Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 8 Nov 2026
Snapper Point (KI)
Kangaroo Island, South Australia · near Kingscote
| Depth | 10–40 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Deep/Advanced + experience |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Back-roll from boat |
| Current | Strong |
| Visibility | 10-20 m |
| Water | summer 17-20 °C, winter 13-14 °C |
| Suit | 7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year; 5 mm acceptable Feb-Apr; drysuit popular in winter |
| Best season | Summer-autumn, neap tides on fine days |
| Bottom time | 35 min |
| Position | not published |
| Permit | Check marine park zoning |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – aeromedical retrieval from Kingscote (Kangaroo Island Health Service) is required; ~45 min flight. DAN/Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200. |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Snapper Point (KI)
Also known as Snapper Point
Spectacular reef walls with ledges and small caves at 18 m on a current-swept headland full of fish.
Near Kingscote · Kangaroo Island, South Australia
- Depth
- 10–40 m
- Minimum level
- Deep/Advanced + experience
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- —
- Water
- 17-20 °C
- Visibility
- 10-20 m
Snapper Point (KI)10–40 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: January, February, March, April, May, December.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 10–40 m
- Typical depth
- 18 m
- Certification
- Deep/Advanced + experience
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Depth tier
- Deep / Advanced + experience (30–40 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Current
- Strong
- Visibility
- 10-20 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 17-20 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 13-14 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 35 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- No
Exposure suit
7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year; 5 mm acceptable Feb-Apr; drysuit popular in winter
Location
Kangaroo Island – headland (location to confirm)
No published coordinates. The map above shows the general area, estimated from other documented sites near Kingscote.
Primary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
Check marine park zoning
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – aeromedical retrieval from Kingscote (Kangaroo Island Health Service) is required; ~45 min flight. DAN/Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200.
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Snapper Point (KI) →
A day-by-day plan for Kangaroo Island with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Snapper Point (KI) is a wall boat dive in Kangaroo Island, SA, 10–40 m, suited to Deep/Advanced + experience divers, strong current.
Rated advanced because of depth to 40 m, strong current, cold water.
Why dive here
- Spectacular reef walls with ledges and small caves at 18 m on a current-swept headland full of fish.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
- Visibility often reaches 10-20 m.
Conditions to avoid
- Spring tides (strong current)
- Any time other than slack water
About Snapper Point (KI)
Snapper Point is one of the sites the Marine Life Network lists for Kangaroo Island, describing it as the largest headland on the island with spectacular reef walls, many ledges and small caves at about 18 m, and depths to 40 m.
The marine life list is rich: sponges and soft corals on the walls, nudibranchs and cuttlefish in the ledges, and reef fish including leatherjackets, morwong and wrasse, with schools of sweep, yellowtail and pike and passing kingfish. Headlands like this, swept by tidal streams, concentrate food and fish, which is why the walls are so colourful and the pelagic life so active.
The same currents are the main hazard. The advice is explicit – dive on neap tides on fine days, best at high tide to avoid strong currents – and a boat cover with a skipper tracking divers' SMBs is strongly advisable. With a 40 m maximum, depth discipline matters too. It suits Advanced divers comfortable with current and boat diving who want an exposed, fishy wall dive. Wikivoyage also names Snapper Point among the island's sites. Kangaroo Island's headlands in general offer this combination of walls, ledges and strong tidal flow, and the island's clean, cold water gives them rich invertebrate cover. Carry a DSMB and a signalling device on every dive here.
Getting there & entry
Described as the largest headland on the island, with spectacular reef walls, ledges and small caves at about 18 m and depths to 40 m; boat dive.
Snapper Point is a boat dive; the Marine Life Network does not give its exact position, and local operators should be consulted for the launch point and marks. Plan the trip for neap tides on fine days and time the dive for high tide, when the currents are weakest. Kangaroo Island Dive & Adventures in Kingscote can advise on current access.
Carry marine radio and safety gear.
Entry: Back-roll from boat
Weather, swell & tides
The Marine Life Network advises diving only on neap tides on fine days, and best at high tide to avoid strong currents. Wind against tide creates steep chop off the headland. Choose settled weather with light winds, and time the dive around high-water slack.
