Snorkel with the Pipefishes at Kingston Park Beach 3rd April
- Duration: 90 Minutes (approx.)
- Location: Kingston Park Coastal Reserve (Brighton Beach front Holiday Park Car Park) near Oceans Seafood)
- Product code: P0GKXE
Be a Citizen Scientist for the day and explore for pipefishes at Kingston Park reef! Dive professionals and accredited snorkel guides will lead the tours, accompanied by Marine Ecologist Janine Baker and Citizen Scientist Fiona McQueen. The Kingston Park reef is home to an amazing variety of colourful fishes, rays, invertebrates, seaweeds, seagrasses and THE AMAZING PIPEFISH!
Thanks to a community grant from Green Adelaide, there is an opportunity for snorkelers to join this Snorkel with the Pipefishes at a heavily subsidised ticket price.
Only a short drive from Adelaide, where you can enjoy the beach, cafes, picnic areas, and easy reef access. Small groups (maximum of 6 participants per guide) investigate life along the beach and shallow reef - no more than 2m deep. This snorkel is suitable for those 10+ years who are confident in the water and have intermediate to advanced snorkel experience. At the easy beach entry point, you’ll be welcomed by cowfish, crabs, inquisitive eagle rays and large schools of whiting. As you move along the reef, search for sea stars, colourful reef fishes, squid, cuttlefish and elusive pipefishes. (If you are very lucky, you may even spot a small wobbegong, fiddler ray, dolphin, seahorse or even a seadragon!)
Pipefishes are narrow, well-camouflaged little fishes found in many marine habitats. Some species are common in Adelaide metropolitan waters, and others are rarely found. Pipefishes are often hard to see, due to their expert ability to blend into their surroundings. Many look-like pieces of live or dead seagrass, or branches of seaweeds.
All participants are required to watch a presentation on pipefishes by Janine Baker (click here to view) prior to the event. The presentation covers topics such as:
· What are pipefishes and what do they look like?
· Where are they found?
· How can I see pipefishes when I’m snorkelling?
· How do I photograph pipefishes?
The pre-snorkel presentation also includes training in the use of the citizen science portal iNaturalist, where snorkelers can upload their pipefish photos. Pipefish images taken by participants in these events will contribute to a current citizen science project in the Green Adelaide region. The community-based project is managed by South Australian Conservation Research Divers (SACReD) and aims to learn more about species composition, habitat use and behaviours of pipefishes in Adelaide metropolitan waters.
A prerequisite for this snorkel is a training session (filmed on 7-8 pm on Saturday 12th March but now available via EMS Facebook video collection here) with Marine Ecologist Janine Baker & Citizen Scientist Fiona MacDonald on finding, identifying, and recording (on iNaturalist) the elusive pipefishes. After you book for this snorkel event, you will be emailed a Zoom invitation link to join this training. The training will also be available on the EMS Facebook page as a live video.
Ticket price includes wetsuit, mask (goggles), snorkel, fins (flippers), and an accredited guide. We stock wetsuits from adult 4XL down to child 4. All wetsuits are washed, and mask/snorkels sterilised between uses with COVID-19 approved chemicals. You are encouraged to bring your own mask and snorkel if you have them.
One adult carer to accompany and supervise a maximum of two children (< 15 years), or one person living with a disability (companion card accepted).
Please arrive at least 45 minutes before snorkel tour time to be briefed on pipefishes dive, fill out the registration form and be fitted with a wetsuit and snorkel gear. Wearing a wetsuit or floatation vest is compulsory.
EMS snorkel events are proudly supported by the Green Adelaide Landscape Board, Department for Environment and Water, National Parks and Wildlife Service, City of Onkaparinga, Suzanne Elliot Charitable Trust, Department of Social Services and our team of amazing volunteers and staff.
Reef and Rock Pool Ramble at low tide
If you book into Snorkel with the Pipefishes on 3rd April you will be able to also book into our Kingston Park Intertidal reef and rock pool walk at low tide (11-12 noon). Enjoy a fun time on Kingston Park intertidal reef, learning about the weird and wonderful creatures that live on the exposed reef at low tide. Take a guided ramble and discover the amazing world of life between the tides. Suitable for children (5+ years) and adults alike.
Please save the dates - Sunday 3rd April and Sunday 10th April
Save both Sunday 3rd April and Sunday 10th April in your calendar. This event is scheduled for Sunday 3rd April but if the event is cancelled, we will reschedule all paid participants to Sunday 10th April.
FAQs
Are snorkel tours only for children? Or for adults too?
