Little Armstrong Bay - Rottnest Island snorkelling

Little Armstrong Bay is a short, sandy beach between rocky points on the north coast, with shallow water close in and reef further out in the bay. Rocky outcrops shelter the shallows from southerly and easterly winds, making it a calm choice for families and beginners on those days.

The bay lies inside the Armstrong Bay Sanctuary Zone, which protects the area's seagrass meadows and marine life. Protected sites like this tend to hold bigger fish, and a 2012 Reef Life Survey count here recorded one of the richest fish communities of any site surveyed. Swim out beyond the shallows for the best snorkelling, where you may meet species not often seen elsewhere along this coast.

• Experience level: Easy
• Depth: 1-6 m
• Access: Island Explorer Stop 17 (Little Armstrong Bay); about 12 minutes by bike from Thomson Bay, past Geordie Bay. No facilities at the bay; the nearest toilets and showers are at Geordie Bay, about 7 minutes by bike. Inside the Armstrong Bay Sanctuary Zone. Sheltered from southerly and easterly winds but open to northerlies.
• Marine Sanctuary Zone
• Seagrass Meadows
• Reef Further Out
• Family Friendly
• Rich Fish Life

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