MARINE REPORT / 72 HOURS

Cairns Snorkel Report Today

Australia · Updated Mon 17:11 (AEST) · Source: Snapshot

The skinny

Go in the best window Data updated Mon 17:11 (AEST)

Cairns has a usable snorkeling window around Mon 18:00. The main thing to watch is darkness.

Right now (forecast)

Good · 6.5/10

Mon 17:00 (AEST)

Later today

Good · 6.3/10

Mon 18:00 (AEST)

Next three days

Good · 7.1/10

Wed 18:00 (AEST)

Model estimates using Open-Meteo; not observations or safety guarantees. Check official advisories and conditions at the beach.

Score: 6.3/10

Best time: Mon 18:00

Main risk: Darkness

No useful morning window is showing yet.

Best afternoon signal: Mon 18:00 (Good). Peak afternoon wind is about 1.6 m/s.

Later today looks usable around Mon 18:00. Check boat availability.

Email me when it is good Compare nearby spots Check boat availability

Best nearby spots later today

Hastings Reef 6.0/10 Good · Mon 18:00 Fitzroy Island 5.9/10 Good · Mon 18:00 Michaelmas Cay 5.6/10 Good · Mon 18:00

Plan your visit

These notes help with planning. Rules and closures can change.

Open map

AccessCairns is a gateway. Green Island, Fitzroy Island and the outer reefs have their own wind and swell. Open those reports before you leave the harbour.

ParkingParking and boat-harbour rules vary by operator and town. Use marked spaces and never block ramps or residents.

ReservationsMany of the best reefs here are boat-only. Book a permitted operator and ask about weather cancellations.

ClosuresWind, swell, and park rules can close a site even when the town beach looks calm. Check the official source before entering.

Marine lifeDo not touch, chase, or feed marine life. Stay off coral and follow local park rules.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Sunrise

05:38

Sunset

18:22

Water

29.0°C

Max air

26.3°C

Sky

Partly cloudy

46% cloud

Good model window in the next 72 hours

Next good model window: Mon 18:00 (37% of the next 72h meets the model threshold)

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Monday

✅ Good conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Tuesday

✅ Good conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Wednesday

✅ Good conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Best available hours

The next good model window starts at Mon 18:00.

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

  • Darkness (45 hours)
  • Tide/current (26 hours)
  • Waves (3 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

Drift estimate from wind, swell, current and warm water.

Low · 28/100

Low drift risk now.

warm water supports seasonal jellyfish activity; surface drift/current is noticeable; local shoreline exposure is not mapped yet.

Sightings override the model: if you see small purple jellyfish with long trailing tentacles, treat them as sting-capable and give them space.

Upcoming high tides

Next early morning high tide: Tue 05:00

Tue 05:00, Tue 17:00, Wed 05:00, Wed 17:00, Thu 06:00

Bookable snorkel tours near Cairns

Prices and availability from Viator. Check conditions before you book.

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MV Evolution - the regions most luxurious Outer Reef day cruise vessel

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

4.7/5 3968 reviews 8h 30m
From USD 196.79 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience

Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience

4.8/5 542 reviews 4h
From USD 128.09 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Ocean Freedom: Great Barrier Reef Stylish Snorkel, Dive Reef Tour

Ocean Freedom: Great Barrier Reef Stylish Snorkel, Dive Reef Tour

4.8/5 2054 reviews 9h
From USD 159.76 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Afternoon Fitzroy Island Escape – Return Ferry Included

Afternoon Fitzroy Island Escape – Return Ferry Included

3.9/5 18 reviews 4h 30m
From USD 77.29 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Visit a pristine outer reef site

Premium Half-Day Outer Reef Snokel Tour

4.7/5 547 reviews 6h
From USD 139.54 Check availability

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Cairns Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour

Cairns Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour

4.8/5 427 reviews 9h
From USD 173.25 Check availability

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Nearby snorkel spot map

Compare nearby spot forecasts for later today before choosing a beach.

Hastings Reef Good · Mon 18:00 6.0/10 Fitzroy Island Good · Mon 18:00 5.9/10 Michaelmas Cay Good · Mon 18:00 5.6/10 Moore Reef Fair · Mon 18:00 5.4/10 Green Island Fair · Mon 18:00 5.4/10 Flynn Reef Fair · Mon 18:00 4.6/10

Forecast spot map

Use the map to see where the compared spots sit. Open a card for the hourly forecast.

Hastings Reef Fitzroy Island Michaelmas Cay Moore Reef Green Island Flynn Reef
  1. Hastings Reef
  2. Fitzroy Island
  3. Michaelmas Cay
  4. Moore Reef
  5. Green Island
  6. Flynn Reef

This is a location diagram, not a marine chart. Check the shore and local signs in person.

Nearby alternatives in Australia

Fitzroy Island

24 km away

✅ Good

Green Island

28 km away

✅ Good

Arlington Reef

38 km away

✅ Good

Michaelmas Cay

41 km away

✅ Good

Advanced forecast data

Viewing historical data

Thu 17:00 – Sun 17:00 (AEST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.67 around Thu 18:00; 9 of 24 hours are good, fair, or excellent.

Score trend, higher is better. Excellent ≥ 0.72, good 0.55–0.72, fair 0.35–0.55.

Conditions (24h trends)

Tap a chart to load just that series.

0/24 sampled hours stay at or below 0.36m (range 0.46m to 0.58m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 24/24 sampled hours (range 1.11 to 4.05m/s).

