Tucked at the southern end of iconic Cottesloe Beach, The Cove is a sheltered reef snorkelling spot framed by limestone cliffs and a rocky groyne. The calm, turquoise waters here protect a colourful limestone reef teeming with fish life, making it one of Perth's most accessible and rewarding shore-diving and snorkelling locations. Just minutes from Perth's CBD, this gem offers clear visibility on calm days and a unique urban-meets-Indian Ocean atmosphere beneath the landmark Norfolk Pines.
The Cove (Cottesloe)
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.8 mSwell Period 11 sWind Speed 2.6 knPrecipitation 1.0 mmTidal Phase ebb
Last evaluated
© Nils Erik MühlfriedThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Low risk: Swell surge on reef
The reef can get a sudden surge from Indian Ocean swells, pushing snorkellers into sharp limestone.
Low risk: Boat traffic near groyne
The groyne area sees occasional boat and jet ski traffic entering and exiting the water.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
3 photos from the community
Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
The Cove is at the southern end of Cottesloe Beach, Perth, approximately 15 minutes' drive west of the Perth CBD. Access via Marine Parade, Cottesloe. Park at the Cottesloe Groyne car park (No.1 Car Park) and walk down the main staircase to the beach.
Parking & facilities
Free and time-limited parking is available at the Cottesloe Groyne car park (No.1 Car Park) and along Marine Parade. Paid parking is under consideration by the Town of Cottesloe — check current signs.
toiletsparkingshowerspicnic_tablesdrinking_water
No entry fee. Parking is currently free with time limits.
Spot Map
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Gallery ┬╖ 3 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