Ledge Point: Search for missing snorkeler scaled back after an extensive air land and sea effort

Police have scaled back the search for a missing snorkeler off Ledge Point, an extensive operation beginning on Thursday.

About 4.30pm on Friday police confirmed the ongoing search for a missing 32-year-old had been reduced.

The man failed to return to shore on New Year’s Day, while snorkelling off Ledge Point with friends.

Police conducted air, land and sea searches alongside locals from late Thursday afternoon and during Friday to try to locate the man.

Despite better conditions and clearer visibility on Friday, no trace of him or his snorkelling gear was found.

Lancelin police and local volunteer marine rescue crews will continue their own searches until after dark.

It is believed the man and three of his friends entered the water about 10am, intending to snorkel for crayfish.

Speaking at a press conference in Ledge Point on Friday, WA Police Sergeant Michael Paterson said at some point the man was separated from his friends. They raised the alarm when he hadn’t returned to shore by 3pm.

His friends began their own frantic search for the man, and Sgt Paterson said it was unclear how long he was missing before the alarm was raised with police.

“It’s likely there was a period of time before police were alerted where they spent their own time looking, so sometime between 10am and 3pm,” Sgt Paterson said.

Sgt Michael Paterson said the missing man’s friends were “understandably concerned”.

Local resident Jay Barrett, who has been assisting with the search said he was shocked by the incident, said on Friday morning that the group had been swimming close to shore.

“He wasn’t very far out at all, you can literally nearly walk to the reef where they were,” Mr Barrett said.

Having lived in Ledge Point — which is near Lancelin and about 105km north of Perth — for more than 50 years, he said the waters could be dangerous.

“It does have some treacherous spots,” Mr Barrett said.

“You’ve just got to be cautious when you dive. Accidents happen and it’s very, very tragic.

“I just hope that today we can get a resolution for the family and everyone involved.“

Conditions at the beach on Thursday were described as “fairly good”, with many celebrating their New Year’s Day at the popular tourist destination.

Despite the large amount of people out enjoying the sunshine, police don’t have a leading theory into the man’s disappearance.

“We’re open to all options. He hasn’t returned to shore and we’re trying our hardest to find him,” Sgt Paterson said.

The search resumed on Friday morning with PolAir, two Lancelin Volunteer Marine Sea Rescue vessels, police divers and rescuers on jetskis scouring the ocean - more police were seen patrolling the beach on quad bikes.

Mr Barrett urged people who visit the beaches in Western Australia to be more cautious and aware of the dangers.

“It seems to be a lot of visitors that have the most problems on our coastline. . . they just don’t understand how brutal and vicious our coastline can be,” he said.

The man’s disappearance just days into the new year is a horror start for WA’s beaches after a shocking end to 2025, which saw the State record the highest number of drowning deaths in the country.

Declining swimming skills, an ageing population and more swimmers seeking out unpatrolled beaches contributed to the rising trend, captured in the National Drowning Report 2025.

The report, published by Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, found the drowning rate in WA was 1.65 deaths per 100,000 people, the highest in the nation.

Some 49 drownings occurred in the past year across WA, a 36 per cent increase on the 10-year average.

The most common locations for drownings in WA were beaches (31 per cent), ocean/harbours (20 per cent) and rivers (18 per cent.) One fifth of those who died were aged 75 and over, while 56 per cent of victims lived in the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas.

Anyone with information into the whereabouts of the missing man is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000