Why Double Island Point beach ‘lagoon’ is disappearing

When it first appeared 18 months ago, this popular spot went ‘gangbusters’ among boaties seeking a safe harbour along the coast. But now its days are numbered, and dwindling fast.

When it first appeared a 18 months ago, this popular Double Island Point beach "lagoon" spot went "gangbusters” among boaties seeking a safe harbour. But now its days are numbered, and dwindling fast Epic Ocean Adventures owner Sean Permezel has said.

For the past 18 months boaties at Double Island Point have had the luxury of an “idyllic” sand “lagoon” to seek safe harbour in.

But those days are not only numbered, but almost gone.

Epic Ocean Adventures owner Sean Permezel said the “lagoon” had appeared south of the point about three years ago.

It was Cyclone Seth in late 2021 which transformed it into a dream spot for boaties.

“It went gangbusters,” Mr Permezel said.

“It felt like every guy passing through (Double Island) was using it.”

An image shared by the Tin Can Bay Coast Guard reveals how close the tip of the sand mass had moved to the shoreline.

Mr Permezel said a “big sand mass” built up in the wake of the disaster, a natural phenomenon which became a hot spot for everyone.

And just as nature gives, it takes away.

He said since the cyclone, sand had “slowly but surely” been added to the tip of the mass - known by some locals as “the spit”.

These shifting sands had picked up pace “pretty quick” in the past three months.

The landmass, which Epic Ocean Adventures owner Sean Permezel said had largely formed in the wake of Cyclone Seth in late 2021.

Now the tip of the mass was about 10m from touching the shore, with the entry and exit point now so shallow it had locked lagoon off to almost all vessels except jet skis.

Mr Permezel said there was “no risk” of any boaties being caught in it, given it was now clearly near inaccessible.

The “lagoon” would eventually disappear entirely, but Mr Permezel said the “cycle” of the beach’s sand would bring it back around some time in the future.

“It’s always been there,” Mr Permezel said, adding at one point in the past it had even appeared as two small lagoons which boats would use.

There was a silver lining in it closing over too.

He said the lagoon had made beach driving difficult in terms of access to some of Double Island’s hotspots.

“One thing we’re looking forward to if it does close … there is excitement we will have easier access to the region,” Mr Permezel said.

Originally published as Why Double Island Point beach ‘lagoon’ is disappearing