Perth and Rottnest with a mini scuba tank: snorkel trails and sanctuary zone rules

Perth's coast has something most cities do not: marked underwater trails, with plaques on the bottom, a short swim from the sand. A mask and snorkel shows you the trail from above. A small tank lets you go down to read the plaques and look under the ledges, then come back up.

Rottnest Island: two trails in a sanctuary zone

Rottnest has five Marine Sanctuary Zones around the island. Inside them, all plant and animal life is protected: no fishing of any kind and no collecting. Spearguns and hand spears are not permitted in the marine reserve.

The two marked trails are both in the Parker Point Marine Sanctuary, in the south-east of the island. Each has ten buoys marking information plaques on the seabed.

Trail	Length	Time the island suggests	Start
Parker Point	About 800 m, along a limestone ridge to the edge of the sanctuary zone and back	About one hour	Parker Point
Little Salmon Bay	About 700 m, a loop around the bay	About one hour	The beach at Little Salmon Bay

Little Salmon Bay is the calmer of the two and the easier start. An hour on either trail is longer than any mini tank lasts, so use the tank where it is worth it: at the plaques and the ledges, and snorkel the stretches in between.

Marmion Marine Park, Perth's northern beaches

Marmion Marine Park lies about 14 km north-west of Perth. Its sanctuary zones are "look but don't take" areas: boating, swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving are allowed, fishing is not.

• Mettam's Pool. A sheltered lagoon less than 2 m deep that you can walk into from the beach. The parks service calls it a good family spot. At that depth a tank is a bonus rather than a need, which makes it a good place to get used to one.
• MAAC Dive and Snorkel Trail. 400 m long with 20 information plinths on the seafloor, at depths of two to six metres. The parks service describes it as suitable for all levels. This is where a small tank makes the biggest difference: six metres is a long way down on a breath-hold.

Planning the day

• Wind. Perth's afternoon sea breeze roughens the water on the exposed spots. Go early.
• Air. Near the surface and at rest, the 0.5 L OX500 and OX500Plus give up to 8 minutes, the 1 L OX1000 around 15 and the 2.3 L OX2000 20 to 25. Depth, cold and effort shorten that. Watch the gauge and come up with air left.
• Rules of the tank. Breathe continuously, never hold your breath on the way up and ascend slowly. Our safety guide goes through them.
• Getting to Rottnest. Check the ferry operator's rules on carrying a charged tank before you travel.
• Boats. If you go out by boat, Western Australia requires other vessels to keep 50 m clear of a dive flag: see our dive flag guide.

Sources

• Rottnest Island Authority, Snorkelling and diving, Parker Point Snorkel Trail and Little Salmon Bay Snorkel Trail
• Parks and Wildlife Service WA, Marmion Marine Park and Mettam's Pool
• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, New dive trail for Marmion Marine Park

Sanctuary zone boundaries are marked on the official maps and on signs at the beach. Check them before you get in.