Kianinny Bay Snorkel
LOCATION Tathra, New South Wales, Australia
DEPTH 1-3 Meters
WATER TEMP 20-23 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
FEATURE
Google Map data © 2024 Imagery © Airbus, CNES / Airbus, Maxar Technologies
Kianinny Bay Snorkel
LOCATION Tathra, New South Wales , Australia
DEPTH 1-3 Meters
WATER TEMP 20-23 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
FEATURE
Rate It!
[adinserter block=”2″]
Kianinny Bay
Kianinny Bay is a stunning inlet tucked away in Tathra, near Merimbula on the South Coast of New South Wales. Keep an eye out for the resident stingrays and a range of fish. If conditions on the coast are a bit rough, this sheltered snorkel spot is a good option.
What will I see?
- Smooth Rays
- Sea Urchins
- Fish
Getting There
Tathra is on the south coast of NSW. It is 430km south of Sydney and 25km from Merimbula. Kianinny Bay is just south of the main township.
Where & How do you get in?
There is easy entry to the water from a concrete walkway that is partially covered in water at high tide, there is also a ladder to get in and out of the water. You could also enter and exit from the boat ramp if there are no boats around.
Best Season
Summer and early autumn are when the water is warmest. This is a very protected bay good for all wind conditions. The site is not really tide dependant.
Potential Hazards
Watch out for boats coming coming in or out at the boat ramp.
Parking
There are a couple of parking areas. The parking area closest to the water is mostly for cars with boat trailers but there are plenty of parks opposite the picnic ground. If the weather is no good for fishing, which was the case when we visited, there is plenty of parking close to the water.
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.
Disclosure: Please Note That Some Links In This Post May Be Affiliate Links, And At No Additional Cost To You, We Earn A Small Commission If You Make A Purchase. Commissions Go Toward Maintaining The Snorkel Spots Website.
Best Conditions
Summer and early autumn are when the water is warmest. This is a very protected bay good for all wind conditions. The site is not really tide dependant.
Windy Map Instructions – Click on the icon in the top right to see other conditions such as swell, temperature, rain etc
Facilities at Kianinny Bay
There is a nice picnic ground here too with views over the water. It is also a popular boat ramp and there is a fish cleaning area.
Toilets
Picnic Tables
Parking
BBQ’s
Shade
Boat Ramp
About the Snorkel
Kianinny Bay looks a picture. Either before or after your snorkel, head up to Chamberlain Lookout for views down on the bay and along the coast. If the sun is shining you won’t find a prettier spot.
The big thing to watch at Kianinny Bay is boat traffic. For snorkelling, you will want to stick to the left or northern side of the bay to stay clear of boats as the return from sea. There is still plenty of room to snorkel, stay left and you are quite safe. There is also an area closer to picnic ground that stays boat free if you just want a swim.
One of the highlights of snorkelling at Kianinny Bay is the chance to swim with the big smooth rays that come in as the fishing boats return in the early afternoon. We caught a glimpse of a ray on our snorkel but with no fish cleaning happening, it took off quickly.
We couldn’t wait to hit the water here, it looked so good and it was nice to find a snorkelling spot on what was such a windy day. But it was a tad disappointing. The boulder strewn floor of the bay felt like it should be a great spot for a variety of marine life to hang out but we only saw a modest amount.
We snorkelled along the north side of the bay until the waves started to affect us then we turned back and snorkelled by the rocks in the middle of the bay and returned to the walkway. There were plenty of sea urchins but as far as fish go, they were few and far between. We saw a few toad fish, some little leatherjackets a goat fish and some juvenile red morwong.
Chatting to people as we got out, we learned that spearfishing had been a popular thing here and perhaps that was why there wasn’t a lot left to see. Such a shame. But, it is such a pretty spot, it is worth getting in the water, and if the stingrays are cruising about, they alone would be worth seeing.
Snorkel Spots Nearby
More Things To Do
- Fun Facts about Sharks - February 15, 2024
- Where can you Safely Swim with Sharks in Australia? - February 15, 2024
- How to Snorkel – 15 Tips for Beginners - February 15, 2024
