[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":150},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-hayden-s-rock":9,"spot-seo-hayden-s-rock":115},{"entries":4,"total":5,"period":6,"type":7,"generated_at":8},[],0,"all_time","reports","2026-10-03T06:32:05.526386Z",{"id":10,"name":11,"slug":12,"latitude":13,"longitude":14,"description":15,"difficulty":16,"image_url":17,"status":18,"tide_constituents":17,"hazard_entries":19,"access_info_structured":52,"area_boundary":17,"routes":17,"created_at":60,"updated_at":61,"today_conditions":62,"today_verdict_view":83,"images":110,"submitted_by":111,"region_name":113,"verification_status":114,"verified_at":17,"disputed":92,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":17},"e2c2470f-8e82-49cc-bdc3-0974e39800e4","Hayden's Rock","hayden-s-rock",-32.275,152.225,"Hayden's Rock is a renowned offshore reef dive and snorkel site off Pebbly Beach near Forster, NSW, lying within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park. This submerged rocky outcrop rises from sandy seafloor and is famous for its crystal-clear visibility (often exceeding 30 metres) and resident grey nurse sharks — a critically endangered species that congregates here year-round. The site features low-relief gutters, bommies, and swim-throughs encrusted with colourful sponges, sea fans, and gorgonians. A must-visit for snorkellers comfortable with open-water boat access, Hayden's Rock offers exhilarating drift-style viewing of large pelagics, wobbegongs, Port Jackson sharks, and schools of kingfish in a dramatic, current-swept setting.","intermediate",null,"published",[20,24,27,31,34,39,42,46,49],{"name":21,"description":22,"severity":23,"season_start":17,"season_end":17},"Tidal Currents","Hayden's Rock is subject to moderate to strong tidal currents that can sweep snorkellers away from the reef. Snorkelling is best done on slack tide or with a guide.","warning",{"name":25,"description":26,"severity":23,"season_start":17,"season_end":17},"Deep Open Ocean Site","Open ocean site with no nearby shore; boat access only. Snorkellers must be comfortable in deep water with no land in sight.",{"name":28,"description":29,"severity":30,"season_start":17,"season_end":17},"Swell Exposure","Exposed to southerly and easterly swells; seas can build quickly. Choppy conditions reduce visibility and make boat operations difficult.","caution",{"name":32,"description":33,"severity":30,"season_start":17,"season_end":17},"Large Shark Encounters","Sharks including grey nurse (critically endangered), wobbegongs, and Port Jackson sharks are common. While generally not aggressive to snorkellers, their presence requires calm, respectful behaviour.",{"name":35,"description":36,"severity":23,"season_start":37,"season_end":38},"Boat traffic","Bait Grounds is a popular fishing and diving location with regular boat traffic in the area. Snorkellers must be vigilant of vessels fishing the grounds.",1,12,{"name":40,"description":41,"severity":23,"season_start":37,"season_end":38},"Ocean currents","Offshore reef currents can be strong and unpredictable, particularly during changing tides around the Port Stephens marine area.",{"name":43,"description":44,"severity":45,"season_start":37,"season_end":38},"Limited shore access","This is an offshore site requiring boat access only; no land-based entry is possible, and the nearest shore is a significant distance away.","danger",{"name":47,"description":48,"severity":23,"season_start":37,"season_end":38},"Depth","The site is located in deeper offshore waters (typically 15-25m), making it unsuitable for novice snorkellers and requiring strong swimming ability and confidence in deep water.",{"name":50,"description":51,"severity":23,"season_start":17,"season_end":17},"Swell and surge","The shoals are open to ocean swells. Surge over the reef can push snorkelers into rocky bommies.",{"directions":53,"parking":54,"facilities":55,"fees":58,"access_method":59},"Hayden's Rock is located off Pebbly Beach in the Forster area of NSW's Mid North Coast. It is accessible by boat, typically departing from Fisherman's Wharf in Forster with local dive operators such as Dive Forster or Forster Dive Centre.","Parking available near Fisherman's Wharf or at Pebbly Beach carpark.",[56,57],"parking","toilets","No direct fee for the site itself, but boat access via local dive\u002Fsnorkel charter operators requires a trip fee.","boat","2026-07-27T02:55:32.564983Z","2026-07-27T02:55:32.564987Z",{"verdict":63,"evaluated_at":64,"models":65},"marginal","2026-10-03T02:20:46.079007Z",[66,73,77],{"model_name":67,"is_favourable":68,"value":69,"threshold":70,"unit":71,"operator":72},"Wind Speed",true,1.08,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":74,"is_favourable":68,"value":5,"threshold":75,"unit":76,"operator":72},"Wave Height",0.5,"m",{"model_name":78,"is_favourable":68,"value":79,"threshold":80,"unit":81,"operator":82},"Visibility",2.46,2,"","gte",{"verdict":63,"rating":84,"evaluated_at":64,"generated_at":64,"source":85,"confidence":86,"visibility":89,"parameters":90,"models_passed":80,"models_total":105},"Fair","precomputed",{"level":87,"value":88},"Medium",75,{"score":79,"rating":17,"confidence":17},[91,93,97,101,107],{"name":74,"value":5,"label":17,"unit":76,"favourable":92,"score":37,"optimal_max":75,"marginal_max":37},false,{"name":94,"value":5,"label":17,"unit":95,"favourable":92,"score":37,"optimal_max":96,"marginal_max":38},"Swell Period","s",8,{"name":67,"value":98,"label":17,"unit":71,"favourable":68,"score":99,"optimal_max":70,"marginal_max":100},1.0788312000000002,3,15,{"name":102,"value":103,"label":17,"unit":104,"favourable":68,"score":99,"optimal_max":105,"marginal_max":106},"Precipitation",0.3,"mm",5,20,{"name":108,"value":17,"label":109,"unit":81,"favourable":92,"score":37,"optimal_max":17,"marginal_max":17},"Tidal Phase","unknown",[],{"display_name":112},"Daniel","New South Wales","unverified",{"title":116,"description":117,"canonical_url":118,"og_image":119,"structured_data":120,"breadcrumbs":143},"Snorkeling Conditions at Hayden's Rock - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Hayden's Rock, New South Wales. Fair conditions, waves 0.00m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fhayden-s-rock","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fog-default.png",[121,130],{"@context":122,"@type":123,"name":11,"description":124,"url":118,"geo":125,"address":127},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Hayden's Rock is a renowned offshore reef dive and snorkel site off Pebbly Beach near Forster, NSW, lying within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park. This submerged rocky outcrop rises from s...",{"@type":126,"latitude":13,"longitude":14},"GeoCoordinates",{"@type":128,"addressRegion":113,"addressCountry":129},"PostalAddress","Australia",{"@context":122,"@type":131,"name":132,"description":117,"url":118,"breadcrumb":133},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Hayden's Rock",{"@context":122,"@type":134,"itemListElement":135},"BreadcrumbList",[136,140,142],{"@type":137,"position":37,"name":138,"item":139},"ListItem","Home","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com",{"@type":137,"position":80,"name":113,"item":141},"https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"@type":137,"position":99,"name":11,"item":118},[144,146,148],{"label":138,"href":145},"\u002F",{"label":113,"href":147},"\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"label":11,"href":149},"\u002Fspots\u002Fhayden-s-rock",1791009159172]