[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":210},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-sandbox-dive-site":9,"spot-sandbox-dive-site":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 Sandbox (dive site) - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Sandbox (dive site), Queensland. Good conditions, water 24.9°C, waves 0.18m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fsandbox-dive-site","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","Sandbox (dive site)","Sandbox is a wonderfully diverse snorkel site perched on the edge of a channel along Opal Reef, part of the outer Great Barrier Reef. Its name comes from the sandy patches that lead from deeper wat...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-16.250239,145.320634,{"@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 Sandbox (dive site)",{"@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\u002Fsandbox-dive-site",{"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":150,"area_boundary":56,"routes":56,"created_at":156,"updated_at":157,"today_conditions":158,"today_verdict_view":180,"images":206,"submitted_by":207,"region_name":26,"verification_status":209,"verified_at":56,"disputed":176,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":56},"08168cc4-b5fb-48cb-a3e3-4c106a2ed2f1","sandbox-dive-site","Sandbox is a wonderfully diverse snorkel site perched on the edge of a channel along Opal Reef, part of the outer Great Barrier Reef. Its name comes from the sandy patches that lead from deeper water up into shallow coral gardens. Snorkelers can explore a stunning transition from deep boulder corals to vast fields of branching staghorn coral, all teeming with giant clams. On calm days, confident swimmers can venture to deeper offshore bommies where schooling red bass, trevally, and barracuda patrol the blue. The mix of pelagic and reef species, plus the protective crescent shape of Opal Reef, makes this a must-visit outer reef site.","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],0.028063963646090453,0.02306626698935355,0.31211167093610054,0.09784965388023448,0.5452642395764483,0.0028570888515189134,0.010064787979032867,0.011022772649730936,0.18635369970374144,0.14842385489307353,0.09143329093583769,0.025351461864862725,0.014359950088228116,0.32992791606327754,0.023495836543780565,[92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106],324.8110734442317,50.315883530551616,41.42724576093155,300.4594332490388,345.62127624812035,197.2380287902136,10.936001966992052,45.84010995036517,329.8274215002556,10.914450478919663,35.829987418303006,359.00546989537355,356.4123469010448,305.1305344630195,291.2428358971614,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[110,114,119,123,126,129,132,135,138,141,144,147],{"name":111,"description":112,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Tidal current","Sandbox sits beside a channel; tidal currents can be moderate to strong, particularly on changing tides, requiring reasonable swimming ability.","caution",{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":113,"season_start":117,"season_end":118},"Wind chop and swell","The reef is exposed to the Coral Sea; southeasterly trade winds (June–August) can create choppy surface conditions and reduce visibility.",6,8,{"name":120,"description":121,"severity":122,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Marine stingers","Stingers (box jellyfish and irukandji) are present in tropical Queensland waters, especially during the warmer months.","warning",{"name":124,"description":125,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Shallow coral bommies","Coral heads and bommies are shallow in parts; snorkellers must be mindful of contact to avoid injury and protect the reef.",{"name":127,"description":128,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Tidal currents","The site is on the outer reef where tidal flows can be strong, especially during ebb tide. Snorkelers should stay close to the tour group.",{"name":130,"description":131,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Sharp coral","Sharp coral formations hazardous to bare skin; reef-safe sun protection and rash guards recommended.",{"name":133,"description":134,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Channel Current","Strong currents can develop along the channel edge, particularly during tidal changes. This site is on the edge of a channel and current can be significant.",{"name":136,"description":137,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Wind and Choppy Conditions","The outer reef can experience sudden wind increases and choppy conditions, especially in the afternoon sea breeze.",{"name":139,"description":140,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Offshore Bommie Hazards","When swimming to deeper offshore bommies, snorkelers may encounter stronger currents and boat traffic.",{"name":142,"description":143,"severity":122,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Strong reef currents","Strong currents can sweep along the outer eastern wall, particularly at the northern tip (Shark City).",{"name":145,"description":146,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Remote location","The site is remote — the nearest medical facility is in Port Douglas, a significant boat ride away.",{"name":148,"description":149,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Deep water (to 30 m)","Depths reach 30 metres, requiring good buoyancy control and dive experience.",{"directions":151,"parking":152,"facilities":153,"fees":56,"access_method":155},"Sandbox is located on Opal Reef, approximately 30 nautical miles (55 km) off the coast of Port Douglas, north of Cairns. Access is exclusively via full-day snorkel and dive tours departing from Cairns or Port Douglas marinas. The journey takes about 1.5 hours each way.","Long-term parking available at Port Douglas marina (fee applies) or at the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns (paid parking nearby). Tour operators typically provide secure parking options at their check-in locations in Port Douglas or Cairns.",[154],"toilets","snorkel_tour","2026-07-27T02:56:39.482304Z","2026-08-04T05:30:44.786406Z",{"verdict":159,"evaluated_at":160,"models":161},"go","2026-10-03T04:15:05.763445Z",[162,169,174],{"model_name":163,"is_favourable":164,"value":165,"threshold":166,"unit":167,"operator":168},"Wind Speed",true,6.25,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":170,"is_favourable":164,"value":171,"threshold":172,"unit":173,"operator":168},"Wave Height",0.18,0.5,"m",{"model_name":175,"is_favourable":176,"value":177,"threshold":40,"unit":178,"operator":179},"Visibility",false,0.99,"","gte",{"verdict":159,"rating":181,"evaluated_at":160,"generated_at":160,"source":182,"confidence":183,"visibility":186,"parameters":187,"models_passed":43,"models_total":201},"Good","precomputed",{"level":184,"value":185},"High",85,{"score":177,"rating":56,"confidence":56},[188,189,194,197,203],{"name":170,"value":171,"label":56,"unit":173,"favourable":164,"score":43,"optimal_max":172,"marginal_max":36},{"name":190,"value":191,"label":56,"unit":192,"favourable":164,"score":43,"optimal_max":118,"marginal_max":193},"Swell Period",3.2,"s",12,{"name":163,"value":195,"label":56,"unit":167,"favourable":164,"score":43,"optimal_max":166,"marginal_max":196},6.2494456,15,{"name":198,"value":199,"label":56,"unit":200,"favourable":176,"score":36,"optimal_max":201,"marginal_max":202},"Precipitation",14.3,"mm",5,20,{"name":204,"value":56,"label":205,"unit":178,"favourable":176,"score":36,"optimal_max":56,"marginal_max":56},"Tidal Phase","flood",[],{"display_name":208},"Daniel","unverified",1791009192337]