Merrick Rock is a submerged rocky reef rising to just 3.7m below the surface, located about 1 nautical mile east of St Helens Point on Tasmania's northeast coast. This exposed offshore site offers adventurous snorkelers a temperate marine experience over boulder-and-reef terrain, where the kelp zone (Durvillaea) is compressed into shallow depths by wave energy. The crystal-clear waters attract baitfish and bluefin tuna that chase them — a thrilling sight for those who brave the currents here.
Merrick Rock
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 6.6 sWind Speed 11 knPrecipitation 3.9 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Merrick Rock has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Strong ocean currents danger
Merrick Rock lies exposed to open ocean currents off St Helens Point, with local tidal streams that can be powerful and unpredictable.
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Strong ocean currents
Merrick Rock lies exposed to open ocean currents off St Helens Point, with local tidal streams that can be powerful and unpredictable.
Moderate risk: Offshore location
Located 1 nautical mile from shore — requires boat access and is far from immediate help.
Low risk: Cold temperate water
Tasmanian east coast waters are cold year-round, requiring a thick wetsuit (5-7mm) for comfortable snorkeling.
Low risk: Boat traffic
The rock is marked with a buoy and lies in a sailing route — vessel traffic is common in the area.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Merrick Rock is located approximately 1 nautical mile east of St Helens Point, near Binalong Bay. Access is by boat only — launch from St Helens or Binalong Bay boat ramps. The rock is shallow (3.7m depth) and marked by a buoy about 1.5 miles southeast of the rock.
Parking & facilities
Park at the Binalong Bay boat ramp or St Helens marina parking areas.
parkingboat_ramp
No fee for the spot itself, but boat hire/fuel 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