Skippy Rock is a small cove on the coast west of Augusta near Cape Leeuwin. Marinelife.org.au describes a sheltered south-facing beach with rocks outcropping on and off the beach, a 100 m pocket of sand between the first two outcrops, continuous rock reefs and boulders, a lookout and interesting coastal vegetation. The rock reefs reduce waves to under 1 m at the shore, making it great for snorkelling and scuba diving, and the Cape to Cape Track passes through. It warns of a permanent rip through the reefs at the lagoon mouth, which should be avoided, and notes fossilised thrombolites more than a million years old in the local rocks.

The boulders and reef inside the lagoon shelter reef fish, weed and invertebrates, and the setting near the meeting of the Indian and Southern oceans is spectacular. The combination of shelter and scenery makes it one of the more pleasant shore sites near Augusta.

It suits snorkellers and Open Water shore divers who respect the rip. Check the lagoon mouth from the lookout before entering, and stay inside the reef.

Quarry Bay, a short drive away, is another calm-weather snorkel on the same stretch of coast.

The coast around Cape Leeuwin is where the Indian and Southern oceans meet, and it is one of the most exposed shorelines in Australia. The sheltered coves and bays near Augusta are the exceptions, which is why local divers value them. There is no dive shop in Augusta, so bring filled cylinders from Busselton or Perth, and remember that the nearest recompression chamber is at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, about four hours' drive away. Ngari Capes Marine Park zoning includes sanctuary zones at Cape Leeuwin and East Flinders Bay, so check the maps before fishing or collecting.

From Augusta follow Leeuwin Road toward Cape Leeuwin and turn onto Skippy Rock Road to the car park and lookout (about 10 minutes). Walk down to the small south-facing beach; the Cape to Cape Track passes through. Enter from the sand pocket between the first two rock outcrops.

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.

Continuous rock reefs reduce waves to under 1 m at the shore, but there is a permanent rip through the reefs at the lagoon mouth - avoid it. Calm days with northerly or easterly winds 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.

Enter from the sand pocket, snorkel or dive among the rock reefs and boulders inside the lagoon, and stay well away from the rip at the lagoon mouth. 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; self-guided snorkel and shore dive. Nearest dive services: Swan Dive (Busselton/Port Geographe) for fills, hire, nitrox and charters; no dive shop in Margaret River or Augusta.