Koombana Bay, nestled just two kilometres east of Bunbury in Western Australia's South West, is a rare gem where wild bottlenose dolphins regularly visit the shoreline interaction zone. The calm, protected waters of this sandy bay offer excellent shore-entry snorkeling, especially during the warmer months when dolphins are a near-daily sight. Beyond the famous dolphin encounters, snorkelers can explore seagrass meadows and sandy patches that host a variety of temperate marine life. The bay's gentle conditions and easy access from the Dolphin Discovery Centre make it a family-friendly snorkeling destination.
Koombana Bay
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.7 mSwell Period 11 sWind Speed 0.4 knPrecipitation 0.1 mmTidal Phase ebb
Last evaluated
© CalistemonThe spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Low risk: Marine stingers
Box jellyfish and other stingers may be present during the warmer months (Nov–Apr); wear a stinger suit or check local warnings.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Koombana Bay is an active boating and fishing area; stay within designated swimming zones and remain vigilant.
Low risk: Afternoon sea breezes
Strong summer afternoon sea breezes can create choppy surface conditions; snorkel in the morning for calmest conditions.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
3 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Koombana Bay is 2 km east of Bunbury city centre, about a 2-hour drive south of Perth via the Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway. Follow Koombana Drive to the Dolphin Discovery Centre precinct.
Parking & facilities
Multiple parking lots available near the Dolphin Discovery Centre and along Koombana Drive Foreshore. Some areas may require a permit during peak times (available from the Visitor Centre).
parkingtoiletsshowerspicnic_tablesdrinking_water
No fee for beach access. The Dolphin Interaction Zone at the shoreline is free. Dolphin swim tours operate Oct–Apr and charge a fee.
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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