MARINE REPORT / 72 HOURS

Cairns Snorkel Report Today

Australia · Updated Mon 21:20 (AEST) · Source: Snapshot

The skinny

Go in the best window Data updated Mon 21:20 (AEST)

Cairns has a usable snorkeling window around Tue 10:00. The main thing to watch is darkness.

Right now (forecast)

Poor · 0.0/10

Tue 00:00 (AEST)

Later today

Excellent · 7.6/10

Tue 18:00 (AEST)

Next three days

Excellent · 7.6/10

Tue 18:00 (AEST)

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

Score: 7.6/10

Best time: Tue 10:00

Main risk: Darkness

Best morning signal: Tue 10:00 (Good).

Best afternoon signal: Tue 18:00 (Excellent). Peak afternoon wind is about 3.1 m/s.

Later today looks usable around Tue 10:00. Check boat availability.

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

Best nearby spots later today

Hastings Reef 7.3/10 Excellent · Tue 17:00 Fitzroy Island 6.2/10 Good · Tue 17:00 Michaelmas Cay 6.1/10 Good · Tue 10:00

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

28.7°C

Max air

29.3°C

Sky

Cloudy

85% cloud

Good model window in the next 72 hours

Next good model window: Tue 10:00–18:00 (40% of the next 72h meets the model threshold)

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Tuesday

✅ Excellent conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Wednesday

✅ Good conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Thursday

✅ Excellent conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Best available hours

The next good model window starts at Tue 10:00 and lasts until 18:00.

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

  • Darkness (40 hours)
  • Tide/current (28 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

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

Low · 28/100

Low peak drift risk around Tue 10:00.

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: Tue 05:00

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

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

Free cancellation available

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 Excellent · Tue 17:00 7.3/10 Fitzroy Island Good · Tue 17:00 6.2/10 Michaelmas Cay Good · Tue 10:00 6.1/10 Moore Reef Good · Tue 18:00 6.1/10 Green Island Good · Tue 17:00 5.8/10 Flynn Reef Fair · Tue 18:00 5.5/10

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 00:00 – Sun 00:00 (AEST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.69 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.

20/24 sampled hours stay at or below 0.36m (range 0.32m to 0.4m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 24/24 sampled hours (range 1.28 to 3.1m/s).

Tides range from -0.38m to 1.77m; 2 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour historical overview
Poor ❌ Limited
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Poor ❌ Limited
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Good 🌟 Good
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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 00:00 0.36 · good 1.98 · good 24.70 · good Poor
Thu 01:00 0.36 · good 1.91 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 02:00 0.36 · good 2.06 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 03:00 0.36 · good 1.93 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 04:00 0.36 · good 2.02 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 05:00 0.36 · good 2.02 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 06:00 0.38 · high 2.09 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 07:00 0.38 · high 2.05 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 08:00 0.38 · high 1.57 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 09:00 0.40 · high 1.28 · good 24.60 · good Poor
Thu 10:00 0.32 · good 1.46 · good 24.60 · good Good
Thu 11:00 0.32 · good 1.91 · good 24.70 · good Good
Thu 12:00 0.32 · good 2.67 · good 24.80 · good Good
Thu 13:00 0.32 · good 3.06 · good 24.90 · good Good
Thu 14:00 0.32 · good 2.88 · good 25.00 · good Good
Thu 15:00 0.34 · good 3.10 · good 25.00 · good Good
Thu 16:00 0.34 · good 2.78 · good 25.10 · good Good
Thu 17:00 0.34 · good 1.85 · good 25.10 · good Good
Thu 18:00 0.36 · good 1.74 · good 25.10 · good Good
Thu 19:00 0.36 · good 1.31 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Thu 20:00 0.36 · good 1.41 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Thu 21:00 0.32 · good 1.81 · good 24.90 · good Poor
Thu 22:00 0.32 · good 1.60 · good 24.90 · good Poor
Thu 23:00 0.32 · good 1.74 · good 24.80 · good Poor
Fri 00:00 0.32 · good 1.87 · good 24.80 · good Poor
Fri 01:00 0.32 · good 2.09 · good 24.80 · good Poor
Fri 02:00 0.32 · good 1.98 · good 24.80 · good Poor
Fri 03:00 0.32 · good 2.05 · good 24.70 · good Poor
Fri 04:00 0.32 · good 2.16 · good 24.70 · good Poor
Fri 05:00 0.32 · good 2.19 · good 24.70 · good Poor
Fri 06:00 0.32 · good 2.19 · good 24.70 · good Poor
Fri 07:00 0.32 · good 2.02 · good 24.70 · good Poor
Fri 08:00 0.32 · good 1.74 · good 24.80 · good Poor
Fri 09:00 0.30 · good 1.84 · good 24.80 · good Poor
Fri 10:00 0.30 · good 2.26 · good 24.80 · good Good
Fri 11:00 0.30 · good 2.63 · good 24.90 · good Good
Fri 12:00 0.32 · good 3.25 · good 25.00 · good Good
Fri 13:00 0.32 · good 3.45 · good 25.10 · good Good
Fri 14:00 0.32 · good 3.50 · good 25.20 · good Good
Fri 15:00 0.34 · good 3.15 · good 25.30 · good Good
Fri 16:00 0.34 · good 2.67 · good 25.30 · good Good
Fri 17:00 0.34 · good 2.37 · good 25.30 · good Good
Fri 18:00 0.34 · good 2.06 · good 25.30 · good Good
Fri 19:00 0.34 · good 1.68 · good 25.30 · good Poor
Fri 20:00 0.34 · good 1.14 · good 25.20 · good Poor
Fri 21:00 0.32 · good 1.40 · good 25.20 · good Poor
Fri 22:00 0.32 · good 1.54 · good 25.10 · good Poor
Fri 23:00 0.32 · good 1.54 · good 25.10 · good Poor
Sat 00:00 0.32 · good 1.75 · good 25.10 · good Poor
Sat 01:00 0.32 · good 2.12 · good 25.10 · good Poor
Sat 02:00 0.34 · good 2.10 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Sat 03:00 0.32 · good 1.98 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Sat 04:00 0.32 · good 2.19 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Sat 05:00 0.32 · good 2.16 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Sat 06:00 0.32 · good 2.00 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Sat 07:00 0.32 · good 1.70 · good 25.00 · good Poor
Sat 08:00 0.32 · good 1.38 · good 25.10 · good Poor
Sat 09:00 0.30 · good 1.93 · good 25.10 · good Poor
Sat 10:00 0.30 · good 2.34 · good 25.10 · good Good
Sat 11:00 0.30 · good 2.80 · good 25.20 · good Good
Sat 12:00 0.30 · good 3.05 · good 25.30 · good Good
Sat 13:00 0.30 · good 2.95 · good 25.40 · good Good
Sat 14:00 0.30 · good 3.11 · good 25.50 · good Good
Sat 15:00 0.30 · good 3.14 · good 25.50 · good Good
Sat 16:00 0.30 · good 2.77 · good 25.60 · good Good
Sat 17:00 0.30 · good 2.68 · good 25.60 · good Good
Sat 18:00 0.30 · good 1.72 · good 25.60 · good Good
Sat 19:00 0.30 · good 1.27 · good 25.50 · good Poor
Sat 20:00 0.30 · good 1.62 · good 25.50 · good Poor
Sat 21:00 0.32 · good 1.94 · good 25.40 · good Poor
Sat 22:00 0.32 · good 1.90 · good 25.40 · good Poor
Sat 23:00 0.32 · good 1.82 · good 25.30 · good Poor