[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":188},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-boulders-dive-site":9,"spot-boulders-dive-site":51},{"entries":4,"total":5,"period":6,"type":7,"generated_at":8},[],0,"all_time","reports","2026-10-03T06:32:05.526386Z",{"title":10,"description":11,"canonical_url":12,"og_image":13,"structured_data":14,"breadcrumbs":44},"Snorkeling Conditions at Mackerel Boulders - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Mackerel Boulders, New South Wales. Fair conditions, water 21.8°C, waves 0.61m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fboulders-dive-site","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fog-default.png",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Mackerel Boulders","Mackerel Boulders is a renowned dive and snorkel site within the Cape Byron Marine Park, off the coast of Byron Bay, NSW. Named for its submerged boulder fields and rocky reef formations, this site...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-28.6056,153.6264,{"@type":25,"addressRegion":26,"addressCountry":27},"PostalAddress","New South Wales","Australia",{"@context":16,"@type":29,"name":30,"description":11,"url":12,"breadcrumb":31},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Mackerel Boulders",{"@context":16,"@type":32,"itemListElement":33},"BreadcrumbList",[34,39,42],{"@type":35,"position":36,"name":37,"item":38},"ListItem",1,"Home","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com",{"@type":35,"position":40,"name":26,"item":41},2,"https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"@type":35,"position":43,"name":18,"item":12},3,[45,47,49],{"label":37,"href":46},"\u002F",{"label":26,"href":48},"\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"label":18,"href":50},"\u002Fspots\u002Fboulders-dive-site",{"id":52,"name":18,"slug":53,"latitude":22,"longitude":23,"description":54,"difficulty":55,"image_url":56,"status":57,"tide_constituents":58,"hazard_entries":109,"access_info_structured":126,"area_boundary":56,"routes":56,"created_at":134,"updated_at":135,"today_conditions":136,"today_verdict_view":157,"images":184,"submitted_by":185,"region_name":26,"verification_status":187,"verified_at":56,"disputed":142,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":56},"8b1d8fe6-b5a0-4663-81f0-20f1c3ebcab1","boulders-dive-site","Mackerel Boulders is a renowned dive and snorkel site within the Cape Byron Marine Park, off the coast of Byron Bay, NSW. Named for its submerged boulder fields and rocky reef formations, this site sits at depths of 12–26 m and is known for attracting large pelagics including grey nurse sharks and bull sharks. Accessed by boat from Byron Bay, the site offers dramatic underwater topography with bommies, swim-throughs, and boulder gardens teeming with temperate and subtropical marine life. It is a premier site for experienced snorkelers and divers seeking an adrenaline-filled encounter with sharks and rays.","advanced",null,"published",{"name":59,"amplitude":75,"phase":91,"latitude":22,"model":107,"epoch":108},[60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74],"2N2","J1","K1","K2","M2","M4","MF","MM","N2","O1","P1","Q1","S1","S2","T2",[76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],0.02005695529097127,0.011438446812448223,0.18738058685684916,0.04104395138119887,0.5292747739844882,0.003434549609221104,0.0005016038032468241,0.0022032029587110732,0.10771203613539651,0.10527514551723138,0.05456480077397074,0.025001711617809293,0.001781117783660902,0.15005642010416154,0.013164992205810215,[92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106],291.4583327291685,355.83125838664046,352.9968086785282,296.9111453630595,300.92998231824464,206.98244335666163,34.4200108877275,10.239961216114335,293.42977074009247,319.8316406896323,344.2945527528766,298.5165685151835,44.296423960831625,312.50713047689993,317.00934925386855,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[110,116,120,123],{"name":111,"description":112,"severity":113,"season_start":114,"season_end":115},"Strong ocean currents","The site is exposed to oceanic currents typical of offshore reefs, which can sweep snorkelers away from the boulder field. Best visited in calm conditions.","warning",6,8,{"name":117,"description":118,"severity":119,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Bull shark presence","Bull sharks are known to frequent Mackerel Boulders, particularly during warmer months. While usually not aggressive, their presence warrants caution.","caution",{"name":121,"description":122,"severity":119,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Boat traffic","Access is by boat only, and the site lies within an offshore marine park corridor. Snorkelers must be aware of vessel traffic and stay near the dive boat.",{"name":124,"description":125,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Depth and decompression risk","Depths range from 12–26 m, exceeding safe free-diving limits for inexperienced snorkelers. Snorkeling here is recommended for advanced, strong swimmers only.",{"directions":127,"parking":128,"facilities":129,"fees":132,"access_method":133},"Mackerel Boulders is located approximately 5–10 km offshore from Byron Bay, NSW. It is accessed via charter boat from Byron Bay's boat ramp or marina. Local dive operators such as Sundive Byron Bay and Jetty Dive Centre run trips to the site. No shore access is possible.","Parking is available at the Byron Bay boat ramp or at dive operator premises in Byron Bay town centre. Arrive early to secure a spot during busy summer months.",[130,131],"toilets","parking","No fee to access the site itself, but boat charter fees apply through local dive operators (typically $120–$180 per person for a two-tank dive\u002Fsnorkel trip).","boat","2026-07-27T02:56:05.970153Z","2026-08-04T05:34:24.990752Z",{"verdict":137,"evaluated_at":138,"models":139},"marginal","2026-10-03T02:21:02.628319Z",[140,147,152],{"model_name":141,"is_favourable":142,"value":143,"threshold":144,"unit":145,"operator":146},"Wind Speed",false,10.46,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":148,"is_favourable":142,"value":149,"threshold":150,"unit":151,"operator":146},"Wave Height",0.607,0.5,"m",{"model_name":153,"is_favourable":142,"value":154,"threshold":40,"unit":155,"operator":156},"Visibility",1.66,"","gte",{"verdict":137,"rating":158,"evaluated_at":138,"generated_at":138,"source":159,"confidence":160,"visibility":163,"parameters":164,"models_passed":40,"models_total":179},"Fair","precomputed",{"level":161,"value":162},"High",100,{"score":154,"rating":56,"confidence":56},[165,167,173,176,181],{"name":148,"value":166,"label":56,"unit":151,"favourable":142,"score":36,"optimal_max":150,"marginal_max":36},0.607406849654694,{"name":168,"value":169,"label":56,"unit":170,"favourable":171,"score":43,"optimal_max":115,"marginal_max":172},"Swell Period",7.05,"s",true,12,{"name":141,"value":174,"label":56,"unit":145,"favourable":142,"score":36,"optimal_max":144,"marginal_max":175},10.462499932946432,15,{"name":177,"value":5,"label":56,"unit":178,"favourable":171,"score":43,"optimal_max":179,"marginal_max":180},"Precipitation","mm",5,20,{"name":182,"value":56,"label":183,"unit":155,"favourable":142,"score":36,"optimal_max":56,"marginal_max":56},"Tidal Phase","flood",[],{"display_name":186},"Daniel","unverified",1791009170845]