Agincourt Ribbon Reefs sit at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, roughly 45–75 km northeast of Port Douglas. Unlike the platform reefs closer to shore, these ribbon reefs rise steeply from deep Coral Sea waters, creating a dramatic wall environment on one side and sheltered coral gardens on the other. Snorkellers float above thriving bommies of hard and soft coral in water clarity that regularly exceeds 20 metres, with encounters with massive sea turtles, reef sharks, and schools of trevally common. The reef's unique structure — a narrow ribbon running parallel to the continental shelf — offers both calm lagoon snorkelling for beginners and thrilling outer-wall drift experiences for the adventurous.
Agincourt Ribbon Reefs
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Wave Height 0.2 mSwell Period 6.3 sWind Speed 8.1 knPrecipitation 4.2 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Marine stingers
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in Great Barrier Reef waters, particularly during the warmer months.
Low risk: Outer wall currents
Strong currents can develop along the outer wall of the ribbon reef, especially during tidal changes. Snorkellers should stay within marked pontoon areas.
Low risk: Boat crossing motion sickness
The 90-minute open-ocean crossing from Port Douglas can induce seasickness, particularly on choppy days when trade winds are stronger.
Low risk: Sun exposure
Strong tropical sun with reflection off the water increases UV exposure and risk of sunburn.
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Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
Agincourt Ribbon Reefs are located approximately 45-75 km northeast of Port Douglas, Queensland. Daily catamaran tours (e.g., Quicksilver Cruises and Silversonic) depart from Port Douglas Marina, taking about 90 minutes to reach the outer reef pontoons. Some tours include coach transfers from Cairns (1 hour drive north).
Parking & facilities
Paid parking available at Port Douglas Marina. Tour operators typically advise arriving 30 minutes before departure. Coach transfers from Cairns hotels are often included in tour packages, eliminating the need for parking at the marina if coming from Cairns. Bookings are essential, especially during
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports