Just 3 km from Great Keppel Island, Conical Island is a tiny, off-grid snorkeling paradise in the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Large coral bommies rise from shallow sandy flats within easy swimming distance of the beach, hosting vibrant hard and soft corals. This isolated, boat-accessed drop-off spot offers castaway-style snorkeling with fringing reef teeming with marine life — an intimate escape for self-sufficient adventurers seeking pristine conditions away from crowds.
Conical (snorkel spot)
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 3.3 sWind Speed 1.0 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Strong tidal currents
Keppel Bay experiences significant tidal flow that can create strong currents around the island's bommies and reef edges, especially during outgoing tides.
Moderate risk: Remote island isolation
No facilities, no drinking water, no phone reception, and no emergency services on the island. Self-sufficiency and carrying a communication device are essential.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Access is by boat only and the narrow channels around the island see marine traffic; snorkelers must stay vigilant near the approach zones.
Low risk: Sharp coral and bommies
Large coral bommies close to shore can be sharp; contact can cause cuts and damage to marine life. Snorkelers should wear protective footwear and maintain buoyancy control.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Conical Island is located approximately 3 km from Great Keppel Island, about 15 km east of Rosslyn Bay Harbour, Yeppoon. Access is by private boat or water taxi (Freedom Fast Cats, Keppel Explorer, or Keppel Dive & Snorkel) from Rosslyn Bay. No ferry service directly to Conical; water taxi or private vessel required.
Parking & facilities
Park at Rosslyn Bay Harbour car park (free, limited spaces). No parking on Conical Island itself.
picnic_tables
Camping permit required (single site, max 6 people). Water taxi fees vary — contact local operators. No entry fee for day-use snorkeling, but transport costs apply.
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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