Trannies Beach, at the northern end of West Island in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, offers sheltered, calm lagoon waters perfect for beginner and family snorkelling. Wade straight off the palm-lined shore into shallow coral gardens 1–3 metres deep, where colourful tropical fish swarm around coral outcrops. A short 120-metre swim out to the reef wall reveals larger marine life — bluefin trevally, reef sharks, and a resident giant brown marbled grouper. The reef is protected within the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park, boasting some of the healthiest coral in Australia with minimal bleaching. Best snorkelled at low tide for maximum protection and visibility.
Trannies (dive site)
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 6.8 sWind Speed 2.0 knPrecipitation 6.5 mmTidal Phase ebb
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Monsoon/cyclone season
Monsoonal rains and potential cyclones create dangerous conditions. Snorkelling not recommended during this period.
Low risk: Sharp coral in shallows
Shallow coral outcrops close to shore require care to avoid scraping knees or fins on sharp coral. Best entered at high tide or via sandy patches.
Low risk: Trade wind chop
Trade winds from April to November create choppy surface conditions on the outer reef, especially in the afternoon.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
Trannies Beach is located on the northern end of West Island, about 6 km north of the township. The road is sealed most of the way, with the last few hundred metres on a hard dirt track. Walk straight into the water off the beach.
Parking & facilities
Parking available near the beach on the hard dirt track at the end of the sealed road.
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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