Port Hughes Jetty is a spectacular shallow-water snorkelling and dive site on Yorke Peninsula's Copper Coast, two hours from Adelaide. The 417-metre jetty sits over a sandy seabed fringed with green seagrass and offers a maximum depth of just 6–7 metres, making it exceptionally accessible for beginners and families. Each jetty pile hosts a vibrant micro-ecosystem of soft corals, sponges, and colourful encrusting life. Beneath the jetty's shaded structure, inquisitive cowfish greet snorkellers, while the debris and fallen piles at the jetty end are a macro-photographer's dream. This is one of South Australia's best jetty dives — calm, protected, and teeming with life.
Port Hughes Jetty
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 1.3 knPrecipitation 9.5 mmTidal Phase ebb
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
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Low risk: Fishing gear entanglement
The jetty is popular with fishermen; snorkellers should stay directly under the jetty to avoid monofilament lines and hooks.
Low risk: Cold water temperatures
Winter water temperatures can drop to 13°C; even summer temps rarely exceed 24°C. Wetsuit recommended year-round.
Low risk: Falling debris
Fishing weights, hooks, and other debris from above may be encountered on the seabed. Watch your step when entering and exiting.
Low risk: Fishing line entanglement
The jetty area can have fishing activity with hooks and lines that pose an entanglement risk to snorkellers.
Low risk: Outgoing tide current
Tidal currents can strengthen near the jetty structure and along the beach on an outgoing tide, especially near the jetty pylons.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
1 photo from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Port Hughes is 166 km (about 2 hours) north-west of Adelaide via the Augusta Highway and Copper Coast Highway. The jetty is in the centre of Port Hughes township, clearly visible from the foreshore.
Parking & facilities
Free parking is available along the foreshore near the jetty. No dedicated dive parking lot, but ample street parking.
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No entry or parking fees. Free snorkelling access.
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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