[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":221},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-sawtell-island-rocky-reef":9,"spot-seo-sawtell-island-rocky-reef":187},{"entries":4,"total":5,"period":6,"type":7,"generated_at":8},[],0,"all_time","reports","2026-10-03T06:32:05.526386Z",{"id":10,"name":11,"slug":12,"latitude":13,"longitude":14,"description":15,"difficulty":16,"image_url":17,"status":18,"tide_constituents":19,"hazard_entries":70,"access_info_structured":113,"area_boundary":75,"routes":75,"created_at":123,"updated_at":124,"today_conditions":125,"today_verdict_view":148,"images":175,"submitted_by":183,"region_name":185,"verification_status":186,"verified_at":75,"disputed":138,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":75},"8078cceb-0544-45f2-bbb5-27d204c02516","Sawtell Island (rocky reef)","sawtell-island-rocky-reef",-30.367947,153.099501,"Sawtell Island is a low rocky reef rising just off the southern end of Sawtell Beach, sheltering the calm, shallow waters of Sailors Bay. This natural breakwater creates an ideal snorkeling playground where beginners can explore abundant rock pools in safety while more experienced snorkelers venture around the island's edge into deeper water. The reef's rocky shelves and gutters host a variety of marine life, and its proximity to shore makes it one of the North Coast's most accessible family-friendly snorkeling destinations. With golden sand stretching to Bonville Headland and the ocean pool nearby, it's a snorkeling spot that rewards every skill level.","beginner","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_sawtell-island-rocky-reef_1_556e3f76c02c.jpg","published",{"name":20,"amplitude":36,"phase":52,"latitude":13,"model":68,"epoch":69},[21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35],"2N2","J1","K1","K2","M2","M4","MF","MM","N2","O1","P1","Q1","S1","S2","T2",[37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51],0.030231031162135172,0.010290195956658133,0.1836260748811382,0.03034170623825693,0.5321336347642787,0.0034082720384775423,0.0034528663952923815,0.004221764748909751,0.11172305658489046,0.09600275208344942,0.05667522676548673,0.01903435166437405,0.01408953293725355,0.1359162100842811,0.007761272872987109,[53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67],290.7621929082268,359.4435822825069,341.6977531489764,290.02676293647147,302.7940740173632,301.40839335918946,193.29957403412158,353.52698590627034,295.7273413418975,314.72652037305585,341.0075990851734,279.8306471069171,319.8338882697451,314.5280600925784,340.77093237462884,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[71,76,81,85,88,91,94,97,100,103,106,110],{"name":72,"description":73,"severity":74,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Unpatrolled beach","Sawtell Island & Bay are not patrolled by lifeguards or surf club. Swim with caution and never alone.","warning",null,{"name":77,"description":78,"severity":74,"season_start":79,"season_end":80},"Rip currents at Island","Strong permanent rip can run near the island's edge, especially on outgoing tide or during southerly swells.",6,8,{"name":82,"description":83,"severity":84,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Sharp rock platform","The island and surrounding reefs have sharp, vertically aligned sedimentary rock strata. Wear reef shoes to avoid cuts.","caution",{"name":86,"description":87,"severity":84,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Variable water clarity","Visibility can be poor after rain or during northerly winds. Best on calm, clear days with light south-westerly breezes.",{"name":89,"description":90,"severity":74,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Rip Currents","Occasional rip currents can develop along the beach, especially near the surf zone. Swim between the red and yellow flags during patrol hours.",{"name":92,"description":93,"severity":84,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Surf Waves","Sawtell Main Beach is a popular surf beach with breaking waves that can be challenging for weak swimmers.",{"name":95,"description":96,"severity":84,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Marine Stingers","Bluebottles (Portuguese man o' war) and occasional jellyfish may be present, particularly during warmer months.",{"name":98,"description":99,"severity":84,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Sharp rocks at entry\u002Fexit","The jump-off rocks near the island are sharp, vertically aligned strata — take care when entering or exiting the water, especially at low tide.",{"name":101,"description":102,"severity":74,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Strong permanent rip near rock pool","A strong permanent rip runs out past the nearby Sawtell Memorial Rock Pool; stay well clear of this area when snorkeling in the