Eagle Bay is the classic family snorkel on the Cape Naturaliste peninsula. Marinelife.org.au describes a 2-3 m bottom of sand and boulders with abundant seagrass, and small fish and molluscs that can be seen without duck-diving; it is sheltered from the afternoon breeze and usually flat and clear. Meelup Park notes its expanses of white sand and summer swimming, and a south-west snorkelling guide calls it shallow, clear and exceptionally family-friendly, with fish schools, octopus, crabs and shells.

The granite boulders at the ends of the bay add structure to the seagrass meadows, sheltering wrasse, juvenile fish and octopus. It is a gentle, uncomplicated site that suits children, beginners and anyone wanting an easy float, and it is a good place to try out snorkel gear before heading to Castle Rock or Gannet Rock.

For scuba divers, the interest lies offshore: marinelife.org.au notes that granite 'coral bommies' lie 300-400 m out in 7-15 m (listed separately), and HMAS Swan is about a nautical mile to the north. Eagle Bay is also a zone name in the Ngari Capes Marine Park, which includes an Eagle Bay sanctuary area.

The bay has a small community and cafe/brewery nearby, and parking along the foreshore.

Geographe Bay faces north, so Cape Naturaliste blocks most of the prevailing south-westerly swell and sea breeze that close the ocean coast; that shelter and the warm Leeuwin Current make the Dunsborough shoreline one of the most reliably diveable stretches of the South West, and winter north-westerly storms are the main thing that shuts it down.

From Dunsborough town centre follow Geographe Bay Road and Cape Naturaliste Road north-west; the Meelup Regional Park beaches are signposted off Meelup Beach Road and Eagle Bay-Meelup Road, 3-10 km from town (5-15 minutes' drive). Eagle Bay is about 10 km from Dunsborough via Cape Naturaliste Road and Eagle Bay Road; park along the foreshore and walk a few metres to the beach. Enter from the sand at either end near the boulders.

Sheltered from the afternoon sea breeze and usually flat and clear (marinelife.org.au). Northerly and north-easterly winds make it choppy, and winter storms stir the seagrass. Summer and autumn are best.

General pattern in Geographe Bay: sheltered from south-westerly swell by Cape Naturaliste; summer mornings are calm before the afternoon sea breeze, while winter north-westerly fronts roll swell and chop into the bay and reduce visibility for several days.

Enter from the beach near the boulders, snorkel over the seagrass and around the granite in 2-3 m, and return along the shore. Snorkellers should stay within easy reach of the exit point and swim with a buddy; scuba divers at these depths need no safety stop but should ascend slowly and surface near the float.

No operator needed - self-guided snorkel and shore dive. Swan Dive (Busselton) supplies hire gear and fills and can advise on conditions.