MARINE REPORT / 72 HOURS

Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Report Today

Australia · Updated Thu 16:46 (AEST) · Source: Snapshot

The skinny

Poor Data updated Thu 16:46 (AEST)

Great Barrier Reef has no good model window later today. Check the three-day outlook and official beach advisories.

Right now (forecast)

Good · 6.3/10

Thu 18:00 (AEST)

Later today

No fresh data for this period.

Next three days

Excellent · 7.5/10

Fri 12:00 (AEST)

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

Score: 0.0/10

Best time: -

Main risk: Tide/Current

No useful morning window is showing yet.

No useful afternoon window is showing yet.

Email me when it is good Compare nearby spots Tours & water activities

Planning Great Barrier Reef in January? Where to snorkel in January compares destinations and local seasonal cautions.

Plan your visit

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

Open map

AccessMost Great Barrier Reef snorkeling is a boat trip from Cairns, Port Douglas or an island. Use the site cards below, not the mainland harbour, for the reef forecast.

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

18:23

Water

28.1°C

Max air

27.0°C

Sky

Partly cloudy

63% cloud

Good model window in the next 72 hours

Next good model window: Fri 10:00–18:00 (35% of the next 72h meets the model threshold)

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Thursday

❌ Poor conditions

Main blocker: Tide/current

Friday

✅ Excellent conditions

Main blocker: Tide/current

Saturday

✅ Excellent conditions

Main blocker: Tide/current

Best available hours

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

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

  • Tide/current (65 hours)
  • Darkness (45 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

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

Low · 32/100

Low peak drift risk around Thu 20:00.

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 07:00

Fri 07:00, Sat 07:00, Sat 19:00, Sun 08:00

Bookable snorkel tours near Great Barrier Reef

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

We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Silversonic 3 Outer Barrier Reef Sites in 1 Day from Port Douglas

Silversonic 3 Outer Barrier Reef Sites in 1 Day from Port Douglas

4.8/5 556 reviews 10h
From USD 198.53 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Low Isles

Half Day Low Isles Snorkelling Tour from Port Douglas

4.8/5 414 reviews 4h
From USD 175.17 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port Douglas

Outer Reef Mackay Cay Sail & Snorkel Adventure from Port Douglas

4.9/5 474 reviews 9h
From USD 237.12 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Afternoon Low Isles Snorkelling & Sunset Sail from Port Douglas

Afternoon Low Isles Snorkelling & Sunset Sail from Port Douglas

4.8/5 370 reviews 5h 30m
From USD 233.92 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Green Island Day Trip from Cairns with Beaches Transfers

Green Island Day Trip from Cairns with Beaches Transfers

4.5/5 14 reviews 8h
From USD 118.92 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Calypso Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Port Douglas

Calypso Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Port Douglas

4.8/5 1475 reviews 8h
From USD 227.15 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Nearby snorkel spot map

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

Cairns Unknown No recent score Port Douglas Unknown No recent score Heron Island Unknown No recent score Lady Elliot Island Unknown No recent score Whitsundays Unknown No recent score

Forecast spot map

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

Cairns Port Douglas Heron Island Lady Elliot Island Whitsundays
  1. Cairns
  2. Port Douglas
  3. Heron Island
  4. Lady Elliot Island
  5. Whitsundays

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

Nearby alternatives in Australia

Low Isles

18 km away

✅ Good

Agincourt Reef

33 km away

✅ Good

Port Douglas

33 km away

✅ Good

Hastings Reef

43 km away

✅ Good

Advanced forecast data

Viewing historical data

Sun 18:00 – Wed 18:00 (AEST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.5 around Mon 10:00; 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 0.52m to 0.76m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 0/24 sampled hours (range 5.91 to 8.03m/s).