bay.",{"name":104,"description":105,"severity":84,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"Sharp rocks","Vertically aligned strata\u002Fsharp rock shelves at entry and exit points around the island — wear booties or reef shoes.",{"name":107,"description":108,"severity":84,"season_start":109,"season_end":80},"Southerly swell","Heavy south swells (common in winter) can create strong surge around the island, best in south-westerly winds.",5,{"name":111,"description":112,"severity":74,"season_start":75,"season_end":75},"No lifeguard patrol","Sawtell Island and Bay are unpatrolled — snorkel with a buddy and assess conditions before entering.",{"directions":114,"parking":115,"facilities":116,"fees":121,"access_method":122},"Located at the southern end of Sawtell Beach, approximately 10 km south of Coffs Harbour. From the Pacific Highway, take the Sawtell exit and follow First Avenue south to the beachfront. The island is visible from shore and accessible by wading or swimming from the southern end of the beach near Sailors Bay.","Parking available at the Sawtell Beach reserve and near Bonville Headland. A nominal fee applies at the Boambee Creek Reserve parking area. Showers available nearby.",[117,118,119,120],"parking","showers","toilets","picnic_tables","Parking fees may apply at the reserve car park.","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:55:45.237928Z","2026-08-04T05:34:24.990697Z",{"verdict":126,"evaluated_at":127,"models":128},"go","2026-10-03T02:17:57.826881Z",[129,136,142],{"model_name":130,"is_favourable":131,"value":132,"threshold":133,"unit":134,"operator":135},"Wind Speed",true,2.61,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":137,"is_favourable":138,"value":139,"threshold":140,"unit":141,"operator":135},"Wave Height",false,0.526,0.5,"m",{"model_name":143,"is_favourable":131,"value":144,"threshold":145,"unit":146,"operator":147},"Visibility",2.16,2,"","gte",{"verdict":126,"rating":149,"evaluated_at":127,"generated_at":127,"source":150,"confidence":151,"visibility":154,"parameters":155,"models_passed":163,"models_total":109},"Good","precomputed",{"level":152,"value":153},"High",100,{"score":144,"rating":75,"confidence":75},[156,159,165,168,172],{"name":137,"value":157,"label":75,"unit":141,"favourable":138,"score":158,"optimal_max":140,"marginal_max":158},0.5263346405831112,1,{"name":160,"value":161,"label":75,"unit":162,"favourable":131,"score":163,"optimal_max":80,"marginal_max":164},"Swell Period",6.3,"s",3,12,{"name":130,"value":166,"label":75,"unit":134,"favourable":131,"score":163,"optimal_max":133,"marginal_max":167},2.6080253401983966,15,{"name":169,"value":5,"label":75,"unit":170,"favourable":131,"score":163,"optimal_max":109,"marginal_max":171},"Precipitation","mm",20,{"name":173,"value":75,"label":174,"unit":146,"favourable":138,"score":158,"optimal_max":75,"marginal_max":75},"Tidal Phase","flood",[176],{"id":177,"image_url":17,"sort_order":158,"is_primary":131,"moderation_status":178,"license":179,"license_url":180,"attribution":181,"author_name":182},"e3e3a70f-2fd8-4c03-ae30-3d54a086affe","approved","CC BY 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby\u002F4.0\u002F","Photo by M. Nimbs","M. Nimbs",{"display_name":184},"Daniel","New South Wales","unverified",{"title":188,"description":189,"canonical_url":190,"og_image":17,"structured_data":191,"breadcrumbs":214},"Snorkeling Conditions at Sawtell Island (rocky reef) - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Sawtell Island (rocky reef), New South Wales. Good conditions, water 21.7°C, waves 0.53m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fsawtell-island-rocky-reef",[192,201],{"@context":193,"@type":194,"name":11,"description":195,"url":190,"geo":196,"address":198},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Sawtell Island is a low rocky reef rising just off the southern end of Sawtell Beach, sheltering the calm, shallow waters of Sailors Bay. This natural breakwater creates an ideal snorkeling playgro...",{"@type":197,"latitude":13,"longitude":14},"GeoCoordinates",{"@type":199,"addressRegion":185,"addressCountry":200},"PostalAddress","Australia",{"@context":193,"@type":202,"name":203,"description":189,"url":190,"breadcrumb":204},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Sawtell Island (rocky reef)",{"@context":193,"@type":205,"itemListElement":206},"BreadcrumbList",[207,211,213],{"@type":208,"position":158,"name":209,"item":210},"ListItem","Home","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com",{"@type":208,"position":145,"name":185,"item":212},"https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"@type":208,"position":163,"name":11,"item":190},[215,217,219],{"label":209,"href":216},"\u002F",{"label":185,"href":218},"\u002Fexplore?region=new-south-wales",{"label":11,"href":220},"\u002Fspots\u002Fsawtell-island-rocky-reef",1791009192865]