[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":225},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-pipeline-nelson-bay":9,"spot-pipeline-nelson-bay":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 Pipeline (Nelson Bay) - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Pipeline (Nelson Bay), New South Wales. Good conditions, water 20.2°C, waves 0.06m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fpipeline-nelson-bay","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_pipeline-nelson-bay_0_43ce58104bed.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Pipeline (Nelson Bay)","Nelson Bay is the heart of Port Stephens' snorkeling scene, anchored by the Fly Point – Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve. This protected sanctuary boasts one of the most extensive sponge gardens on the...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-32.7208,152.1414,{"@type":25,"addressRegion":26,"addressCountry":27},"PostalAddress","New South Wales","Australia",{"@context":16,"@type":29,"name":30,"description":11,"url":12,"breadcrumb":31},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Pipeline (Nelson Bay)",{"@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=new-south-wales",{"@type":35,"position":43,"name":18,"item":12},3,[45,47,49],{"label":37,"href":46},"\u002F",{"label":26,"href":48},"\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"label":18,"href":50},"\u002Fspots\u002Fpipeline-nelson-bay",{"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":146,"area_boundary":113,"routes":113,"created_at":154,"updated_at":155,"today_conditions":156,"today_verdict_view":177,"images":204,"submitted_by":222,"region_name":26,"verification_status":224,"verified_at":113,"disputed":191,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":113},"8d719405-5808-46fe-acff-fdfb9d57b15b","pipeline-nelson-bay","Nelson Bay is the heart of Port Stephens' snorkeling scene, anchored by the Fly Point – Halifax Park Aquatic Reserve. This protected sanctuary boasts one of the most extensive sponge gardens on the NSW east coast, alongside soft corals, kelp forests, and seagrass beds teeming with fish. Snorkelers enter via a staircase at Neil Carroll Park on Victoria Parade, entering calm, sheltered waters between Nelson Bay and Little Beach. The rocky reef shelves offer easy shore access, rewarding visitors with frequent sightings of wobbegong sharks, seahorses, and rays amid crystal-clear conditions.","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],0.019220368864133277,0.011278195373741366,0.16539647762262946,0.037711054597581735,0.5101448766780321,0.006386386618604276,0.0008098005951443133,0.002359310008389263,0.10746789634732881,0.0912469337945883,0.05045629798786269,0.021816933984235995,0.012253686003577149,0.1274583124617867,0.010145057549813428,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],279.1608636431632,6.8645330195831775,329.61930447514476,315.5248621182004,305.9388246672368,299.756280195749,125.83389838223313,207.31006196960925,299.2660592972368,298.69108207305675,324.5346762709469,260.84302646143766,312.3384180192388,316.1291933170821,295.29668122996253,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114,117,120,123,127,130,134,137,140,143],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic in channel","Fly Point is adjacent to the Port Stephens shipping channel; boat traffic can be present, especially near the boundary of the aquatic reserve.","caution",null,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Strong tidal currents","Tidal flows through the Port Stephens estuary can create moderate currents around the point, particularly on outgoing tides.",{"name":118,"description":119,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Bluebottles","Bluebottles (Physalia physalis) can drift into the bay during onshore winds, typically in warmer months.",{"name":121,"description":122,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Slippery entry rocks","The rock stairs and submerged rocks at the entry point are notoriously slippery and require careful footing when entering or exiting.",{"name":124,"description":125,"severity":126,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Slack water required","This is a slack-water dive site; strong currents can develop outside of slack tide, especially around tide changes.","warning",{"name":128,"description":129,"severity":126,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic near marina","The site is adjacent to the