Tides range from 0.13m to 1.04m; 1 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour historical overview
Good 🌟 Good
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Poor ❌ Limited
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Fair ⚠️ Fair
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Good 🌟 Good
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Poor ❌ Limited
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Good 🌟 Good
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Poor ❌ Limited
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Fair ⚠️ Fair
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Scoring methodology (for technical users)

We score each hour from 0 to 1 using daylight and these weighted components:

  • Wave height (35%): best below 0.36m, then decreases as it rises.
  • Wind speed (25%): best below 5.4m/s, lower is better.
  • Sea surface temperature (15%): best within 20.6°C to 30.4°C.
  • Tide and currents (15%): best around slack/high-tide windows.
  • Daylight (10%): visibility is better in daylight, so night hours score lower.
Detailed hourly data table
Time Wave (m) Wind (m/s) Sea temp (°C) Status
Thu 17:00 0.48 · high 2.51 · good 26.50 · good Good
Thu 18:00 0.48 · high 1.75 · good 26.50 · good Good
Thu 19:00 0.48 · high 1.27 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Thu 20:00 0.48 · high 1.11 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Thu 21:00 0.46 · high 1.32 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Thu 22:00 0.46 · high 1.71 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Thu 23:00 0.46 · high 1.63 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Fri 00:00 0.48 · high 1.88 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Fri 01:00 0.52 · high 1.79 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Fri 02:00 0.52 · high 1.90 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 03:00 0.52 · high 1.74 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 04:00 0.52 · high 1.68 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 05:00 0.52 · high 1.35 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 06:00 0.54 · high 1.60 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 07:00 0.54 · high 1.59 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 08:00 0.56 · high 2.14 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 09:00 0.56 · high 3.48 · good 26.20 · good Poor
Fri 10:00 0.58 · high 3.32 · good 26.20 · good Fair
Fri 11:00 0.58 · high 3.72 · good 26.30 · good Fair
Fri 12:00 0.58 · high 4.05 · good 26.30 · good Fair
Fri 13:00 0.58 · high 4.00 · good 26.40 · good Fair
Fri 14:00 0.58 · high 3.79 · good 26.50 · good Fair
Fri 15:00 0.56 · high 3.76 · good 26.50 · good Good
Fri 16:00 0.56 · high 3.56 · good 26.60 · good Good
Fri 17:00 0.56 · high 3.24 · good 26.60 · good Good
Fri 18:00 0.56 · high 2.53 · good 26.60 · good Good
Fri 19:00 0.56 · high 1.64 · good 26.60 · good Poor
Fri 20:00 0.56 · high 1.69 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Fri 21:00 0.54 · high 2.06 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Fri 22:00 0.54 · high 1.87 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Fri 23:00 0.56 · high 1.64 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sat 00:00 0.56 · high 1.92 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sat 01:00 0.58 · high 2.05 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 02:00 0.58 · high 2.16 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 03:00 0.58 · high 1.52 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 04:00 0.58 · high 1.50 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 05:00 0.58 · high 1.43 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 06:00 0.58 · high 1.61 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 07:00 0.60 · high 1.73 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 08:00 0.60 · high 2.22 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 09:00 0.58 · high 2.83 · good 26.30 · good Poor
Sat 10:00 0.58 · high 2.94 · good 26.30 · good Good
Sat 11:00 0.58 · high 3.02 · good 26.40 · good Good
Sat 12:00 0.58 · high 3.41 · good 26.40 · good Good
Sat 13:00 0.58 · high 3.49 · good 26.50 · good Good
Sat 14:00 0.58 · high 3.51 · good 26.60 · good Good
Sat 15:00 0.58 · high 3.26 · good 26.60 · good Good
Sat 16:00 0.58 · high 3.49 · good 26.70 · good Good
Sat 17:00 0.58 · high 3.13 · good 26.70 · good Good
Sat 18:00 0.58 · high 2.45 · good 26.70 · good Good
Sat 19:00 0.62 · high 1.95 · good 26.60 · good Poor
Sat 20:00 0.64 · high 2.02 · good 26.60 · good Poor
Sat 21:00 0.64 · high 1.88 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Sat 22:00 0.66 · high 2.04 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Sat 23:00 0.68 · high 2.44 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Sun 00:00 0.70 · high 1.42 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Sun 01:00 0.72 · high 1.80 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Sun 02:00 0.72 · high 2.11 · good 26.50 · good Poor
Sun 03:00 0.74 · high 1.84 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sun 04:00 0.74 · high 1.59 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sun 05:00 0.74 · high 1.27 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sun 06:00 0.76 · high 1.70 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sun 07:00 0.76 · high 1.92 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sun 08:00 0.76 · high 2.54 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sun 09:00 0.74 · high 3.50 · good 26.40 · good Poor
Sun 10:00 0.74 · high 3.62 · good 26.40 · good Fair
Sun 11:00 0.74 · high 3.61 · good 26.50 · good Fair
Sun 12:00 0.72 · high 3.97 · good 26.50 · good Fair
Sun 13:00 0.72 · high 3.76 · good 26.60 · good Fair
Sun 14:00 0.72 · high 3.31 · good 26.70 · good Fair
Sun 15:00 0.72 · high 3.58 · good 26.70 · good Fair
Sun 16:00 0.72 · high 4.25 · good 26.80 · good Fair