[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":195},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-mackay-reef-mackay-coral-cay":9,"spot-mackay-reef-mackay-coral-cay":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 Mackay Reef (Mackay Coral Cay) - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Mackay Reef (Mackay Coral Cay), Queensland. Excellent conditions, water 24.4°C, waves 0.17m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fmackay-reef-mackay-coral-cay","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_mackay-reef-mackay-coral-cay_0_0ea509e9137b.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Mackay Reef (Mackay Coral Cay)","Mackay Reef (Mackay Coral Cay) is a pristine sand cay on the outer Great Barrier Reef, roughly 38 km northeast of Port Douglas. This remote paradise is surrounded by crystal-clear, warm waters teem...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-16.028,145.672,{"@type":25,"addressRegion":26,"addressCountry":27},"PostalAddress","Queensland","Australia",{"@context":16,"@type":29,"name":30,"description":11,"url":12,"breadcrumb":31},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Mackay Reef (Mackay Coral Cay)",{"@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=queensland",{"@type":35,"position":43,"name":18,"item":12},3,[45,47,49],{"label":37,"href":46},"\u002F",{"label":26,"href":48},"\u002Fexplore?region=queensland",{"label":18,"href":50},"\u002Fspots\u002Fmackay-reef-mackay-coral-cay",{"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":125,"area_boundary":134,"routes":134,"created_at":135,"updated_at":136,"today_conditions":137,"today_verdict_view":157,"images":185,"submitted_by":192,"region_name":26,"verification_status":194,"verified_at":134,"disputed":183,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":134},"15dfb8dd-7d69-4885-acda-6508c9522931","mackay-reef-mackay-coral-cay","Mackay Reef (Mackay Coral Cay) is a pristine sand cay on the outer Great Barrier Reef, roughly 38 km northeast of Port Douglas. This remote paradise is surrounded by crystal-clear, warm waters teeming with vibrant coral gardens, making it a world-class snorkeling destination. Unlike many inner reef sites, this cay sits on the reef's northern frontier, offering exceptional visibility and an untouched, wild beauty. A small white sandy island emerges at low tide, providing a postcard-perfect tropical setting where you can swim directly from the cay into kaleidoscopic coral formations.","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],0.02676203915796308,0.02280628643602343,0.31092505487680405,0.09233006950387043,0.527731957149143,0.0019627492793419157,0.010051999112910024,0.011075544805292898,0.18085241747695552,0.14860287309511377,0.09173156079641424,0.02512078656593731,0.012932349578366885,0.3187589369014998,0.02408742410568931,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],323.4262277471243,50.84938689284258,41.04354129918077,299.324488070241,344.6642016292874,169.5809756668508,12.408862756900335,46.45378277171057,329.21185505240453,10.42890633753274,36.209590850557554,0.22955146345362756,352.4935158591452,304.7228382160017,289.1270742376866,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114,119,122],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Strong currents on outer reef","The outer reef location can experience strong tidal currents. Snorkel tours guide guests to protected areas near the cay where conditions are calmer.","caution",12,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":117,"season_start":118,"season_end":113},"Marine stingers (box jellyfish)","Box jellyfish and Irukandji are present in these waters during the warmer months (October to May).","warning",10,{"name":120,"description":121,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Sun exposure","Intense tropical sun with limited shade on the open sand cay. High UV index year-round.",{"name":123,"description":124,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Coral cuts and scrapes","Sharp coral formations are abundant. Touching or standing on coral can cause injury and damages the reef.",{"directions":126,"parking":127,"facilities":128,"fees":132,"access_method":133},"Located approximately 38 km northeast of Port Douglas, Queensland. Access is exclusively by boat tour — operators depart from Port Douglas Marina (Sailaway, Ocean Safari, and others). From Cairns, drive north on the Captain Cook Highway (~1 hour) to Port Douglas.","Paid parking available at Port Douglas Marina and surrounding streets. Arrive early for best availability.",[129,130,131],"toilets","parking","showers","Day tours range from approximately AUD $180–$310 per adult, including snorkel gear, guided snorkeling, and lunch. 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