Mettams Pool: snorkelling, reef conditions and beach access

Mettams Pool is a reef lagoon at North Beach, north of Trigg. It is a different kind of coastal stop from the broad, open swimming beaches farther south: the attraction is the water inside the reef and the chance to look for marine life close to shore when conditions allow.

The word “pool” can be misleading if it suggests a controlled swimming facility. This is part of the ocean, with changing water levels, swell and currents. Plan around the conditions you find, not a promise of still water.

What the reef lagoon is like

DBCA's Mettam's Pool guide places the site in Marmion Marine Park and describes marine life within the lagoon's crevices and open water. Fish and other animals use the reef as habitat, so give yourself time to look rather than treating a snorkel as a distance to complete.

Stay within your swimming ability and avoid standing on living reef or handling animals. Visibility can change, and a photograph cannot tell you whether the water is suitable today. If you cannot clearly judge a route in and out, there is no need to enter simply because other people are already swimming.

A visit can be enjoyable from shore, too. Watch the water from the public access area, take in the coastline and decide whether to return for a swim on a more suitable day.

Snorkelling conditions and hazards

DBCA warns of stronger surge on the reef's outer edge and cobblers in weed near the shore. The protected-looking inner water should not encourage an inexperienced swimmer to venture beyond the reef. Water depth also varies; a general description of a shallow lagoon is not a depth guarantee at every point or tide.

Check the Beachsafe listing, the coastal forecast and SharkSmart before travelling. At the beach, read the signs and inspect conditions before getting changed. Do not assume the presence of other swimmers establishes that a patrol is operating.

Go with someone who knows your plan, keep within your limits and leave the water if conditions deteriorate. Children need close supervision in the lagoon just as they do at an open beach. If a flagged swimming area is the priority, compare City Beach and check its patrol times instead.

Paths, the ramp and accessible visits

The City of Stirling completed a replacement water access ramp in July 2024, following earlier storm damage. Its announcement describes a ramp with a continuous handrail. That provides useful background, but a completion notice is not confirmation that the route is open and suitable on every future day.

If the ramp is essential to your visit, ask the City about its current condition and the approach from parking. Do not assume a handrail or ramp means a beach wheelchair can be taken through the whole route without assistance. Changes in sand and sea conditions also matter at the water end.

The photograph in this guide was taken in 2006 and is included as a coastal view. It does not show the current ramp or establish today's access arrangements.

Facilities and getting there

The City's location page places Mettams Pool between Lynn Street and Hamersley Street on West Coast Drive. Use that specific destination when checking public transport in the Transperth JourneyPlanner, then look at the last walking section rather than choosing a stop by suburb name alone.

For a short visit, bring drinking water, sun protection and what you need to dry off. DBCA lists basic changing and picnic facilities, but that does not mean a table or shelter will be vacant. Keep beach accessways clear when settling down with bags.

Choosing Mettams or another northern beach

Choose Mettams for the reef setting, with snorkelling dependent on conditions and ability. Choose Floreat Beach if your outing is mainly about the playground and picnic lawns, or Mullaloo Beach for a beach visit centred on its surf club and foreshore.

Our northern beaches guide compares these options without assuming that one beach is right for every family or every forecast.

Visitor information checked 25 September 2026. Confirm current ramp access and water conditions before visiting.