
Costs / Permits
There is no fee – unless you do the EMS tour. Parking is free.
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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Tours
Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries (EMS) run guided tours during Port Jackson season in November. If you are not confident you can find them or like the idea of getting some expert commentary then these tours are a good option. There is a cost, but all you gear is provided.
The tours are very popular, so if you would rather see the Port Jackson Sharks with fewer people around, then go it alone.
Best Conditions
At low tide the reef they lay at the bottom of is quite exposed – in fact you could almost walk there and stick your head underwater to see them. mid tide is a good time to go or the change of tide. At worst, you will still only be in a couple of metres of water.
The water can get a bit choppy if there is a south or southwesterly breeze blowing so aim to swim on a calm day or when the breeze is from the east, southeast or north.
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 Christies Beach
Toilets
Showers
Picnic Tables
Parking
BBQ’s
Shade
Food & Drinks
About the Snorkel
Sometimes a snorkel you have to work for is one of the best, and this was the case for us here. Over a couple of years, we tried on several occasions to see the Port Jackson sharks and failed. Either the weather was bad, or they weren’t there. But on our third or fourth try, there they were! We were worried we were looking in the wrong spot – thinking the water was not deep enough, but as we snorkelled back to what looked like the right ledge, we saw four or five Port Jackson tails sticking out of the overhang – we couldn’t believe our eyes!
The ledge is only 50cm – 70cm tall and it stretches away from the coast for 10m – 20m. Despite its size there were plenty of sharks squeezed in there. As we snorkelled around the reef, we spotted three or four more pockets where there were multiple PJs grouped together. We must have seen 18 to 24 all together.
It is so shallow you can get a good look at them. If you were being unkind, you would say they are not the best looking shark in the family, but really, they are so odd looking they are cute. As we hovered over them several swam up to us and past us which was a great experience.
On some of our failed attempts to see the PJs, we spotted an eagle ray in the sand between the PJ ledges and the beach where you get in so keep an eye out for them as you look around. Finally seeing what we were looking for was a real buzz, then getting so close to the PJs topped off an incredible experience.
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