Friday
⚠️ Fair conditions
Main blocker: Waves
Cairns Snorkel Report Today
Australia · Updated Thu 23:23 (AEST) · Source: Snapshot
The skinny
No forecast for later today Data updated Thu 23:23 (AEST)No remaining forecast hours are available for today in Cairns. Check the three-day outlook.
Right now (forecast)
Poor · 0.0/10
Thu 23:00 (AEST)
Later today
No fresh data for this period.
Next three days
Good · 5.7/10
Sun 18:00 (AEST)
Model estimates using Open-Meteo; not observations or safety guarantees. Check official advisories and conditions at the beach.
Score: No score
Best time: -
Main risk: Changing Conditions
No useful morning window is showing yet.
No useful afternoon window is showing yet.
Plan your visit
These notes help with planning. Rules and closures can change.
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.
Good model window in the next 72 hours
Next good model window: Sun 18:00 (1% of the next 72h meets the model threshold)
3-day planner
Saturday
⚠️ Fair conditions
Main blocker: Waves
Sunday
✅ Good conditions
Main blocker: Waves
Best available hours
The next good model window starts at Sun 18:00.
Why this verdict
Main blockers across the next 72 hours:
- Waves (71 hours)
- Darkness (44 hours)
- Tide/current (39 hours)
Jellyfish drift risk
Drift estimate from wind, swell, current and warm water.
Low peak drift risk around Fri 15:00.
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: Fri 05:00
Fri 05:00, Fri 17:00, Sat 06:00, Sat 18:00, Sun 06:00, Sun 18:00
Bookable snorkel tours near Cairns
Prices and availability from Viator. Check conditions before you book.
We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns
4.7/5
3934 reviews
8h 30m
From USD 199.24
Check availability
Free cancellation available
Ocean Freedom: Great Barrier Reef Stylish Snorkel, Dive Reef Tour
4.8/5
2027 reviews
9h
From USD 161.75
Check availability
Free cancellation available
Cairns Half Day Tour a Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling Experience
4.8/5
521 reviews
4h
From USD 129.69
Check availability
Free cancellation available
Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran
4.9/5
2684 reviews
9h
From USD 199.24
Check availability
Free cancellation available
Silverswift 3 Great Barrier Reef Sites in 1 Day from Cairns
4.6/5
450 reviews
10h
From USD 223.15
Check availability
Free cancellation available
Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns
4.1/5
330 reviews
3h
From USD 92.01
Check availability
Free cancellation available
Nearby snorkel spot map
Compare nearby spot forecasts for later today before choosing a beach.
Forecast spot map
Use the map to see where the compared spots sit. Open a card for the hourly forecast.
This is a location diagram, not a marine chart. Check the shore and local signs in person.
Nearby alternatives in Australia
Advanced forecast data
Viewing historical data
Tue 23:00 – Fri 23:00 (AEST)
Snorkel Score (selected 24h)
Best snorkel score is 0.45 around Fri 18:00; 7 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 0.98m to 1.68m).
Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 15/24 sampled hours (range 2.35 to 7.96m/s).
Tides range from 0.38m to 1.28m; 1 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.
72-hour historical overview
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Fair
⚠️ Fair
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Fair
⚠️ Fair
Fair
⚠️ Fair
Fair
⚠️ Fair
Fair
⚠️ Fair
Fair
⚠️ Fair
Fair
⚠️ Fair
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
Poor
❌ Limited
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 19:00 | 0.98 · high | 3.34 · good | 24.10 · good | Poor |
| Thu 20:00 | 0.98 · high | 2.94 · good | 24.00 · good | Poor |
| Thu 21:00 | 0.98 · high | 2.89 · good | 24.00 · good | Poor |
| Thu 22:00 | 0.98 · high | 2.73 · good | 24.00 · good | Poor |
| Thu 23:00 | 1.00 · high | 3.30 · good | 24.00 · good | Poor |
| Fri 00:00 | 1.04 · high | 2.85 · good | 23.90 · good | Poor |
| Fri 01:00 | 1.06 · high | 2.78 · good | 23.90 · good | Poor |
| Fri 02:00 | 1.14 · high | 3.83 · good | 23.90 · good | Poor |
| Fri 03:00 | 1.20 · high | 2.35 · good | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 04:00 | 1.28 · high | 4.08 · good | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 05:00 | 1.36 · high | 4.48 · good | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 06:00 | 1.46 · high | 4.59 · good | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 07:00 | 1.54 · high | 4.88 · good | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 08:00 | 1.58 · high | 4.84 · good | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 09:00 | 1.64 · high | 6.51 · high | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 10:00 | 1.68 · high | 7.85 · high | 23.80 · good | Fair |
| Fri 11:00 | 1.68 · high | 7.96 · high | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 12:00 | 1.68 · high | 7.43 · high | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 13:00 | 1.68 · high | 7.83 · high | 23.90 · good | Fair |
| Fri 14:00 | 1.66 · high | 7.27 · high | 23.90 · good | Fair |
| Fri 15:00 | 1.66 · high | 7.30 · high | 24.00 · good | Fair |
| Fri 16:00 | 1.64 · high | 6.86 · high | 24.00 · good | Fair |
| Fri 17:00 | 1.62 · high | 5.76 · high | 24.00 · good | Fair |
| Fri 18:00 | 1.60 · high | 5.24 · good | 23.90 · good | Fair |
| Fri 19:00 | 1.58 · high | 5.22 · good | 23.90 · good | Poor |
| Fri 20:00 | 1.58 · high | 5.31 · good | 23.90 · good | Poor |
| Fri 21:00 | 1.56 · high | 5.55 · high | 23.80 · good | Poor |
| Fri 22:00 | 1.56 · high | 5.62 · high | 23.80 · good | Poor |