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SNORKELING IN THE BATEMANS MARINE PARK
Snorkeling is great fun and is easy to do. It is suitable for people of all ages, as well as children who are properly supervised. Anyone who can swim and is reasonably comfortable in the water can enjoy snorkeling. It opens up a whole new world of appreciation of our South Coast marine critters. The Nature Coast Marine Group has a regular snorkeling program so that members can enjoy snorkeling as part of a group.
What You Need
- A reasonable level of confidence in the water - while snorkeling is not complicated it can be useful to do an appropriate training course
- Some basic skills such as donning and adjusting equipment, clearing mask and snorkel and duck diving
- A mask, snorkel, fins and, desirably, a good wetsuit. More experienced snorkelers can use weightbelts to enable them to free dive under the water.
Where to Snorkel
The best snorkeling is generally over rocky reefs. Snorkeling over sand may provide some good experiences, but generally there is much less to see. When selecting snorkeling sites, the snorkeler should therefore be looking for substantial areas of sub-tidal reef.
Visibility is often better in the morning especially if it is high tide.
Snorkelers should also be aware of the zoning of the marine park. Maps providing detailed guidance are readily available in fishing and tackle shops, dive shops and information centres. In sanctuary zones it is illegal to take anything.
Tips for your Safety and Comfort
Never snorkel alone. Always have a buddy, so that you can keep an eye on each other, help each other entering and exiting the water and share the wonderful experiences that you will enjoy.
Be aware of the wind, rain and sea conditions before you go snorkeling anywhere. Large swells and strong winds make snorkeling dangerous, especially near rocks. In any case, you will not be able to see much if the bottom sediments are being stirred up by wind and waves or if runoff from creeks and rivers is discolouring the water.
Protect yourself - The conditions vary with the season. Water temperatures lag behind the air temperature. It can still be quite chilly in the water in December, with warmer water – perhaps 23 degrees – being encountered in March or April. In late winter or spring the water temperature may drop to 13 or 14 degrees. Surprisingly, weather conditions are often more stable in autumn or winter so the snorkeler is well advised to invest in a good wetsuit so that they can take advantage of year round snorkeling. It will also protect you against sunburn.
Look but don’t touch - Snorkelers should be aware of hazards such as stings from bluebottles, scorpionfish or stingrays, cuts from barnacles and oysters, and bites from moray eels.
Remember the five point snorkeler’s code:
- Stay within the limits of your training and experience.
- Always evaluate the sea and weather conditions before entering the water.
- Keep your equipment in good condition and check it each time you use it.
- Always use the buddy system - but remember you are responsible for your own safety.
- Protect the environment.
Snorkel Training Snorkel training courses are appropriate for those who:
- feel they need to build their confidence,
- want to be better able to assess weather conditions,
- are unfamiliar with snorkeling equipment,
- want to learn more advanced skills in a safe environment and
- want to learn more about marine life.
The Nature Coast Marine Group offers snorkeling training from time to time depending on demand. Contact info@ncmg.org.au . Training may also be available through local dive operators and instructors.
What you are likely to see
The Batemans Marine Park encompasses a variety of habitats. These include rocky reefs, sandy beaches, estuaries and offshore islands. Rocky reefs can include areas of kelp forest, turfing algae, urchin barrens, and cunjevoi (sea squirts). Most of the Marine Park’s waters are exposed to wind and swells, with few areas that are generally sheltered.
Rocky reefs are home to many fish and other marine creatures. The common fish include mado, sea sweep, rock cale, herring cale, kelp fish, red morwong, leatherjackets, moray eels, blue groper and other members of the wrasse family, such as maori wrasse, crimson-banded wrasse, senator wrasse and snakeskin wrasse.
Toadfish peep out of the sand, while schooling overhead will be long-finned pike, yellowtail scad, silver trevally and yellow-fin bream. An entrancing experience is to be the centre of a circling school of salmon, yellow-tail kingfish or mullet. It is not uncommon to come across large stingrays and eagle rays, while smaller fiddler rays and stingarees are also regularly seen. The snorkeler may also be lucky enough to see a Port Jackson shark or a wobbegong. These larger fish are not usually a hazard, but snorkelers should keep a safe distance.
In addition to fish, the snorkeler may encounter cuttlefish, octopus and squid. These are the most intelligent of the invertebrates. In season (usually July), the snorkeler may see the spectacular courting display of the cuttlefish.
Attached and slow moving invertebrates are a whole new world when you get to recognize them and the more you learn the more fascinating they become. You may see predator molluscs feeding on sea squirts, beautifully coloured nudibranchs and the bizarre mating behaviour of sea hares.
Snorkeling sites in the Batemans Marine Park
The sites are rated to give an indication of the ability required for safe snorkeling at each location. The ratings are made with favourable conditions in mind (light winds, calm conditions), and anywhere can become unsafe in the wrong conditions.
For details of snorkeling locations visit:
Northern Snorkel Sites
Southern Snorkel Sites
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