Port Noarlunga Reef lies in Gulf St Vincent south of Adelaide, protected as part of Encounter Marine Park. All three sites are shore dives: Port Noarlunga Reef itself is a rocky reef and kelp forest system beginning around thirty metres from the beach, reaching eighteen metres at its deepest, with natural swim-throughs and a gap where currents can run strong. Horseshoe Reef is very shallow, while Hallett Cove Reef sits at the base of Black Cliff in two to six metres of water. Leafy seadragons, Port Jackson sharks, western blue devils, spotted wobbegongs, eagle rays, and European common cuttlefish are among the species recorded here. Water is cool year-round, dropping to around thirteen degrees in August, so a thick wetsuit or drysuit is advisable in winter.
Monthly water temperature across Port Noarlunga Reef's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Temperatures peak at around twenty-one to twenty-two degrees in late summer and fall to around thirteen degrees in August, making thermal protection important for much of the year. Visibility varies considerably with tidal state and weather, and surge over the reef can affect shallower dives.
Water temperature around Port Noarlunga Reef ranges from about 13°C in August to 22°C in February, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 22°C) a 3mm full suit is comfortable in Port Noarlunga Reef; in the coldest months (about 13°C) step up to a 7mm or semi-dry suit.
Fin maps 3 sites in Port Noarlunga Reef (3 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
2 more sites to explore
Across Port Noarlunga Reef's dive sites, January, February, March, April, November and December are most often reported as the best months to visit.
