MARINE REPORT / 72 HOURS

Port Douglas Snorkel Report Today

Australia · Updated Mon 07:49 (AEST) · Source: Snapshot

The skinny

Go in the best window Data updated Mon 07:49 (AEST)

Port Douglas has a usable snorkeling window around Mon 10:00. The main thing to watch is darkness.

Right now (forecast)

Poor · 0.0/10

Mon 08:00 (AEST)

Later today

Excellent · 7.3/10

Mon 17:00 (AEST)

Next three days

Excellent · 8.3/10

Wed 18:00 (AEST)

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

Score: 7.3/10

Best time: Mon 10:00

Main risk: Darkness

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

Best afternoon signal: Mon 17:00 (Excellent). Peak afternoon wind is about 2.1 m/s.

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

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

Best nearby spots later today

Low Isles 7.4/10 Excellent · Mon 17:00 Arlington Reef 5.9/10 Good · Mon 11:00

Plan your visit

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

Open map

AccessPort Douglas boats usually run to Low Isles or the Agincourt ribbon reefs. Check those site forecasts; the town beach is not the reef.

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

05:41

Sunset

18:23

Water

28.7°C

Max air

29.6°C

Sky

Partly cloudy

38% cloud

Good model window in the next 72 hours

Next good model window: Mon 10:00–18:00 (39% of the next 72h meets the model threshold)

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Monday

✅ Excellent conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Tuesday

✅ Excellent conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Wednesday

✅ Excellent conditions

Main blocker: Darkness

Best available hours

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

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

  • Darkness (43 hours)
  • Tide/current (8 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

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

Low · 27/100

Low drift risk now.

warm water supports seasonal jellyfish activity; 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

Mon 16:00, Tue 05:00, Tue 17:00, Wed 05:00, Wed 17:00

Bookable snorkel tours near Port Douglas

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 234.73 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Low Isles

Half Day Low Isles Snorkelling Tour from Port Douglas

4.8/5 414 reviews 4h
From USD 176.05 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 261.21 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

4.9/5 472 reviews 9h
From USD 264.79 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 1474 reviews 8h
From USD 228.29 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 119.51 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Nearby snorkel spot map

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

Low Isles Excellent · Mon 17:00 7.4/10 Arlington Reef Good · Mon 11:00 5.9/10 Agincourt Reef Fair · Mon 12:00 5.1/10

Forecast spot map

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

Low Isles Arlington Reef Agincourt Reef
  1. Low Isles
  2. Arlington Reef
  3. Agincourt Reef

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

Nearby alternatives in Australia

Low Isles

15 km away

✅ Good

Great Barrier Reef

33 km away

✅ Good

Michaelmas Cay

56 km away

✅ Good

Cairns

58 km away

✅ Good

Advanced forecast data

Viewing historical data

Sat 08:00 – Tue 08:00 (AEST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.68 around Sat 17:00; 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 0.38m to 0.42m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 24/24 sampled hours (range 0.05 to 1.8m/s).

Tides range from -0.52m to 1.57m; 1 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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Fair ⚠️ Fair
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Poor ❌ Limited
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Good 🌟 Good
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Poor ❌ Limited
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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
Sat 08:00 0.38 · high 1.04 · good 27.10 · good Poor
Sat 09:00 0.38 · high 0.86 · good 27.10 · good Poor
Sat 10:00 0.38 · high 1.30 · good 27.20 · good Good
Sat 11:00 0.38 · high 1.70 · good 27.20 · good Good
Sat 12:00 0.38 · high 1.74 · good 27.40 · good Good
Sat 13:00 0.38 · high 1.71 · good 27.50 · good Good
Sat 14:00 0.38 · high 1.61 · good 27.60 · good Good
Sat 15:00 0.38 · high 1.29 · good 27.70 · good Good
Sat 16:00 0.38 · high 1.28 · good 27.70 · good Good
Sat 17:00 0.38 · high 1.13 · good 27.70 · good Good
Sat 18:00 0.38 · high 0.75 · good 27.70 · good Good
Sat 19:00 0.40 · high 0.05 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Sat 20:00 0.40 · high 0.43 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Sat 21:00 0.38 · high 0.68 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 22:00 0.38 · high 0.43 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 23:00 0.38 · high 0.67 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 00:00 0.38 · high 1.01 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 01:00 0.38 · high 1.36 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 02:00 0.38 · high 1.74 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 03:00 0.40 · high 1.80 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 04:00 0.40 · high 0.40 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 05:00 0.40 · high 0.46 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 06:00 0.42 · high 0.38 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 07:00 0.40 · high 0.61 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 08:00 0.40 · high 0.34 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 09:00 0.42 · high 0.21 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sun 10:00 0.42 · high 0.70 · good 27.40 · good Good
Sun 11:00 0.42 · high 1.24 · good 27.50 · good Good
Sun 12:00 0.42 · high 1.77 · good 27.60 · good Good
Sun 13:00 0.42 · high 1.91 · good 27.70 · good Fair
Sun 14:00 0.42 · high 2.16 · good 27.90 · good Fair
Sun 15:00 0.42 · high 2.20 · good 28.00 · good Good
Sun 16:00 0.42 · high 1.75 · good 28.00 · good Good
Sun 17:00 0.42 · high 1.30 · good 28.00 · good Good
Sun 18:00 0.40 · high 0.85 · good 28.00 · good Good
Sun 19:00 0.40 · high 0.21 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Sun 20:00 0.40 · high 0.35 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Sun 21:00 0.40 · high 0.85 · good 27.80 · good Poor
Sun 22:00 0.40 · high 1.21 · good 27.80 · good Poor
Sun 23:00 0.40 · high 1.37 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 00:00 0.38 · high 1.21 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 01:00 0.38 · high 1.46 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 02:00 0.38 · high 1.70 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 03:00 0.38 · high 1.54 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 04:00 0.38 · high 1.59 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 05:00 0.38 · high 1.50 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 06:00 0.36 · good 1.27 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 07:00 0.36 · good 1.13 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 08:00 0.36 · good 1.22 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 09:00 0.36 · good 1.96 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Mon 10:00 0.36 · good 2.21 · good 27.80 · good Good
Mon 11:00 0.36 · good 2.14 · good 27.80 · good Good
Mon 12:00 0.34 · good 2.00 · good 27.90 · good Good
Mon 13:00 0.34 · good 1.95 · good 28.00 · good Good
Mon 14:00 0.34 · good 1.86 · good 28.10 · good Good
Mon 15:00 0.34 · good 1.87 · good 28.20 · good Good
Mon 16:00 0.34 · good 1.85 · good 28.20 · good Good
Mon 17:00 0.34 · good 1.68 · good 28.20 · good Good
Mon 18:00 0.34 · good 1.06 · good 28.20 · good Good
Mon 19:00 0.34 · good 0.60 · good 28.10 · good Poor
Mon 20:00 0.34 · good 0.89 · good 28.10 · good Poor
Mon 21:00 0.34 · good 1.72 · good 28.10 · good Poor
Mon 22:00 0.34 · good 1.84 · good 28.00 · good Poor
Mon 23:00 0.36 · good 1.65 · good 28.00 · good Poor
Tue 00:00 0.36 · good 1.66 · good 28.00 · good Poor
Tue 01:00 0.38 · high 1.54 · good 28.00 · good Poor
Tue 02:00 0.38 · high 1.40 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Tue 03:00 0.40 · high 1.52 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Tue 04:00 0.40 · high 1.57 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Tue 05:00 0.40 · high 1.89 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Tue 06:00 0.40 · high 1.95 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Tue 07:00 0.40 · high 2.16 · good 27.90 · good Poor