Manta Arch is a renowned offshore dive-and-snorkel site within the Solitary Islands Marine Park, lying off the coast of Brooms Head in northern NSW. This underwater granite arch formation is encrusted with colourful soft corals and sponges, attracting masses of fish life and — as the name suggests — occasional manta ray visitations. The site is a recognised aggregation point for Grey Nurse Sharks (Carcharias taurus) year-round, with peak numbers from May to August, and features swim-throughs, bommies, and clear warm water influenced by seasonal tropical currents. Access is by boat only, typically via charter tours departing from Coffs Harbour or Yamba.
Brooms Head (Manta Arch)
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Wave Height 0.6 mSwell Period 6.2 sWind Speed 3.4 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase slack
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Unpatrolled waters
No lifeguard patrols — swim at your own risk with no active supervision.
Moderate risk: Unpredictable surf conditions
Swell, rips and shore dump can develop suddenly; avoid jumping into unknown depths.
Moderate risk: Ocean currents
The Solitary Islands area can experience moderate to strong ocean currents that sweep around the arch and bommies, requiring good fitness and awareness.
Moderate risk: Unpatrolled beach sections (summer only)
Main Beach is patrolled only during peak summer season (Dec-Feb). Swim between the flags when patrols are active.
Moderate risk: Rip currents
The 4.5 km open beach can develop strong rips, especially away from the protected tidal pool area.
Moderate risk: Large Swells
Direct Pacific exposure means large, powerful waves can arrive with little warning.
Moderate risk: Ocean swell overtopping
During large swell events, waves may wash over the rock shelf, creating unexpected surges inside the pool.
Low risk: Boat traffic near ramp
The snorkeling zone is adjacent to the boat ramp — watch for launching/retrieving vessels.
Low risk: Tidal Change
Rock pools are tidal-dependent; entering or exiting at high tide can be affected by rising water levels and swell washing over rocks.
Low risk: Slippery Rocks
The boulders surrounding and within the pools can become extremely slippery when wet.
Low risk: Bluebottle Stings
Bluebottle jellyfish can drift into the rock pools, particularly during north-easterly winds in warmer months.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Manta Arch is an offshore site accessed only by boat; snorkelers must stay aware of dive vessels and charter traffic in the area.
Low risk: Depth and rock formations
The arch and surrounding granite bommies drop to significant depths with swim-throughs; snorkelers should stay near the surface and avoid free-diving beyond ability.
Low risk: Outgoing tide current
The tidal pool area can experience flushing currents as the tide recedes, with water moving between the rock barriers.
Low risk: Sudden depth changes
Sandbars and gutters shift with swell conditions, creating unexpected deeper channels close to shore.
Low risk: Submerged Hazards
Unknown water depths and submerged rocks near the headland; avoid jumping into the water.
Low risk: Stair Access
Long staircase from the clifftop to the beach; challenging return climb.
Low risk: Low tide timing
The pool is best at low tide when it refills naturally; at very low tides water depth may drop significantly.
Low risk: Incoming tide current
At higher tides, water surges over the boulders creating a mild current within the pool that can surprise weak swimmers.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Manta Arch lies offshore from Brooms Head, roughly 20 km south-east of Yamba and around 30 km north of Coffs Harbour. The closest access via sealed road is Brooms Head Road from the Pacific Highway at Maclean. The snorkel site itself is reachable only by boat — charter operators run trips from Coffs Harbour and Yamba to the Solitary Islands Marine Park, with Manta Arch a regular stop.
Parking & facilities
Parking is available at the Brooms Head Beach carpark or near the caravan park, but from there you'll still need a charter vessel to reach the offshore site.
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Boat charter fees apply (typically $100–$150 per person for a half-day trip). No direct entry fee for the site itself.
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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