Baird Bay, a shallow, safe place to interact on Eyre Peninsula in South Australia with sea lions and bottlenose dolphins
Baird Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, home to Australia sea lions and bottlenose dolphins, was protected by Jones Island and limestone reefs, making it one of the best dive or snorkelling places in South Australia.
The tiny town of Baird Bay, 50 kilometres south of Streaky Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, became a tourist attraction with the chance to swim with the Australian sea lions and bottlenose dolphins in its waters..
The entrance to the 3,800 hectare long and narrow bay was protected by Jones Island and limestone reefs, making it one of the best dive or snorkelling places in South Australia. The remote Baird Bay water was also popular for recreational fishing.
Ocean Eco Experience, a company started and operating tours since 1992, conducted interactive sea lion and dolphin swims for the one price. Wetsuit, mask and snorkel were provided in the tour cost. With the tour boat moored in chest-deep water, the sea lions approached on their terms as part of their aquatic playtime in the calm and protected rockpools around their home on Jones Island. Another nearby rockpool offered the experience of swimming alongside friendly dolphins.
For visitors who didn’t want to swim, the sea lions and dolphins could be viewed from the boat. The tours, fully supervised for all ages, were closed during winter months.
The Australian sea lions at Baird Bay were part of a sparse range, from the Houtman Abrolhos islands in Western Australia along the southern Australian coast to The Pages islands in South Australia’s Backstairs Passage strait, separating Kangaroo island and Fleurieu Peninsula. Sixty-six breeding colonies were identified, with 38 in South Australia and 28 in Western Australia.
Most breeding colonies were on offshore islands, except at Point Labatt on Eyre Peninsula, Baxter Cliffs in Western Australia and the Bunda Cliffs, straddling the border between the two states. Forty-two percent of the total known Australian sea lion population were found within the three largest colonies east of Port Lincoln: Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island’s south coast, The Pages and Dangerous Reef in Spencer Gulf.
Baird Bay was named after James Baird, who settled on the shores of Anxious Bay in 1850 before being speared by local Aboriginal people in November thar year. The bay was known as Beard’s Bay until 1940 when it was renamed to Baird Bay by proclamation.