Tides range from -0.31m to 1.39m; 2 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour historical overview
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
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Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
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Poor ❌ Limited
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
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Poor ❌ Limited
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
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
Sun 18:00 0.56 · high 7.78 · high 25.20 · good Fair
Sun 19:00 0.58 · high 7.96 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Sun 20:00 0.58 · high 8.03 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Sun 21:00 0.74 · high 7.40 · high 25.20 · good Poor
Sun 22:00 0.76 · high 7.31 · high 25.20 · good Poor
Sun 23:00 0.76 · high 6.82 · high 25.20 · good Poor
Mon 00:00 0.76 · high 6.72 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 01:00 0.76 · high 6.97 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 02:00 0.66 · high 7.13 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 03:00 0.66 · high 6.93 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 04:00 0.66 · high 7.00 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 05:00 0.66 · high 6.74 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 06:00 0.64 · high 7.07 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 07:00 0.64 · high 7.04 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 08:00 0.62 · high 6.62 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 09:00 0.60 · high 6.21 · high 25.10 · good Poor
Mon 10:00 0.58 · high 5.91 · high 25.20 · good Fair
Mon 11:00 0.58 · high 6.14 · high 25.20 · good Fair
Mon 12:00 0.56 · high 6.33 · high 25.30 · good Fair
Mon 13:00 0.56 · high 6.58 · high 25.40 · good Fair
Mon 14:00 0.54 · high 6.79 · high 25.40 · good Fair
Mon 15:00 0.54 · high 6.74 · high 25.50 · good Fair
Mon 16:00 0.52 · high 7.50 · high 25.50 · good Poor
Mon 17:00 0.54 · high 7.36 · high 25.50 · good Poor
Mon 18:00 0.54 · high 7.14 · high 25.50 · good Fair
Mon 19:00 0.56 · high 7.28 · high 25.50 · good Poor
Mon 20:00 0.56 · high 7.39 · high 25.50 · good Poor
Mon 21:00 0.68 · high 6.93 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Mon 22:00 0.68 · high 6.97 · high 25.50 · good Poor
Mon 23:00 0.68 · high 7.06 · high 25.50 · good Poor
Tue 00:00 0.66 · high 7.05 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 01:00 0.66 · high 6.99 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 02:00 0.54 · high 6.76 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 03:00 0.54 · high 6.90 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 04:00 0.56 · high 7.00 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 05:00 0.56 · high 6.95 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 06:00 0.58 · high 7.13 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 07:00 0.58 · high 7.46 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 08:00 0.58 · high 7.06 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 09:00 0.60 · high 6.66 · high 25.40 · good Poor
Tue 10:00 0.60 · high 6.40 · high 25.50 · good Fair
Tue 11:00 0.60 · high 6.63 · high 25.50 · good Fair
Tue 12:00 0.58 · high 6.60 · high 25.70 · good Fair
Tue 13:00 0.58 · high 6.16 · high 25.80 · good Fair
Tue 14:00 0.56 · high 5.80 · high 25.90 · good Fair
Tue 15:00 0.56 · high 5.24 · good 26.00 · good Fair
Tue 16:00 0.54 · high 5.48 · high 26.00 · good Fair
Tue 17:00 0.54 · high 6.44 · high 26.00 · good Fair
Tue 18:00 0.52 · high 6.19 · high 26.00 · good Fair
Tue 19:00 0.52 · high 5.60 · high 25.90 · good Poor
Tue 20:00 0.52 · high 4.92 · good 25.90 · good Poor
Tue 21:00 0.52 · high 4.87 · good 25.70 · good Poor
Tue 22:00 0.52 · high 5.12 · good 25.70 · good Poor
Tue 23:00 0.52 · high 4.96 · good 25.70 · good Poor
Wed 00:00 0.50 · high 4.68 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 01:00 0.50 · high 4.73 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 02:00 0.50 · high 5.12 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 03:00 0.52 · high 4.74 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 04:00 0.52 · high 4.52 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 05:00 0.52 · high 4.38 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 06:00 0.52 · high 4.12 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 07:00 0.52 · high 4.13 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 08:00 0.52 · high 4.11 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 09:00 0.52 · high 4.09 · good 25.60 · good Poor
Wed 10:00 0.52 · high 3.52 · good 25.70 · good Good
Wed 11:00 0.50 · high 3.43 · good 25.70 · good Good
Wed 12:00 0.50 · high 3.29 · good 25.80 · good Good
Wed 13:00 0.48 · high 3.58 · good 25.90 · good Good
Wed 14:00 0.48 · high 4.04 · good 26.00 · good Good
Wed 15:00 0.48 · high 4.43 · good 26.10 · good Good
Wed 16:00 0.48 · high 4.33 · good 26.10 · good Good
Wed 17:00 0.48 · high 4.56 · good 26.10 · good Good