Summer-autumn gives the most suitable days; winter westerlies and strong spring tides make the point dangerous.
Best season: Summer-autumn, neap tides on fine days
How the dive is usually run
Descend at high-water slack onto the wall, work along the ledges and small caves at about 18 m, and ascend on a delayed SMB before the current picks up; boat follows divers.
Marine life
- Sponges
- soft corals
- nudibranchs →
- cuttlefish →
- leatherjackets
- morwong
- wrasse
- sweep
- yellowtail
- pike
- yellowtail kingfish
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
The recreational limit. Operators expect a Deep Diver specialty or Advanced plus a log of similar dives, and most recommend nitrox.
Advanced Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 18 m); the full site to 40 m needs Deep/Advanced + experience. Operators often quote Advanced Open Water. This is a deep dive: plan gas, bottom time and a safety stop accordingly, and consider nitrox.
Operators' own listing: Advanced Open Water.
Courses that help here
- Enriched Air Nitrox – Longer no-decompression time at 25 m and deeper.
- Deep Diver – The site reaches 40 m.
- Drift Diver – Current is a feature of the dive.
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Strong tidal currents – neap tides and high-water slack only; depth to 40 m; boat cover essential; exposed headland.
Technical notes
Plan dives at high-water slack on neaps; carry DSMB; nitrox for repetitive 18-25 m dives.
Dive centres that go here
Kangaroo Island Dive & Adventures (Kingscote) – guided north-coast boat and shore dives (confirm current trading); otherwise private boats.
Operators recorded for Snapper Point (KI)
Other dive centres in Kangaroo Island
General area
No position has been published for Snapper Point (KI). The circle shows where it is likely to be, worked out from other documented sites near Kingscote. Ask a local operator for the exact site.
Dashed circle: general area (about 60 km), from other documented sites near Kingscote. 6 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Snapper Point (KI): frequently asked questions
How deep is Snapper Point (KI)?
Snapper Point (KI) reaches a maximum depth of 40 m, with the shallowest part at about 10 m; most of the dive is spent around 18 m.
What certification do I need to dive Snapper Point (KI)?
Deep/Advanced + experience is the recommended minimum. Advanced Open Water divers can dive the shallower section (typical depth 18 m); the full site to 40 m needs Deep/Advanced + experience. Operators often quote Advanced Open Water. This is a deep dive: plan gas, bottom time and a safety stop accordingly, and consider nitrox. Rated advanced because of depth to 40 m, strong current, cold water.
Can I shore dive Snapper Point (KI)?
No, it is reached by boat. A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive Snapper Point (KI)?
Summer-autumn, neap tides on fine days.
What marine life will I see at Snapper Point (KI)?
Regularly recorded: Sponges, soft corals, nudibranchs, cuttlefish, leatherjackets, morwong, wrasse, sweep, yellowtail, pike, yellowtail kingfish.
What wetsuit do I need at Snapper Point (KI)?
7 mm wetsuit with hood most of the year; 5 mm acceptable Feb-Apr; drysuit popular in winter.
How cold is the water at Snapper Point (KI)?
Typically 17-20 °C in summer and 13-14 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Snapper Point (KI)?
Strong tidal currents – neap tides and high-water slack only; depth to 40 m; boat cover essential; exposed headland. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Snapper Point (KI)?
Royal Adelaide Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Adelaide) – aeromedical retrieval from Kingscote (Kangaroo Island Health Service) is required; ~45 min flight. DAN/Divers Emergency Service 1800 088 200. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island has clear water, granite reefs, sea lions and leafy seadragons, and almost nobody dives it. The north coast around Kingscote, Emu Bay and Western River Cove is the sheltered side; the Kingscote jetty is a good easy dive, and the wrecks of the Loch Vennachar and Portland Maru sit on the wild south and west coasts.
Getting there: Ferry from Cape Jervis or a flight from Adelaide. Limited dive services on the island; bring gear and a compressor plan.
Sources
Data confidence: Low · Being verified: Exact location of Snapper Point on KI not documented in sources read – confirm (v1 also lacked coordinates).. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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