Mettams Pool
Overview
Mettams Pool is Perth's best-kept underwater secret, though the secret has been slowly leaking for years as word spreads through the city's growing diving community. Located in the beachside suburb of Trigg, this natural limestone pool sits beneath the coastal cliffs of West Coast Drive, its protected waters offering calm diving conditions even when the Indian Ocean sends powerful swells crashing against the surrounding coastline. The pool is formed by a series of low limestone reef platforms that break the wave energy, creating a sheltered basin rarely deeper than four metres that serves as both a popular snorkelling spot and the gateway to deeper reef exploration beyond. I descended the cliff staircase on a December morning carrying a camera and a determination to find the western blue devils that had been described to me as Mettams Pool's signature species. The rock platforms at the base of the stairs were already occupied by a few snorkellers, their faces submerged in the clear water of the pool. I entered at the northern end, where a flat rock ledge allowed an easy step-in entry, and immediately found myself in a miniature underwater world of extraordinary colour. The pool floor was a mosaic of limestone, seagrass, and encrusting organisms. Sponges in brilliant orange and yellow covered the sheltered undercuts of the reef platforms, their colours amplified by the shallow depth and direct sunlight. Cuttlefish, two of them, hovered above a seagrass patch, their chromatophores pulsing with patterns that seemed to communicate something between themselves. They watched me with their distinctive W-shaped pupils but showed no alarm, drifting sideways to maintain a comfortable distance of about a metre.
Marine life
Dive profile
DEPTH PROFILE
DEPTH PROGRESSION & WAYPOINTS: Mettams Pool
Location
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Mettams Pool and how do I get there?
Mettams Pool is located in the suburb of Trigg on Perth's northern coastline, approximately fifteen kilometres from the central business district. The site is accessed from West Coast Drive, with a small car park at the top of the cliff that fills quickly on summer weekends. A staircase leads down the limestone cliff to the pool area. The nearest cross street is Kathleen Street. Public transport is available via bus routes along West Coast Drive. The pool itself is a natural formation where the limestone reef creates a protected basin. Divers enter from the flat rock platforms on the northern side of the pool and can explore both within the pool and out through gaps in the reef to the open coast.
What unique marine life can I see at Mettams Pool?
Mettams Pool and its surrounding reef support several marine species unique to Western Australia. The western blue devil is the star attraction: an electric-blue fish endemic to southern Western Australia that hovers near cave entrances and under ledges. Harlequin fish, with their distinctive orange and white colouring, are common on the reef edges. Blue-lined octopus, a southern cousin of the blue-ringed octopus, can be found in the rubble and shell areas. During winter months, Port Jackson sharks use the shallow reef for breeding. Western rock lobsters are abundant in the reef crevices during their active season. Lucky divers may encounter leafy seadragons in the seagrass beds adjacent to the reef, though they require patience and sharp eyes to spot.
Is Mettams Pool safe for snorkelling and diving year-round?
The pool itself is sheltered and generally safe throughout the year, though winter swells can occasionally wash over the reef platform and make entry uncomfortable. The summer months from October to May offer the calmest conditions, warmest water, and best visibility. Water temperature drops to around sixteen degrees in winter, requiring a minimum five-millimetre wetsuit. The area outside the pool, where the reef meets the open coast, is more exposed and should only be explored in calm conditions. Rip currents can develop in the channels between reef sections, particularly on outgoing tides. Beginners should stay within the protected pool area, while experienced divers can explore the outer reef with appropriate caution. Lifeguards do not patrol this beach, so self-assessment of conditions is essential.
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Data Provenance
This profile is compiled from 3 operator submissions and 142 community logs. Key facts (depth, entry) are verified against official hydrographic charts.