The Leeuwin current transports warm, tropical waters southward, influencing the marine species composition and distinctive ecosystems along Western Australia's coast. The main ecological communities that exist of the coast include: inshore reefs, mangroves, sea grass meadows, kelp forests and deep sea ecosystems (such as abyssal plains, seamounts, and trenches). The Wardin Indian Ocean is also home to numerous fish species (mainly parrotfish and wrasse), invertebrates (such as shrimp and clams) and large marine mammals (including Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and blue whales).

The Indian Ocean state waters, included within the Geopark boundary, encompass the submerged continental shelf and an ancient shoreline which are now below sea level. This shelf was established approximately 130 million years ago, following the breakup of Gondwana and has since been shaped by fluctuating sea levels. Over the past 2 million years, these changes have been driven by alternating glacial and interglacial periods. The ocean has played a central role in the geological evolution and shifting landscapes of the Geopark landscape. Coastal features, including the Swan Coastal Plain's dunes and shoreline, have been sculpted by persistent south-westerly winds, blowing inland from the sea.

The coastal Indigenous communities of peel, view oceans and waterways as living entities, deeply embedded in their spiritual and cultural worldview. For the Nyungar people, the sea (Wardan) holds significant spiritual meaning. Along the coastline, it’s believed that upon death, a person's spirit journeys westward across the sea, continuing existence in a realm similar to life on Earth. In the Swan district, Joobaitch, known as the last traditional man of the Perth area, explained that the spirits of his people travelled across the sea to a spiritual homeland known as Koorannup or Woordanung (Bates, 1985). Coastal families relied on marine environments not just for food, but also for cultural practices and trade. Stories passed down through generations describe the features and spiritual essence of sea country. Aboriginal custodians of Mandurah value how the connected ecosystems of any landscape are as significant for human health as they are for wildlife (Nori Jemil, 2025)