EMS snorkel tours are for all ages, adults, and children from 5 years and up. Children under 15 years will need to be accompanied and supervised in the water by a paying adult. For ages 5-7, no more than one child per adult. For ages 8 and above, no more than 2 children per adult.
What concessions are available?
A concession is defined as a Senior or Australian Health Care Card Holder who holds an Australian Government issued Senior Card, Pension Card, Repatriation Health Card or Veterans Affair card.
A student is defined as any primary or secondary school student or full time tertiary and post-secondary students who have an approved photo ID.
Companion Card is accepted.
Are warm wetsuits and snorkel gear provided?
Yes, as part of the ticket price we supply toasty warm wetsuits with boots as well as snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, and fins).
Will I be cold?
We use appropriate thickness wetsuits to ensure that you are snug and warm. If you feel the cold let us know when booking as extra body liners and hooded vests can be provided.
Do I have to wear a wetsuit?
When participating in an EMS snorkel tour a wetsuit will need to be worn to provide buoyancy, protect from stingers, sunburn, and abrasion. If you can’t wear a wetsuit then a buoyancy vest will be provided.
Can I bring my own wetsuit and snorkel gear?
Yes, we encourage you to bring your own gear, but please ensure if you bring your own snorkel gear it is fit for purpose and wetsuit it is full length and appropriate thickness for water temperature (5-7mm winter and 3mm summer).
Can I wear a weight belt?
EMS does not provide a weight belt. You are welcome to bring your own weight belt If you have a dive certification (EMS will need to sight this certification and have you sign a registration form stating that you will wear your own weight belt. Weight belt not to be more than 10% of your body weight or make you negatively buoyant).
What facilities are there at the event site
Basic facilities include toilets, change rooms, a shelter/picnic area and during
How deep do you go? How far out?
We stay close (usually within 10-15m) to the reef and jetty at a maximum depth of 6m.
I have never snorkelled before and can’t swim well can I join a tour?
No. We advise you to sign up for an EMS Snorkel 101 class - an introduction to snorkelling where the basics of snorkelling are taught in a controlled pool environment. Book via our website.
What is income from tickets used for?
Funding, in-kind support and hundreds of volunteer hours makes it possible to reduce the price of event tickets by up to 60%. EMS is a not-for-profit and all funds raised from ticket sales go to overheads such as event coordination and supervision by dive professionals, insurance, equipment storage and volunteer expenses such as training and travel subsidy.
Where do I meet to take part in the tour?
EMS Snorkel leaders will have a registration table set up near the beach entrance at northern end of Kingston Park Coastal Reserve (next to Brighton Beachfront Holiday Park) - look for the EMS trailer, marquee tent and banner.
Is there an age limit to enter the event?
The event is open to children 5 years and above who can swim.
COVID-19: Advice for snorkel tour participants
EMS is committed to offering a welcoming and safe place for our snorkel tour participants, employees and volunteers.
In response to COVID-19, we are closely monitoring developments and taking action in line with Government advice to mitigate any risk posed to the community. Please be assured that EMS has always ensured any equipment used by our participants is well maintained and fit for purpose. The water we swim in is known to contain a large number of microbes, so ensuring our equipment is sanitised after every use is, and has always been, an integral part of our snorkelling operations.
As detailed in our Standard Operating Procedures Manual, all equipment is sanitised after each use. Specifically,
- After use, our masks and snorkels are submerged for 15 minutes in a solution of Milton’s Antibacterial Solution (Milton™ contains sodium hypochlorite and is advocated by hospitals and government agencies to kill COVID-19).
- Masks are treated with detergent or commercial de-fog spray before use.
- Hoods are treated with commercial germicidal disinfectant Mediclean™ (effective against COVID-19) and rinsed before being air-dried and stored.
To enhance your health and safety while participating in a snorkel tour EMS has undertaken the following safety provisions:
- Increased our already strong equipment cleaning and sanitation measures.
- Implemented a hand sanitation station at the registration desk and gear fitting areas.
- Reinforced employee health and hygiene practices, including sending volunteers and staff home and encouraging those who are unwell to stay home if their demonstrated health symptoms could impact upon colleagues or participants.
- Disallowing staff and volunteers from engaging in physical contact when greeting colleagues and participants.
- Update our cancellation/refund policy to prevent attendants who are unwell with cold/flu-like symptoms.
We kindly ask anyone who feels unwell to postpone the tour until fully recovered, and we encourage you to stay up to date via Australian Government Coronavirus Health Information Line: 1800 020 080 and SA COVID-19 updates website https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/
Thank you for playing your part in keeping our community healthy. We are grateful for your understanding during this challenging time.
