Chinaman Reef is a stunning outer Great Barrier Reef plateau roughly 45 km east of Port Douglas, renowned for its vibrant coral gardens, bommies, and abundant fish life. This site offers a classic reef-top snorkeling experience with clear waters, diverse coral formations, and regular encounters with marine megafauna including whale sharks, white-tipped reef sharks, and sea turtles. The reef plateau features shallow coral gardens and deeper bommies (like the popular 'Turtle Block' and 'Long Bommie' sites), making it a favourite among day-trip operators from Port Douglas. Despite partial cyclone impacts in past years, the reef has shown remarkable recovery and continues to deliver world-class snorkeling.
Chinaman Reef
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Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 4.0 sWind Speed 8.3 knPrecipitation 4.1 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Marine Stingers
Stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in North Queensland waters during the warmer months (October to May).
Low risk: Tidal Currents
Outgoing tides can create noticeable currents across the reef plateau, requiring moderate swimming ability.
Low risk: Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks have been recorded at Chinaman Reef, posing a threat to coral and possible sting risk to snorkelers.
Low risk: Vessel Traffic
Boat traffic from multiple tour operators in the area requires awareness near channel and mooring zones.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
1 photo from the community
Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
Chinaman Reef is located approximately 45 km east of Port Douglas, North Queensland. Access is exclusively by commercial tour boat departing from Port Douglas Marina. Several operators (including ABC Reef Safaris and Wavelength Reef Cruises) run day trips to this site.
Parking & facilities
Paid parking available at Port Douglas Marina (Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina) or nearby public car parks.
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Tour prices vary by operator; expect AUD $200–$350 per person for a full-day snorkel trip including equipment, lunch, and reef transfers.
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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