Sea lion islands

The swim

This is a snorkel, not a scuba dive. You get a wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins, and a crew member is in the water with you the whole time. Tender boats cut down the swimming and add safety. The sea lions come to you, gliding past with somersaults and swirls.

Not swimming? You can ride in the tender boat with the captain for a closer look without getting wet. Afterwards there’s a hot shower and coffee on board.

Looking after the colonies

Australian sea lions are endangered, and the operator’s marine mammal licence is strict. Boats can’t go too close to the beach, and you must never approach or intimidate the animals. Each site is visited no more than four times a week, which is why the tour doesn’t run every day. The season runs from September to June, sometimes into July, weather dependent.

How to get there

The islands are about 1.5 hours each way by boat. Book the sea lion swim, or the shark and sea lion day trip, which stops at Hopkins or Grindal Island before the Neptune Islands. Most shark cage diving expeditions also stop to snorkel at Hopkins Island.