Cape Jaffa is a laid-back coastal hamlet on South Australia's Limestone Coast, offering a mix of protected beach snorkelling and jetty-side underwater exploration. The area's calm, shallow inshore waters around Long Beach and the Kingston SE jetty (over 1 km long) provide easy access for snorkellers, with a sandy seabed interspersed with rocky patches and seagrass beds. The cool, nutrient-rich waters of the Southern Ocean support abundant marine life beneath the surface, making this a rewarding spot to float and explore without needing a boat.
Cape Jaffa
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Poor conditions. Stay out today.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 1.3 mSwell Period 10 sWind Speed 2.4 knPrecipitation 15 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
© Fairv8The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
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Moderate risk: Ocean Swell and Surge
Strong swells and southerly ocean waves can create dangerous surge over shallow reef. Best on calm, low-wind days.
Moderate risk: Changing Onshore Winds
Winds picking up from the south or south-west can quickly increase sea state and make exits difficult.
Low risk: Swell and surge from Southern Ocean
Exposed beaches can experience southern ocean swell, particularly during onshore winds, creating surge conditions near the shore.
Low risk: Fishing activity at jetty
The Kingston SE jetty is heavily used by fishers; snorkellers should be mindful of fishing lines, hooks, and entanglement risks near jetty pylons.
Low risk: Sharp Reef Rock
Exposed limestone reef with sharp edges and cracks. Wear reef shoes or booties.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
5 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Cape Jaffa is located on the Limestone Coast, approximately 270 km south-east of Adelaide via the M1 and A8 highways. Turn off the Princess Highway at Kingston SE and follow the signs to Cape Jaffa. Long Beach and the Kingston SE jetty area are the primary snorkel access points.
Parking & facilities
Street parking available near Long Beach and at the Kingston SE jetty carpark. The beach is accessible by vehicle (4WD recommended on soft sand sections).
toiletsparking
No fees for snorkelling. Boat ramp at Cape Jaffa requires a daily ticket ($12) or annual permit ($120).
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Gallery ┬╖ 5 photos
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports