[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":192},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-mackay-reef":9,"spot-mackay-reef":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 - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Mackay Reef, Queensland. Excellent conditions, water 25.5°C, waves 0.04m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fmackay-reef","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fog-default.png",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Mackay Reef","Mackay Reef is an outer-edge Great Barrier Reef site off Cape York, where the Coral Sea meets the reef in a spectacular explosion of marine life. Located roughly 50–60 km northeast of Port Douglas,...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-10.689094,142.531639,{"@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",{"@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",{"id":52,"name":18,"slug":53,"latitude":22,"longitude":23,"description":54,"difficulty":55,"image_url":56,"status":57,"tide_constituents":58,"hazard_entries":109,"access_info_structured":128,"area_boundary":56,"routes":56,"created_at":135,"updated_at":136,"today_conditions":137,"today_verdict_view":158,"images":188,"submitted_by":189,"region_name":26,"verification_status":191,"verified_at":56,"disputed":186,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":56},"3aaee589-7f29-410b-94d2-15221ecf0c3e","mackay-reef","Mackay Reef is an outer-edge Great Barrier Reef site off Cape York, where the Coral Sea meets the reef in a spectacular explosion of marine life. Located roughly 50–60 km northeast of Port Douglas, this offshore cay and surrounding reef platform boast crystal-clear visibility (15–25 m), vibrant coral gardens, giant electric-blue clams, and schooling reef fish. Being an outer reef, it escapes the murky river runoff that affects inshore spots, offering pristine snorkelling conditions. The reef's structure — bommies, coral ledges, and sandy patches — shelters everything from tiny nudibranchs and blennies to reef sharks, eagle rays, and coral trout, making every snorkel session feel like exploring a living, breathing aquarium.","intermediate",null,"published",{"name":59,"amplitude":75,"phase":91,"latitude":22,"model":107,"epoch":108},[60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74],"2N2","J1","K1","K2","M2","M4","MF","MM","N2","O1","P1","Q1","S1","S2","T2",[76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],0.036974709254489806,0.027435562946742945,0.4986218866409692,0.16629352183798074,0.8114664991262117,0.04813527335240532,0.00593096505136956,0.0029146955187179884,0.282341501506668,0.22825243692495542,0.14054888544287142,0.04680053254661652,0.02259766557301956,0.49495498943663196,0.03600761587886511,[92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106],53.604903380764,121.7004743952967,58.08254628763074,49.29923605194827,77.53384247420831,52.27677352511958,116.21796429537687,315.5770821258003,58.78582916024047,12.687286359961748,61.7152435092504,345.4289575888938,232.84392850998654,50.22486213407395,177.71566352535945,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[110,114,118,121,124],{"name":111,"description":112,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Ocean currents","The outer reef can experience strong ocean currents, particularly around channels and bommies. Snorkellers should stay with their group and follow guide instructions.","warning",{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":117,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Cyclone season (Wet season storms)","November to April is cyclone season in Far North Queensland. Tours may be cancelled, and sea conditions can become dangerous quickly.","danger",{"name":119,"description":120,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Marine stingers","Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in tropical Queensland waters. Tour operators typically provide stinger suits during the wet season.",{"name":122,"description":123,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Camouflaged venomous marine life","Spine-venomous stonefish, scorpionfish, and blue-spotted stingrays lie camouflaged on the sandy bottom. Watch where you step or kneel.",{"name":125,"description":126,"severity":127,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Open ocean crossing (seasickness)","The 50-60 km boat ride across open Coral Sea water can be very rough. Passengers prone to seasickness should take medication 30-60 minutes before departure.","caution",{"directions":129,"parking":130,"facilities":131,"fees":133,"access_method":134},"Mackay Reef is located approximately 50-60 km northeast of Port Douglas in the outer Great Barrier Reef. Access is exclusively by high-speed catamaran or eco-catamaran tour departing from Cairns (approx. 90 min) or Port Douglas (approx. 60-75 min). Some tours also depart from Cape Tribulation. No public ferry service exists.","Paid parking available at Reef Marina, Port Douglas or at Cairns departure points. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. No on-site parking at the reef itself (open ocean). Parking is located at the departure marinas only.",[132],"toilets","Outer reef day trips typically cost AUD $180–$260 per adult, including snorkel equipment, lunch, and reef taxes. Park fees (EMC) are usually included in tour price.","snorkel_tour","2026-07-27T02:54:16.736408Z","2026-08-04T05:32:31.002299Z",{"verdict":138,"evaluated_at":139,"models":140},"go","2026-10-03T02:16:25.653460Z",[141,148,153],{"model_name":142,"is_favourable":143,"value":144,"threshold":145,"unit":146,"operator":147},"Wind Speed",true,4.37,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":149,"is_favourable":143,"value":150,"threshold":151,"unit":152,"operator":147},"Wave Height",0.036,0.5,"m",{"model_name":154,"is_favourable":143,"value":155,"threshold":40,"unit":156,"operator":157},"Visibility",2.3,"","gte",{"verdict":138,"rating":159,"evaluated_at":139,"generated_at":139,"source":160,"confidence":161,"visibility":164,"parameters":165,"models_passed":187,"models_total":181},"Excellent","precomputed",{"level":162,"value":163},"High",100,{"score":155,"rating":56,"confidence":56},[166,168,174,177,183],{"name":149,"value":167,"label":56,"unit":152,"favourable":143,"score":43,"optimal_max":151,"marginal_max":36},0.03636330543758574,{"name":169,"value":170,"label":56,"unit":171,"favourable":143,"score":43,"optimal_max":172,"marginal_max":173},"Swell Period",3.15,"s",8,12,{"name":142,"value":175,"label":56,"unit":146,"favourable":143,"score":43,"optimal_max":145,"marginal_max":176},4.37434012711829,15,{"name":178,"value":179,"label":56,"unit":180,"favourable":143,"score":43,"optimal_max":181,"marginal_max":182},"Precipitation",0.6,"mm",5,20,{"name":184,"value":56,"label":185,"unit":156,"favourable":186,"score":36,"optimal_max":56,"marginal_max":56},"Tidal Phase","flood",false,4,[],{"display_name":190},"Daniel","unverified",1791009170621]