INSTRUMENT / SEA TEMPERATURE
Updated Sun 19:42 (Australia/Brisbane)
Australia · Forecast updated Nov 1, 2026, 19:42 UTC
Current Sea Temperature
27.5°C
81.5°F
Warm water
Valid Nov 1, 2026, 19:42 (Australia/Brisbane). Source: stored Open-Meteo marine forecast. Temperature is not a safety rating or snorkel score.
Versus this month's average
0.5°C below
The typical November average is 28.0°C (82.4°F) from the historical baseline.
Recent trend
Warming by 0.8°C
Seven-day average: 27.2°C, versus 26.4°C in the prior seven days.
What to wear
Warm water
Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Cold tolerance varies. Wind, session length, sunshine, and exertion also affect comfort; temperature alone does not describe sea conditions or replace the snorkel forecast.
In the historical baseline for Great Barrier Reef, typical monthly averages range from about 23.6°C (74.5°F) in August to 29.9°C (85.8°F) in January.
Over the past 30 days, the average sea temperature in Great Barrier Reef has been 25.8°C.
Southern Hemisphere. Summer is generally December–February; winter is June–August.
Typical monthly sea-surface temperature near Great Barrier Reef, calculated from hourly observations for 2022–2025. This is not this site's forecast archive.
| Month | Typical range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| January | 29.3–30.3°C | 29.9°C / 85.8°F |
| February | 29.0–30.1°C | 29.5°C / 85.1°F |
| March | 29.0–29.2°C | 29.1°C / 84.4°F |
| April | 27.8–28.9°C | 28.3°C / 82.9°F |
| May | 25.7–26.1°C | 25.9°C / 78.6°F |
| June | 24.4–24.9°C | 24.6°C / 76.3°F |
| July | 23.7–24.3°C | 24.0°C / 75.2°F |
| August | 23.3–24.1°C | 23.6°C / 74.5°F |
| September | 24.3–25.2°C | 24.7°C / 76.5°F |
| October | 25.7–26.8°C | 26.3°C / 79.3°F |
| November | 27.0–29.1°C | 28.0°C / 82.4°F |
| December | 28.3–29.7°C | 29.0°C / 84.2°F |
Source: Open-Meteo Marine API, MeteoFrance sea-surface temperature dataset. Nearest sea grid cell (-16.29, 145.71). Each month is the mean of yearly monthly means; the range is the lowest and highest of those yearly monthly means. Open-Meteo methodology.
Each month uses the 2022–2025 baseline. The range is the lowest and highest yearly monthly mean, not an hourly extreme.
Typical January water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 29.9°C (85.8°F), with yearly monthly means from 29.3–30.3°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: very warm water. Swimwear is usually enough; a rash guard adds sun protection.
Adjacent months: December 29.0°C · February 29.5°C.
Typical February water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 29.5°C (85.1°F), with yearly monthly means from 29.0–30.1°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: very warm water. Swimwear is usually enough; a rash guard adds sun protection.
Adjacent months: January 29.9°C · March 29.1°C.
Typical March water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 29.1°C (84.4°F), with yearly monthly means from 29.0–29.2°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: very warm water. Swimwear is usually enough; a rash guard adds sun protection.
Adjacent months: February 29.5°C · April 28.3°C.
Explore Great Barrier Reef sea temperature in March, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Typical April water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 28.3°C (82.9°F), with yearly monthly means from 27.8–28.9°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: very warm water. Swimwear is usually enough; a rash guard adds sun protection.
Adjacent months: March 29.1°C · May 25.9°C.
Explore Great Barrier Reef sea temperature in April, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Typical May water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 25.9°C (78.6°F), with yearly monthly means from 25.7–26.1°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: April 28.3°C · June 24.6°C.
Explore Great Barrier Reef sea temperature in May, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Typical June water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 24.6°C (76.3°F), with yearly monthly means from 24.4–24.9°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: May 25.9°C · July 24.0°C.
Explore Great Barrier Reef sea temperature in June, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Typical July water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 24.0°C (75.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 23.7–24.3°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: June 24.6°C · August 23.6°C.
Explore Great Barrier Reef sea temperature in July, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Typical August water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 23.6°C (74.5°F), with yearly monthly means from 23.3–24.1°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: July 24.0°C · September 24.7°C.
Explore Great Barrier Reef sea temperature in August, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
Typical September water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 24.7°C (76.5°F), with yearly monthly means from 24.3–25.2°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: August 23.6°C · October 26.3°C.
Typical October water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 26.3°C (79.3°F), with yearly monthly means from 25.7–26.8°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: September 24.7°C · November 28.0°C.
Typical November water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 28.0°C (82.4°F), with yearly monthly means from 27.0–29.1°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: very warm water. Swimwear is usually enough; a rash guard adds sun protection.
Adjacent months: October 26.3°C · December 29.0°C.
Typical December water temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 29.0°C (84.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 28.3–29.7°C.
Swimming and snorkeling: very warm water. Swimwear is usually enough; a rash guard adds sun protection.
Adjacent months: November 28.0°C · January 29.9°C.
These values come from hourly forecasts SnorkelForecast has stored. They cover only months with records and do not replace the historical baseline.
| Month | Min | Average | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | 23.4°C / 74.1°F | 23.7°C / 74.7°F | 24.1°C / 75.4°F |
| October | 23.5°C / 74.3°F | 25.6°C / 78.2°F | 27.8°C / 82.0°F |
| November | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 28.1°C / 82.6°F |
Partial coverage: 3 calendar months with records. Profile calculated from 1162 hourly forecast records across 3 monthly periods. This is a growing archive, not a long-term climate normal.
Great Barrier Reef snorkel hub for comparing Cairns, Port Douglas and island/outer-reef forecasts before choosing a trip.
The current sea surface temperature near Great Barrier Reef is 27.5°C (81.5°F). Over the last 30 days, the average has been 25.8°C.
The water is typically warmest in January, at around 29.9°C (85.8°F) in the 2022–2025 historical baseline.
The water is typically coldest in August, at around 23.6°C (74.5°F) in the same historical baseline.
At 27.5°C, the water is usually comfortable for swimming and snorkeling.
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See how today's sea temperature, wave height, wind, and tides combine into a detailed snorkeling score for Great Barrier Reef.
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