Smiths Beach

Meet the site

Smiths Beach is a popular surf beach just south of Yallingup, but in calm weather its rocky ends offer good snorkelling. Marinelife.org.au notes rocky areas for snorkelling with good fish life and attractive marine life, and says a boat is needed to reach reefs a few hundred metres offshore. The Aquarium lagoon lies between Smiths Beach and Canal Rocks along the coastal trail.

The granite and limestone around the headlands support weed, sponges and reef fish such as wrasse, buffalo bream and herring cale, and the offshore reefs promise more structure and bigger fish for boat divers. Visibility is good on calm days but drops quickly when swell stirs the sand.

The site suits confident snorkellers and shore divers who can read surf and rips, and boat divers exploring the Yallingup coast. It is not reliable - many days are too rough - but it is worth checking on flat summer mornings. Published detail is limited, so depths are indicative.

The resort and cafe at Smiths Beach provide facilities, and the beach is patrolled by surf lifesavers in the summer season - swim between the flags when not snorkelling.

The Capes coast between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin faces the Indian Ocean and is famous for its surf, which is exactly what makes diving here so condition-dependent. Long-period south-westerly groundswell can arrive on calm, sunny days, and the regional ocean-safety guide advises observing a site in different conditions before diving it, never diving alone and flying a flag near boat ramps.

What you might see

Western king wrasse, buffalo bream, herring cale, sweep, weed and sponges on rocks

Location

Surf beach south of Yallingup with rocky areas at its ends for snorkelling and reefs a few hundred metres offshore reached by boat.

Facilities nearby

Car park, toilets, resort and cafe at Smiths Beach; patrolled in summer.