Pellowe Reef is a small, isolated reef perched near the edge of the Great Barrier Reef's continental shelf, about 35 nautical miles offshore from Cairns. Its exposed position means it's only accessible in ideal weather and tidal conditions, rewarding visitors with dramatic wall dives, a thrilling swim-through, and coral gardens that drop quickly to 30 metres. Being so close to the shelf edge, the reef attracts pelagic visitors alongside clouds of Chevron Barracuda, colourful Nudibranchs, and Sea Cucumbers among vibrant soft and hard corals. This is a wild, untamed slice of the outer reef that offers a more adventurous snorkel experience.
Pellowe Reef
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.2 mSwell Period 6.8 sWind Speed 7.9 knPrecipitation 2.6 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Strong tidal currents
Pellowe Reef lies near the edge of the continental shelf and can experience moderate to strong tidal flows that affect snorkelers.
Low risk: Weather-dependent access
Access to the reef is heavily dependent on calm weather and suitable tides; the reef is often skipped in poor conditions.
Low risk: Sudden depth drops
The reef drops away sharply at places to 30 metres, making depth awareness critical for snorkelers staying near the wall edge.
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Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
Located approximately 35 nautical miles (65 km) offshore from Cairns, Queensland. Accessible only via commercial day-tour or overnight charter boats departing from Cairns or Port Douglas.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at Cairns Marlin Marina or Port Douglas Marina for tour passengers.
Accessible only via paid tour operators; prices vary by operator.
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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