South Mandu Snorkel
LOCATION Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Western Australia
DEPTH 1-3 Meters
WATER TEMP 22-28 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
Shallow and entry right off the beach
FEATURE
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South Mandu Snorkel
LOCATION Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Western Australia
DEPTH 1-3 Meters
WATER TEMP 22-28 Degrees
DIFFICULTY Easy
Shallow and entry right off the beach
FEATURE
South Mandu Snorkel
If you are looking for a quiet, shallow snorkel spot on Ningaloo Reef, South Mandu is perfect. Best done outside of low tide, the dense corals here come right to the water’s edge. The snorkelling area is a short walk from the carpark. South Mandu is a great spot for beginners who want to see lots of colourful fish without venturing into deeper water.
What Can I See?
- You might see sharks here but they will be reef sharks. These are very shy and will stay well away from you.
- Turtles
- Stingrays
- Clown Fish
- Fish
Getting There
The turn off to the car park is 65km from Exmouth and 26km from the national park pay station. The road is sealed to the turn off then you have a 400m drive on a dirt road suitable for 2wd cars.
Where & How do you get in?
From the carpark you can either walk down to the beach, over some pebbles and onto the sand for 400m. Or there is a dirt road that goes behind the dunes then veers right to the beach. The beach walk is a bit prettier I think. They are similar length.
We get in just before the first of the cabins that belong to the high end Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef Safari Camp.
Best Season
Great snorkelling year round. The walk will be hot Oct – April.
Autumn is typically warm water and warm daytime temperatures great for boating a swimming. Be aware of stingers this time of year and be fully covered. Winter will see a greater chance of swiming with Mantarays.
During summer temperatures average around 37 degrees so it is likely to be very hot from November – February. Temperatures are much more pleasant during the winter months of May – September with an average temperature of 24 degrees.
- Turtles all year round but nesting from November to March
- Whale Sharks – March – August
- Manta Rays all year round but very active from April to November
- Humpback Whales – June – October
- Turtle Hatching – January – March
Recommended Gear
- Reef Shoes
How Busy / Crowds
- This snorkel is not on the list for most Ningaloo snorkellers so you won’t see crowds here.
Parking
- There is more than enough parking here, we haven’t see it busy here even in peak season. The carpark is near the mouth of the almost always dry Mandu Mandi Gorge.
Costs / Permits
If you don’t have a national park pass, you will need to get one as you enter Cape Range National Park at the self serve station on the main road. It is $17 per standard vehicle.
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
The tide is the main consideration here. Aim to snorkel here when there is more than 1.2m of water or there will be exposed coral.
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 South Mandu
Nearest toilets are at Oyster Stacks a couple of kilometres up the road.
Parking
About the Snorkel
Often overlooked for the big 3 shore snorkels at Ningaloo – Oyster Stacks, Lakeside Sanctuary and Turquoise Bay – South Mandu is a hidden gem. If you don’t mind a short walk from the car park (400-500m), there is brilliant snorkelling here within metres of the beach.
It is ideal for new snorkellers. In fact, it is so close to shore you won’t be able to snorkel here at low tide. Like Oyster stacks, aim to snorkel here when the tide height is 1.2m or greater otherwise you could hurt yourself and damage the coral.
We missed this spot the last time we were in Exmouth (the tide was too low) so we were really looking forward to getting back here and we weren’t disappointed. There are beds of plate, staghorn and brain coral that host a myriad of tropical fish.
Our highlights here were a big school of yellow convict tangs, beautiful blue lip clams, green sea turtles, several different butterfly fish and the cute little gold belly damsels and lemon damsels that make their home in the coral.
Despite the extensive garden of corals, we found we didn’t have to move very far, there is a lot to see in a small space. This is generally a quieter snorkel spot on Ningaloo so if you want to avoid the business of the better know locations and don’t mind a short walk, South Mandu is a great option.
Some kind of footwear is a good idea for the walk. And if you have time, the walk through Mandu Mandu Gorge across the road from here is worth doing, the scenery is spectacular.
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