[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":194},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-chinaman-s-hat-port-phillip-bay":9,"spot-chinaman-s-hat-port-phillip-bay":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 Chinaman's Hat (Port Phillip Bay) - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Chinaman's Hat (Port Phillip Bay), Victoria. Poor conditions, water 14.2°C, waves 0.75m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fchinaman-s-hat-port-phillip-bay","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_chinaman-s-hat-port-phillip-bay_0_bd5ff59d174b.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Chinaman's Hat (Port Phillip Bay)","Chinaman's Hat is an iconic octagonal navigation beacon in Port Phillip Bay's South Channel, about 3 km east-south-east of Pope's Eye. This artificial structure, rebuilt by Parks Victoria in 2002,...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-38.286795,144.723649,{"@type":25,"addressRegion":26,"addressCountry":27},"PostalAddress","Victoria","Australia",{"@context":16,"@type":29,"name":30,"description":11,"url":12,"breadcrumb":31},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Chinaman's Hat (Port Phillip Bay)",{"@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=victoria",{"@type":35,"position":43,"name":18,"item":12},3,[45,47,49],{"label":37,"href":46},"\u002F",{"label":26,"href":48},"\u002Fexplore?region=victoria",{"label":18,"href":50},"\u002Fspots\u002Fchinaman-s-hat-port-phillip-bay",{"id":52,"name":18,"slug":53,"latitude":22,"longitude":23,"description":54,"difficulty":55,"image_url":13,"status":56,"tide_constituents":57,"hazard_entries":108,"access_info_structured":126,"area_boundary":133,"routes":133,"created_at":134,"updated_at":135,"today_conditions":136,"today_verdict_view":157,"images":182,"submitted_by":191,"region_name":26,"verification_status":193,"verified_at":133,"disputed":142,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":133},"0fbf3077-6365-4f69-a639-e1194269ee99","chinaman-s-hat-port-phillip-bay","Chinaman's Hat is an iconic octagonal navigation beacon in Port Phillip Bay's South Channel, about 3 km east-south-east of Pope's Eye. This artificial structure, rebuilt by Parks Victoria in 2002, serves as a major haul-out site for Australian fur seals, making it one of Victoria's top spots for swimming with these playful marine mammals. The site is accessible only by boat from Queenscliff or Sorrento, with local tour operators running regular snorkel trips. The shallow, sheltered waters around the beacon offer excellent visibility and a truly memorable wildlife encounter in the heart of the bay.","beginner","published",{"name":58,"amplitude":74,"phase":90,"latitude":22,"model":106,"epoch":107},[59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73],"2N2","J1","K1","K2","M2","M4","MF","MM","N2","O1","P1","Q1","S1","S2","T2",[75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89],0.007591566582148018,0.009040209248519554,0.1526262503047553,0.005171002929225015,0.27829728931687436,0.004993906648372256,0.0075363762236353915,0.002847499208487909,0.03443014246176458,0.07170938868717905,0.03347049410623045,0.029654516626158586,0.016589218530843823,0.08991870202568018,0.018807611187444086,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],38.355639755684535,311.80787919668177,288.66888746039405,63.284702038544935,21.190746409329655,176.0416148258853,154.49911905725202,222.49955702215198,12.360001109443886,279.72901199528843,282.8112901575661,274.62907767863504,15.15138937416663,211.514425520752,191.6170169132214,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114,118,123],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Boat Traffic","Chinaman's Hat is located within a busy shipping channel in Port Phillip Bay. Snorkelers must remain vigilant and stay clear of vessel traffic at all times.","warning",12,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Strong Tidal Currents","The South Channel can experience strong tidal flows, especially near the change of tides. Snorkelers should plan visits around slack water and be confident in the water.","caution",{"name":119,"description":120,"severity":117,"season_start":121,"season_end":122},"Cold Water Temperatures","Port Phillip Bay waters are cool year-round, typically ranging from 11°C in winter to 20°C in summer. A good-quality wetsuit (5–7 mm) is essential.",5,9,{"name":124,"description":125,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Exposed Open Water","As an offshore platform with no land nearby, changing weather conditions can quickly create choppy seas. Check forecasts before departing.",{"directions":127,"parking":128,"facilities":129,"fees":131,"access_method":132},"Chinaman's Hat is an offshore structure accessible only by boat. Depart from Queenscliff, Sorrento, or Portsea on the Mornington Peninsula. Multiple tour operators run dedicated snorkel-with-seals trips, typically 1.5–2 hours duration. Private vessels can anchor near the beacon but must stay clear of the shipping channel.","Parking available at boat ramps and marinas in Queenscliff and Sorrento. Tour operators typically meet at the jetty; check with your operator for specific meet-up parking.",[130],"parking","No fee to visit the site itself. Snorkel tour prices range from $75–$95 per person (approx.). Private boat access is free but requires a registered vessel.","boat",null,"2026-07-27T02:58:13.204141Z","2026-08-04T05:30:44.786450Z",{"verdict":137,"evaluated_at":138,"models":139},"no_go","2026-10-03T02:15:39.675253Z",[140,147,152],{"model_name":141,"is_favourable":142,"value":143,"threshold":144,"unit":145,"operator":146},"Wind Speed",false,11.62,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":148,"is_favourable":142,"value":149,"threshold":150,"unit":151,"operator":146},"Wave Height",0.75,0.5,"m",{"model_name":153,"is_favourable":142,"value":154,"threshold":40,"unit":155,"operator":156},"Visibility",0.85,"","gte",{"verdict":137,"rating":158,"evaluated_at":138,"generated_at":138,"source":159,"confidence":160,"visibility":163,"parameters":164,"models_passed":5,"models_total":121},"Poor","precomputed",{"level":161,"value":162},"High",100,{"score":154,"rating":133,"confidence":133},[165,166,171,174,179],{"name":148,"value":149,"label":133,"unit":151,"favourable":142,"score":36,"optimal_max":150,"marginal_max":36},{"name":167,"value":168,"label":133,"unit":169,"favourable":142,"score":36,"optimal_max":170,"marginal_max":113},"Swell Period",11.95,"s",8,{"name":141,"value":172,"label":133,"unit":145,"favourable":142,"score":36,"optimal_max":144,"marginal_max":173},11.624163200000002,15,{"name":175,"value":176,"label":133,"unit":177,"favourable":142,"score":5,"optimal_max":121,"marginal_max":178},"Precipitation",27.2,"mm",20,{"name":180,"value":133,"label":181,"unit":155,"favourable":142,"score":36,"optimal_max":133,"marginal_max":133},"Tidal Phase","flood",[183],{"id":184,"image_url":13,"sort_order":5,"is_primary":185,"moderation_status":186,"license":187,"license_url":188,"attribution":189,"author_name":190},"978422b1-a5ee-4a12-bd25-04d5a086b093",true,"approved","CC BY-SA 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby-sa\u002F4.0\u002F","Photo by Njway2","Njway2",{"display_name":192},"Daniel","unverified",1791009141662]