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EWENS PONDS

Mount Gambier, South Australia

Type of dive:

Freshwater

Snorkelling:

Crystal clear ponds!

Scuba:

Open Water

Access:

Shore via a jetty (Permit required)

Depth:

Up to 10 metres (33’)

Visibility:

30+ metres (100+’)

Water temperature:

10 – 15°C (76-84°F)

Seasonal:

No, can visit anytime but it feels better in summer!

Crystal clear freshwater lakes!

The Ewens Ponds Conservation Park consists of three freshwater ponds joined by narrow weed-covered channels and a channel flowing all the to the ocean, the Eight Mile Creek.

The ponds are located only 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Port MacDonnell near the town of Mount Gambier just inside the South Australian Victoria border.

The three ponds are fed by underground spring water thousands of years old and filtered by limestone. The spring water can be observed bubbling through the silty bottom in each pond.

The ponds range in depth from eight to ten metres (25-33’) and visibility is usually well in excess of 30 metres (100’).

The bottom of each pond is covered with fine silt and care must be taken not to stir it up.

The edges of the ponds and associated channels support a beautiful array of green aquatic plant life, some not found anywhere else in the world.

The freshwater fish life includes the rare and endangered golden pygmy perch, river blackfish, mullet, short-finned eels, common galaxias and pouched lampreys. A keen eye may also spot a spiny crayfish!

Access and egress to the ponds is quite easy using the jetties provided at the first and third ponds.

Please remember, the jetties are also provided to preserve the unique environment, so please use them!

After entering the water in the first pond, divers can visit each pond in order by drifting with the gentle current through the adjoining channels.

Keen divers can even drift all the way to the ocean from the third pond via Eight Mile Creek.

The ponds are closed from 1 September to 1 December annually, and when open, a permit and a one-hour time-slot booking is required from the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. Permits are issued to individuals on an annual or a single basis and fees apply.

Access to the ponds is limited to a maximum of six divers per group.

The water is quite cold, so an appropriate wetsuit is essential at all times.

PLEASE NOTE: Access to the ponds varies from time to time, please check with Parks SA for the latest access information.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
To register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
Dated image of entrant’s government permit showing date & Ewens Ponds required.

OTHER SERVICES

Need somewhere to eat, drink or stay?
THE MOUNT GAMBIER HOTEL
2 Commercial Street West
Mount Gambier SA 5290
+61 (8) 8726 7000
info@mountgambierhotel.com.au
www.mountgambierhotel.com.au