Swim With Stingrays in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia

If you ask people what kind of marine creatures they would most prefer to swim with, Stingrays usually come in dead last. Not surprisingly, dolphins and whales came in towards the top.

But why is this? Why are stingrays so far down everyone's list of preferences? Are they not cute? Are they not friendly? Are they scary? A friend of mine was certainly scared by a rather large ray once. There he was, relaxing on the water on his air mattress, when he noticed the water go very dark underneath him. Before we could alert him to what was going on, he realised for himself that he was not alone in the water. It was the first time we'd seen someone almost levitate and walk on water.

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But put your goggles on, and take a look under the water, and maybe you'll change your mind about these misunderstood creatures. What if you could find a place where the stingrays are so friendly and tame that they will casually swim along side you, and on some occasions even feed out of your hand? What if you could do this at a local south west beach, with no cost, no huge crowds, and no appointment needed?

Hamelin Bay in Western Australia, around 20km north of Augusta, is well known for it's stingrays. The number and size of them are amazing. It's not uncommon to see some that are between 1 and 2 meters across. They have a habit of swimming around snorkelers at fairly close range, and certain times of the day they congregate around the boat ramp and feed off the scraps left by fisherman.

The combination of the friendly stingrays, plus the interesting fish and plant life in the bay make it a great snorkelling spot, whatever your swimming level. There are shallow points for those who like to stay close to shore, as well as some great rocks and even shipwrecks for those that want to go out much further. Whatever your preference, the water is usually very clear and calm.

There are no tours or anything, you can just turn up and swim with them. Just bring some bathers, a snorkel set, and you're on your way. It's another one of life's simple pleasures in the south west of Western Australia.

Swim With Stingrays in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia

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