Country guide with live forecast data

Snorkeling in Australia

Compare snorkeling spots in Australia by region, water temperature and 72-hour forecast. Each spot page shows wave height, wind, tides and recommended windows.

Indexed spots 15
Regions 4
Water temperature 20.3°C

Where to snorkel in Australia

Start with protected water: bays, coves, marine reserves and islands where wind and swell are filtered. Open each spot forecast to check whether waves stay low, wind remains manageable and the water temperature fits your gear.

Snorkeling regions in Australia

Historical best snorkeling in Australia

#1 historical

Exmouth

30/100

Ningaloo gateway with shore-access reef, turtles and seasonal whale sharks.

513 sampled hours, 41% snorkelable

#2 historical

Ningaloo - Coral Bay

15/100

Sheltered bay where the Ningaloo reef sits just metres off the beach.

2169 sampled hours, 3% snorkelable

#3 historical

Ningaloo Reef

14/100

UNESCO fringing reef off Exmouth where you can snorkel with whale sharks and manta rays.

2169 sampled hours, 2% snorkelable

#4 historical

Port Stephens

13/100

Sheltered estuary and marine park with clear coves, seagrass and resident turtles.

513 sampled hours, 2% snorkelable

#5 historical

Esperance

13/100

Southern coast beaches and granite islands with clear, cool-water snorkeling.

513 sampled hours, 0% snorkelable

#6 historical

Wineglass Bay

11/100

Sheltered Freycinet cove with clear water and temperate southern marine life.

513 sampled hours, 0% snorkelable

#7 historical

Fitzroy Island

11/100

Rainforest island near Cairns with sheltered beaches and fringing coral reefs.

513 sampled hours, 1% snorkelable

#8 historical

Green Island

10/100

Cairns coral cay with shallow reef, turtles and easy lagoon snorkeling.

513 sampled hours, 0% snorkelable

#9 historical

Byron Bay

10/100

Julian Rocks reserve with turtles, rays and grey nurse sharks in clear water.

2169 sampled hours, 2% snorkelable

#10 historical

Rottnest Island

9/100

Island off Perth with sheltered bays, seagrass meadows and shipwreck snorkel trails.

2169 sampled hours, 0% snorkelable

#11 historical

Whitsundays

9/100

Coral islands beside the Great Barrier Reef with fringing reef and white sand.

2169 sampled hours, 3% snorkelable

#12 historical

Heron Island

8/100

Coral cay sitting right on the Great Barrier Reef with reef accessible from the beach.

2169 sampled hours, 2% snorkelable

#13 historical

Lady Elliot Island

8/100

Southern Great Barrier Reef coral cay renowned for manta rays and turtles.

2169 sampled hours, 0% snorkelable

#14 historical

Jervis Bay

8/100

Marine park with white-sand beaches and clear seagrass and reef shallows.

2169 sampled hours, 0% snorkelable

#15 historical

Lord Howe Island

6/100

World's southernmost coral reef, a clear-water lagoon with endemic fish.

2169 sampled hours, 0% snorkelable

All snorkeling spots in Australia

Each listing links to the full forecast and the dedicated sea-temperature page for quick checks.

Marine park · New South Wales

Byron Bay

Julian Rocks reserve with turtles, rays and grey nurse sharks in clear water.

Beach · Western Australia

Esperance

Southern coast beaches and granite islands with clear, cool-water snorkeling.

Reef · Western Australia

Exmouth

Ningaloo gateway with shore-access reef, turtles and seasonal whale sharks.

Reef · Queensland

Fitzroy Island

Rainforest island near Cairns with sheltered beaches and fringing coral reefs.

Reef · Queensland

Green Island

Cairns coral cay with shallow reef, turtles and easy lagoon snorkeling.

Reef · Queensland

Heron Island

Coral cay sitting right on the Great Barrier Reef with reef accessible from the beach.

Bay · New South Wales

Jervis Bay

Marine park with white-sand beaches and clear seagrass and reef shallows.

Reef · Queensland

Lady Elliot Island

Southern Great Barrier Reef coral cay renowned for manta rays and turtles.

Reef · New South Wales

Lord Howe Island

World's southernmost coral reef, a clear-water lagoon with endemic fish.

Reef · Western Australia

Ningaloo - Coral Bay

Sheltered bay where the Ningaloo reef sits just metres off the beach.

Reef · Western Australia

Ningaloo Reef

UNESCO fringing reef off Exmouth where you can snorkel with whale sharks and manta rays.

Bay · New South Wales

Port Stephens

Sheltered estuary and marine park with clear coves, seagrass and resident turtles.

Bay · Western Australia

Rottnest Island

Island off Perth with sheltered bays, seagrass meadows and shipwreck snorkel trails.

Reef · Queensland

Whitsundays

Coral islands beside the Great Barrier Reef with fringing reef and white sand.

Cove · Tasmania

Wineglass Bay

Sheltered Freycinet cove with clear water and temperate southern marine life.