Port Noarlunga Reef Snorkel
LOCATION Port Noarlunga, Adelaide, South Australia
DEPTH 5-8 Meters
WATER TEMP 18 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy -Medium
Inside the reef is shallow & protected but if you go through the gap you can get more surges & current
FEATURE
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Port Noarlunga Reef Snorkel
LOCATION Port Noarlunga, Adelaide, South Australia
DEPTH 5-8 Meters
WATER TEMP 18 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy to Medium
The snorkel inside the reef is shallow and protected but if you go through the gap you can get more surges and current
FEATURE
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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.
Port Noarlunga Reef
The 1.5km long reef runs parallel to the shore. Although it is around 300m offshore, it can be easily reached by walking to the end of Port Noarlunga Jetty that extends right out to the reef.
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What Can I See?
- There are 200 species of marine plants and animals on Noarlunga Reef including 50 species of fish.
- Fish you will see close to the jetty include sea sweep, magpie perch, bullseyes, moonlighters and oldwives. Under the jetty the fish are quite game and will come right up to your face mask. We have seen an enormous spider crab under the jetty too.
- You might also see bigger things like Port Jackson sharks and wobbegongs, rays and the occasional dolphin could also cruise by.
Where & How do you Get In?
One of the best things about the Noarlunga Reef is the ease of access. The 300m long Noarlunga Jetty extends almost out to the reef and at the end of the jetty there is a platform and stairs where you can walk or drop into the water. From the end of the jetty, you are 10 meters from the reef.
The other option for snorkelling at Noarlunga is to get kitted up on the beach and swim out to the reef. While you will spot schools of fish under the jetty, you need to avoid a lot of fishing lines. Using the stairs at the end of the jetty is the better option.
Best Season
For much of the year, water temperatures around Adelaide struggles to get above 20 degrees. In summer the water temperature is in the low 20s so you might want to wear some kind of wetsuit year round.
In winter the water temperature can be as low as 14 degrees.
Hazards
The Port Noarlunga Reef snorkel is suitable for beginner to intermediate snorkellers. You can snorkel from the beach and around the jetty and still see fish and other marine life although in smaller numbers than you do on the reef. You also need to be careful of fishing lines.
The snorkel on the reef itself is suitable for people for intermediate snorkelling experience. It is too deep to stand up. Getting up on top of the reef for a rest is possible but awkward with fins on. You might also have to contend with small waves and currents, so some swimming ability is required.
How Busy/Crowds
There might be a bit of a crowd at the platform where you get into the water. You will find divers using this area too. But once you are in the water and away from the Noarlunga Jetty there is plenty of room to get some water to yourself.
Recommended Gear
Because of the cool water you might want a wetsuit to help stay in the water longer. If you want to attempt to get up onto the reef you might want to have some reef shoes inside your fins. Even if you have average visibility, it is worth having a camera for the big schools of fish under the jetty – you can swim right through them.
Features
Look out for the Port Noarlunga Reef Underwater Trail. To be honest it is a bit tricky to see if you are snorkelling. The first 7 markers are inside the reef to the south. Marker 8 is at the gap to the outer reef and the rest of the trail is along the outer reef heading back to the jetty.
Getting There
Port Noarlunga Reef is 35-40 minutes south of Adelaide. From Adelaide, the easiest way to get there is along the Southern Express Way. Take the exit onto Beach road then continue to Murray Road towards the coast.
There is a large carpark adjacent to Noarlunga Jetty. The carpark can be busy in summer. More parking is available on roads along the foreshore. Parking around Port Noarlunga is free.
Best Conditions
The more of the reef that is exposed, the more sheltered the inner reef is so snorkelling around low tide is the way to go. If you snorkel 30 minutes either side of low tide, there will be fewer currents. All that said, you will still need to watch you are not pushed into the reef. If you want to snorkel on the deeper outer reef, choose a day when there is light winds and a low swell.
Windy Map Instructions – Click on the icon in the top right to see other conditions such as swell, temperature, rain etc
Facilities at Port Noarlunga
Toilets
Showers
Picnic Tables
BBQ’s
Foot & Drinks
Life Guards
Gear Hire
Shade
About the Snorkel
Port Noarlunga Reef Marine Reserve is one of the best places to snorkel in Adelaide. The 1.5km long reef runs parallel to the shore. Although it is around 300m offshore, it can be easily reached by walking to the end of Port Noarlunga Jetty that extends right out to the reef. The reef is about 10m wide. There is a gap in the reef south of the jetty where you can access the outer wall.
The reef forms part of Port Noarlunga Beach which has plenty of sand and a great atmosphere as snorkellers, divers, and paddlers make their way in and out of the water. The protection provided by the reef makes Port Noarlunga beach a popular destination for families in summer.
We really enjoy snorkelling here; you never know what you might see. Our plan when we get in is to move away from access point quickly because it can be quite busy there. We have a look under the very end of the jetty and go south towards the gap.
It pays to take your time as you swim along, you never know what is going to emerge from the rocks. We don’t often go to the outer reef, it is quite a bit deeper and unless you have a calm day, being on the surface on the outer reef can be a challenge.
We turn around at the gap and drift back towards the jetty then continue along the north of the reef before turning around. At low tide, some parts of the northern reef feel a bit more shallow so visibility can be better. It’s a nice spot to look around before heading back to the stairs at the jetty.
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