Good snorkelling kits cost from AUD $15 to hire for a day or AUD $80 to own a solid beginner set. Grab the right kit, pick one of the six spots below, and you can be in the water this weekend. Book a guided snorkel tour through PADI Travel from around AUD $45 per person if you want everything sorted for you.
- Guided snorkel tours: AUD $45 to $120 per person
- Gear hire per day: AUD $15 to $35
- Entry-level kit to buy: AUD $60 to $120
- Mid-range kit with dry-top snorkel and silicone skirt: AUD $120 to $220
- Mask suction test: a good fit holds 10 to 15 seconds without a strap
The Six Best Spots to Use Your Snorkelling Kit Right Now
These sites offer reliable shallow-water access, clear visibility, and genuine marine life. Each one suits a family with a basic snorkelling kit.
Jervis Bay, NSW
Hyams Beach and Greenfield Beach sit inside Jervis Bay Marine Park. Visibility regularly hits 10 to 15 metres in summer. You will see blue gropers, schools of luderick, and seagrass beds full of leatherjackets. Entry is sandy and flat. Conditions vary, so always assess on the day.
Shelly Beach, Manly, NSW
Shelly Beach is an aquatic reserve. No fishing, no boats, and a dense population of wobbegong sharks resting on the sand at 3 to 5 metres depth. The headland wall holds nudibranchs and blue-ringed octopus. Do not handle blue-ringed octopus under any circumstances. Entry from the beach is easy; conditions vary, always assess on the day.
Ningaloo Reef, WA
The best snorkelling in Australia for sheer scale. Coral trout, turtles, and manta rays in 2 to 6 metres of water. Coral Bay and Turquoise Bay are the pick. Turquoise Bay has a drift snorkel, and the current pushes you north along the reef. Stay inside the bay flagged area. Conditions vary, always assess on the day.
Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, NSW
Leopard sharks rest on the sandy bottom at 8 to 12 metres. Guided tours only reach the rocks by boat, which keeps the site in good condition. Visibility averages 8 to 15 metres in calm weather, dropping sharply after swell. A mid-range kit with a low-volume mask is the right call here.
Cabbage Tree Bay, Manly, NSW
Shares aquatic reserve protection with Shelly Beach. Snorkellers regularly find Port Jackson sharks wedged under ledges at 4 to 6 metres. The kelp zone on the northern edge holds weedy sea dragons if you move slowly and stay under 6 metres. Current can push through the bay mouth on an outgoing tide. Conditions vary, always assess on the day.
Coral Bay, WA
The Ningaloo Reef comes within 200 metres of the beach here. Snorkellers on the northern reef bommies see coral cod, parrotfish, and reef sharks at 3 to 8 metres. Hire kits are available in town. The site suits full-foot fins in calmer conditions; switch to open-heel if you are crossing rocky sections.
What Every Snorkelling Kit Must Include
A kit missing even one component will ruin the session. Here is the non-negotiable list.
The Mask: Fit Beats Brand
Press the mask to your face without using the strap. Inhale gently through your nose. If it holds for 10 to 15 seconds, the silicone skirt seals correctly. Tempered glass lenses resist fogging better than plastic. Low-volume masks clear water faster, which matters in chop.
New Mask Burn-Off Prep
Brand-new tempered glass lenses carry a factory film that causes fogging. Scrub the inside of each lens with non-gel toothpaste using a finger, rinse, and repeat twice. This removes the film. After that, a standard anti-fog solution works properly. Skip this step and you will be pulling your mask off every two minutes.
The Snorkel: Dry-Top or Splash-Guard
A dry-top snorkel seals automatically when submerged. This matters for families and beginners near chop or boat wash. Semi-dry and classic J-tube snorkels are lighter and suit confident swimmers in flat water. The mouthpiece must be soft, medical-grade silicone. Hard plastic mouthpieces cause jaw fatigue within 20 minutes.
Fins: Open-Heel vs Full-Foot
Full-foot fins fit like a shoe and suit warm, sandy entry points such as Coral Bay. Open-heel fins take a bootie and suit rocky entries like Shelly Beach or any site where you are walking over reef. Size fins snug but without heel rubbing. A loose fin causes blisters and saps energy fast.
Snorkelling Kit Costs: Hire vs Buy
| Option | Mask | Snorkel | Fins | Full Kit | Guided Tour (incl. gear) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hire per day | AUD $8-$12 | AUD $5-$8 | AUD $8-$15 | AUD $15-$35 | AUD $45-$120 |
| Entry-level buy | AUD $25-$45 | AUD $15-$30 | AUD $25-$50 | AUD $60-$120 | N/A |
| Mid-range buy | AUD $60-$100 | AUD $40-$70 | AUD $50-$90 | AUD $120-$220 | N/A |
| Travel kit (foldable fins) | included | included | included | AUD $90-$180 | N/A |
If you snorkel more than four days per year, buying a mid-range kit saves money by the second trip.
When Conditions Are Actually Good: The Honest Season Guide
Most of the sites above are best from October to March in NSW. Wind from the south or southwest drops visibility fast. Check the Bureau of Meteorology wind forecast before you go. A 15-knot nor-easter still gives you good conditions on a protected southern-facing beach.
Tides and Currents
Snorkel on a high tide at rocky reef sites. Low tide exposes shallow reef and cuts swim depth to under a metre. Outgoing tides create rips at bay mouths, particularly at Cabbage Tree Bay. At Turquoise Bay, Ningaloo, the drift only runs safely north to south, and you must exit before the southern rocky point.
Safety: Flags, Currents, and Things Not to Touch
- Always snorkel between the red and yellow flags where lifesavers are patrolling.
- Blue-ringed octopus, cone shells, stonefish, and stingrays: do not handle any of them under any circumstances. This rule applies regardless of experience.
- Wear a high-visibility, neon-coloured snorkel or vest near busy harbour zones and boat channels. This applies specifically around Manly, Byron Bay boat ramps, and Coral Bay channels.
- For any dive injury or health concern after snorkelling, contact Divers Alert Network at diversalertnetwork.org.
Children's Kits and Sizing
Junior masks run to roughly 50 mm face width. The suction test works on children too. Use a full-foot fin sized to fit with bare feet, not boots. Junior snorkels run shorter and have smaller mouthpieces. A hard purge valve on a child's snorkel adds fatigue; choose a simple splash-guard design instead.
Silicone vs PVC: Which Kit Material Lasts
Silicone skirts in mid-range kits last around 30% longer than PVC alternatives when rinsed with fresh water after each use. PVC skirts stiffen in UV exposure and crack at the seal points. If the kit is stored in a boot or bag with direct sun, PVC fails within a single season. Rinse, dry, and store in a mesh bag.
Ready to get in the water? Browse guided snorkel tours through PADI Travel for options at Ningaloo, Byron Bay, and the NSW coast, with gear included.