marina breakwall. Boats and jet skis operate in the vicinity — stay aware and close to the marked dive area.",{"name":131,"description":132,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":133},"Low tide restriction","Diving on low tide is not recommended due to very shallow water reducing clearance over the reef and increasing the risk of contact with hazards.",12,{"name":135,"description":136,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":133},"Rocky shoreline entry","The entry point has a rocky bottom and shoreline — water shoes or booties recommended for safe footing.",{"name":138,"description":139,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic","The bay is busy with recreational and tour boats, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Use caution and stay within the aquatic reserve boundary.",{"name":141,"description":142,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic near breakwall","The breakwall is adjacent to the Nelson Bay marina and boat channel; stay vigilant for vessel traffic entering and leaving the harbour.",{"name":144,"description":145,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Sharp rocks and barnacles","The breakwall structure is covered in sharp barnacles and rock oysters; sturdy footwear or booties recommended for entry and exit.",{"directions":147,"parking":148,"facilities":149,"fees":152,"access_method":153},"From Nelson Bay town centre, head towards d'Albora Marina and drive to the end of the marina road. Park in the car park near the breakwall. Walk past the fish co-op building and follow the path down to a set of rock stairs leading into the water. A small breakwall at the water's edge serves as a handy platform to sit on while putting on fins.","Car park available at the end of d'Albora Marina near the breakwall. Can fill up quickly on weekends and holidays — arrive early.",[150,151],"parking","toilets","Free public access. No entry fee.","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:55:26.415397Z","2026-08-04T05:34:24.990762Z",{"verdict":157,"evaluated_at":158,"models":159},"go","2026-10-03T02:18:13.679276Z",[160,167,172],{"model_name":161,"is_favourable":162,"value":163,"threshold":164,"unit":165,"operator":166},"Wind Speed",true,1.01,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":168,"is_favourable":162,"value":169,"threshold":170,"unit":171,"operator":166},"Wave Height",0.056,0.5,"m",{"model_name":173,"is_favourable":162,"value":174,"threshold":40,"unit":175,"operator":176},"Visibility",2.46,"","gte",{"verdict":157,"rating":178,"evaluated_at":158,"generated_at":158,"source":179,"confidence":180,"visibility":183,"parameters":184,"models_passed":43,"models_total":199},"Good","precomputed",{"level":181,"value":182},"High",100,{"score":174,"rating":113,"confidence":113},[185,187,193,196,201],{"name":168,"value":186,"label":113,"unit":171,"favourable":162,"score":43,"optimal_max":170,"marginal_max":36},0.05600000000000001,{"name":188,"value":189,"label":113,"unit":190,"favourable":191,"score":36,"optimal_max":192,"marginal_max":133},"Swell Period",10.1,"s",false,8,{"name":161,"value":194,"label":113,"unit":165,"favourable":162,"score":43,"optimal_max":164,"marginal_max":195},1.0146798553413026,15,{"name":197,"value":170,"label":113,"unit":198,"favourable":162,"score":43,"optimal_max":199,"marginal_max":200},"Precipitation","mm",5,20,{"name":202,"value":113,"label":203,"unit":175,"favourable":191,"score":36,"optimal_max":113,"marginal_max":113},"Tidal Phase","flood",[205,211,216],{"id":206,"image_url":13,"sort_order":5,"is_primary":162,"moderation_status":207,"license":208,"license_url":113,"attribution":209,"author_name":210},"c916b76c-eacd-4c4a-af30-5abdec0a38c3","approved","CC BY 2.0","Photo by happysnapper 2","happysnapper 2",{"id":212,"image_url":213,"sort_order":36,"is_primary":191,"moderation_status":207,"license":208,"license_url":113,"attribution":214,"author_name":215},"c9205a91-450b-4dd2-8d35-112285f2bba0","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_pipeline-nelson-bay_1_3c921503e619.jpg","Photo by Pavel from Sydney, AU","Pavel from Sydney, AU",{"id":217,"image_url":218,"sort_order":40,"is_primary":191,"moderation_status":207,"license":219,"license_url":113,"attribution":220,"author_name":221},"2ea33d5c-cb01-4a33-8bcb-22ee9f72e276","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_pipeline-nelson-bay_2_6baed988de82.jpg","CC BY-SA 3.0","Photo by Urville86","Urville86",{"display_name":223},"Daniel","unverified",1791009184970]