| Hamelin Bay |
|
What if you could find a place where 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? The
place exists, and it is called Hamelin Bay. Around 20km north of
Augusta, Hamelin Bay is well known for it's stingrays. The number and
size of them are amazing, and it is not uncommon to see some that are
between 1 and 2 meters across. They have a habit of swimming around
snorkellers 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. Hamelin Bay, once the port for the sawmills at Karridale, is a sleepy little settlement which is now no more than a camping area, a beautiful beach, some islands near the shore, and a couple of remnant jetties which are literally no more than a few pylons and weathered timbers. At its height Hamelin Bay was a major timber port. The main jetty was 549 m long. However exposure to the open sea was always a problem and in 1900, during a period of particularly violent storms, five ships were wrecked in the vicinity. |
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