Snug Cove

Meet the site

Snug Cove is one of the most dramatic places on the Kangaroo Island coast: a small cove beneath cliffs about 200 m high on the north-west coast, east of Cape Borda. The Marine Life Network describes excellent wall diving, with underwater walls cut by gutters and ledges to 20 m and beyond.

The walls are the attraction. Rocky faces covered in sponges, sea whips and colourful encrusting life drop away into clear blue water, and the gutters and ledges shelter rock lobster, boarfish, magpie morwong and blue-throat wrasse, with cuttlefish tucked into crevices. Out in the water, yellowtail kingfish cruise the edge and western blue groper patrol the reef. The remoteness of the north-west coast means little fishing pressure and big fish.

History is next door: the Finnish-registered barque Fides was wrecked about 500 m west of the cove in 1860 (some sources say 1859) with the loss of most of her crew, and her remains lie broken up against the cliff in an underwater gully (see separate row). Snug Cove itself was also the landing for a small settlement and has had private tourism operations, and land access has varied over the years – which is why boat access is the reliable option.

Because the north coast is sheltered from the prevailing swell, Snug Cove is often diveable when the south and west coasts are not, but northerlies make it dangerous. It suits Advanced divers who enjoy wall dives and remote, uncrowded sites. Bring full cylinders from Kingscote and plan the day around the drive.

What you might see

Rock lobster, magpie morwong, yellowtail kingfish, boarfish, blue-throat wrasse, cuttlefish, western blue groper, sponges, sea whips

Location

A cove beneath 200 m cliffs on KI's north-west coast, east of Cape Borda, with underwater walls, gutters and ledges beyond 20 m; the Fides wreck lies 500 m west.

Facilities nearby

None – remote. Services and fills in Kingscote.