Gnarabup Bay is the Margaret River area's best sheltered snorkel. The Margaret River region's ocean-safety guide describes the lagoon in front of the White Elephant as beautiful and full of caves, a fish nursery habitat and one of the safer spots, and names the Prevelly and Yallingup lagoons as suitable for beginners. The region's scuba and snorkelling page notes that Gnarabup Bay has a snorkelling trail, and that the White Elephant Beach Cafe runs a free lending library of dive and snorkel slates for identifying local fish; the Prevelly guide likewise suggests asking cafe staff for a snorkel card.

The lagoon is enclosed by limestone reef, with shallow caves and ledges along its edges and sand and seagrass in the middle. Juvenile fish use it as a nursery, and wrasse, bream, blue devils and old wives are common, along with octopus in the cracks. Depths are modest, so it suits snorkellers and relaxed shallow scuba dives.

It suits families, beginners and anyone wanting a safe swim on the Margaret River coast.

The Capes coast between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin faces the Indian Ocean and is famous for its surf, which is exactly what makes diving here so condition-dependent. Long-period south-westerly groundswell can arrive on calm, sunny days, and the regional ocean-safety guide advises observing a site in different conditions before diving it, never diving alone and flying a flag near boat ramps.

From Margaret River town drive about 10 km west to Prevelly and Gnarabup via Wallcliffe Road. Park at Gnarabup Beach near the White Elephant Beach Cafe, where you can borrow a fish-ID snorkel card or slate. Enter from the beach into the lagoon.

The nearest full-service dive shop for fills and hire is Swan Dive in Busselton; there is no dedicated dive shop in Margaret River or Augusta, so bring filled cylinders.

The reef protects the lagoon; the regional ocean-safety guide rates it one of the safer spots, and the Prevelly and Yallingup lagoons as suitable for beginners. Large swell can still push water over the reef, and the Margaret River surf break is nearby. Calm summer mornings are best.

General pattern on the Capes and Leeuwin coast: summer mornings often have light easterly (offshore) winds before a south-westerly sea breeze, and long-period south-westerly groundswell can arrive on otherwise calm days; winter fronts bring big swell and north-westerly winds. Check the Bureau of Meteorology swell forecast, not just the wind.

Collect a snorkel card at the cafe, enter from the beach and follow the lagoon's reef edges, looking into the caves and the fish nursery, then return along the beach. 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. Oceania Experiences runs small-group snorkel tours on the Capes coast; Swan Dive (Busselton) supplies hire gear and fills.