Rottnest Island Marine Snorkel Trail
Explore the marine environment of Rottnest Island — a marine park with 135 species of tropical and temperate fish, coral, octopus, and sea lions in the clear, warm waters of the Leeuwin Current that bathes the island's rocky reefs.
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The Basin Snorkel
The Basin is the most popular snorkel site on Rottnest — the sheltered sandy bay enclosed by limestone reef is within walking distance of Thomson Bay and has calm, clear water with reef fish, rays, and occasionally sea lions exploring the sandy bottom.
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Little Salmon Bay
Little Salmon Bay is one of Rottnest's designated snorkel trails — underwater markers guide snorkellers through the limestone reef habitats where Western Australian dhufish, buffalo bream, and Harlequin fish are common residents.
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Parker Point Reef
Parker Point on the island's south coast has the best coral diversity on Rottnest — the Leeuwin Current brings tropical species further south than they'd otherwise survive, and the reef at Parker Point has unusual assemblages of both coral and temperate species.
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Shark Lake Passage
Shark Lake on Rottnest connects to the sea through a narrow channel — the tidal channel is a feeding area for small reef sharks, rays, and the large schools of baitfish that attract larger predators passing through the passage on the tidal flow.
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Mettams Pool Rottnest
The reef pools on Rottnest's eastern coast near Thomson Bay provide shallow snorkelling in protected natural pools — the rock pools contain anemonefish, sea urchins, and starfish in water calm enough for children and beginning snorkellers.
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Submarine Wreck SS Denton Holme
The wreck of the SS Denton Holme (1905) in 8 metres off Rottnest is accessible to snorkellers at low tide — the encrusted hull sections are home to schools of fish, and the wreck is one of several accessible from the island's protected eastern coast.