Marsh Shoal is a submerged rocky reef located roughly 2 km offshore from Korora, in the Solitary Islands Marine Park on the North Coast of NSW. Popular with divers and experienced snorkelers, the site features a series of bommies and ledges in the 12–25 m depth range, where the East Australian Current brings clear, nutrient-rich water teeming with pelagic life. The reef structure supports colourful soft coral, sponge gardens, and large schools of fish, making it one of the more dramatic offshore snorkel experiences in the Coffs Harbour region.
Marsh Shoal
AdvancedMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.8 mSwell Period 6.5 sWind Speed 12 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Marsh Shoal has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Deep Water danger
Depths range from 12 to 25 metres, making this site unsuitable for beginner snorkelers and requiring good buoyancy control.
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Deep Water
Depths range from 12 to 25 metres, making this site unsuitable for beginner snorkelers and requiring good buoyancy control.
Moderate risk: Strong Currents
The East Australian Current can produce strong currents over the reef, requiring good fitness and experience.
Moderate risk: Boat Traffic
Marsh Shoal is an offshore reef accessed by boat; vessel traffic in the area poses a hazard for snorkelers at the surface.
Low risk: Ocean Swell
Exposed offshore location means ocean swells can create challenging conditions, especially in winter and spring.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Marsh Shoal lies approximately 2 km offshore from Korora Beach, near Coffs Harbour. Access is by private boat or via local dive charter operators such as Jetty Dive, who run trips to the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Launch from Coffs Harbour or Korora boat ramps.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at Korora Beach carpark or Coffs Harbour boat ramp facilities.
parkingtoilets
No direct entry fee, but charter costs apply if using a tour operator. Solitary Islands Marine Park has standard NSW marine park regulations.
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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