Overview

  • Features: Snorkelling around coral bommies with plenty of fish life
  • Opening Times: Daytime, daily
  • Best Time to Visit: Any time, around high tide
  • Duration: Any
  • Travelled By: Rental car
  • Cost: Free
  • Address: Coral Bay, Western Australia
  • Type: Activity, Wildlife

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What We Liked

Beautiful snorkelling area with lots of coral and fish to see.

What We Disliked

Coral bommies lack colour due to coral bleaching.

Summary

Purdy Point is one of the best Coral Bay snorkeling areas. Located not far from the Main Beach, the coral bommies are beautiful and have prolific fish life. Due to the current moving north, it is possible to drift snorkel from Purdy Point to Bill’s Bay and double up on your snorkelling adventure.

Coral Bay Snorkeling: Purdy Point

 

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Purdy Point is perhaps the best Coral Bay snorkeling area. With its proximity to the Coral Bay township and Main Beach, you don’t need a boat or a tour company to take you out there. Best of all, you get to see some of the best Ningaloo Reef coral bommies in the area.

Located 500 metres south of Bills Bay (the Main Beach in Coral Bay), just past the big red rock, Purdy Point provides access to some of the best Ningaloo Reef coral bommies. While the site is not as colourful or prolific as Oyster Stacks, the coral is dense and there are plenty of fish to keep you entertained.

It is possible to drift snorkel across the Purdy Point reef as there is a current that drifts north. Start at the south end of the beach, next to where the five-knot sign sticks out of the shallow rocks, and allow the current to push you northwards.

As you snorkel out from the beach, keep a look out for sting rays and sea cucumbers resting on the sand bed. They are well concealed under the sand sometimes, so you need to look out for them. About 200 metres from the beach, you’ll start to see the coral reef and some colourful fish. As you go further out, the coral reef becomes more dense and there is a higher concentration of fish.

The coral bommies at Purdy Point lack the bright colouring that you expect from healthy coral. Most are brown and shades of brownish-pink. However, as you swim into deeper waters, they become more colourful, with shades of green and purple, and the staghorn coral being a dull blue.

Most of the coral bommies at Purdy Point are the staghorn coral variety. However cabbage and table coral can be seen too. There is a beautiful lavender patch of coral close to the beach at Purdy Point. Look out for it as you swim out from the beach as it’s just north of the five knot sign.

Due to the drift and current at Purdy Point, you can start at Purdy Point and snorkel your way across to Bill’s Bay.

We think Purdy Point is an excellent Coral Bay snorkeling area and would love to return there someday soon.

 

Tip

While snorkelling, stay away from offshore channel markers as there is often a lot of boating activity here.

 

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