[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":187},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-shoal-bay":9,"spot-shoal-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 Shoal Bay - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Shoal Bay, New South Wales. Fair conditions, waves 0.00m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fshoal-bay","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_shoal-bay_0_24f49fcbc6da.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Shoal Bay","Sheltered within the azure waters of Port Stephens and set against the dramatic backdrop of Tomaree Headland, Shoal Bay is a stunning 2.5 km crescent of calm, aquamarine water perfect for snorkeler...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-31.915249,152.488263,{"@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 Shoal 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\u002Fshoal-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":117,"area_boundary":113,"routes":113,"created_at":128,"updated_at":129,"today_conditions":130,"today_verdict_view":150,"images":176,"submitted_by":184,"region_name":26,"verification_status":186,"verified_at":113,"disputed":159,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":113},"7ec81478-0825-4a32-9a08-0ae9a2e42cbf","shoal-bay","Sheltered within the azure waters of Port Stephens and set against the dramatic backdrop of Tomaree Headland, Shoal Bay is a stunning 2.5 km crescent of calm, aquamarine water perfect for snorkelers of all levels. The extensive seagrass meadows near the shore teem with life — search for cuttlefish, pipefish, seahorses, and flathead hiding in the shallows. Snorkel around the historic jetty to see small schooling fish, or paddle further out for stingrays, dolphins, and the occasional resident fairy penguin. The calm conditions, gentle entry, and easy access from the sandy beach make this one of the most family-friendly snorkeling spots on the NSW Mid North Coast.","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],0.02165244486404198,0.009419871219684262,0.17660535882548511,0.03854055015623685,0.5224729173092107,0.006466993114467888,0.002051605610694112,0.005008366903711326,0.10718522129402008,0.09568831276012495,0.054375936800471536,0.022917905862323076,0.012114161216997129,0.1286311652504465,0.00619310885130681,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],274.1483874867712,3.0561100737256766,334.8628484216377,311.3397835181233,304.59596449629464,324.71196631671756,130.70697118165344,218.27872488631886,297.0095557454762,305.55069376811184,329.9663046001039,259.9181647542256,351.00578659754905,318.28995953177764,311.9078071312164,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic near jetty","The Shoal Bay jetty area sees regular boat and kayak traffic. Snorkelers should stay aware and avoid the immediate jetty approach zone.","caution",null,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":112,"season_start":113,"season_end":113},"Shallow seagrass areas","Extensive seagrass meadows extend from the shore. Snorkelers can scrape knees or elbows on hidden sandbars and grass in very low tide.",{"directions":118,"parking":119,"facilities":120,"fees":126,"access_method":127},"Shoal Bay is a 2 hr 45 min drive north of Sydney via the M1 and Pacific Highway, then take the Nelson Bay Road. From Newcastle Airport, it's a 40-minute drive northeast. Public buses connect Shoal Bay with Nelson Bay and surrounding towns. The main beach stretches along Shoal Bay Road with multiple access points.","Street parking is available along Shoal Bay Road and nearby side streets. Several small public car parks are located near the beach reserve and the jetty area.",[121,122,123,124,125],"toilets","parking","picnic_tables","drinking_water","showers","Free entry. No fees for beach access.","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:55:54.102759Z","2026-08-04T05:34:24.990681Z",{"verdict":131,"evaluated_at":132,"models":133},"marginal","2026-10-03T02:17:53.690901Z",[134,141,145],{"model_name":135,"is_favourable":136,"value":137,"threshold":138,"unit":139,"operator":140},"Wind Speed",true,1.76,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":142,"is_favourable":136,"value":5,"threshold":143,"unit":144,"operator":140},"Wave Height",0.5,"m",{"model_name":146,"is_favourable":136,"value":147,"threshold":40,"unit":148,"operator":149},"Visibility",2.76,"","gte",{"verdict":131,"rating":151,"evaluated_at":132,"generated_at":132,"source":152,"confidence":153,"visibility":156,"parameters":157,"models_passed":43,"models_total":171},"Fair","precomputed",{"level":154,"value":155},"Medium",75,{"score":147,"rating":113,"confidence":113},[158,160,165,168,173],{"name":142,"value":5,"label":113,"unit":144,"favourable":159,"score":36,"optimal_max":143,"marginal_max":36},false,{"name":161,"value":5,"label":113,"unit":162,"favourable":159,"score":36,"optimal_max":163,"marginal_max":164},"Swell Period","s",8,12,{"name":135,"value":166,"label":113,"unit":139,"favourable":136,"score":43,"optimal_max":138,"marginal_max":167},1.7591752,15,{"name":169,"value":5,"label":113,"unit":170,"favourable":136,"score":43,"optimal_max":171,"marginal_max":172},"Precipitation","mm",5,20,{"name":174,"value":113,"label":175,"unit":148,"favourable":136,"score":43,"optimal_max":113,"marginal_max":113},"Tidal Phase","slack",[177],{"id":178,"image_url":13,"sort_order":5,"is_primary":136,"moderation_status":179,"license":180,"license_url":181,"attribution":182,"author_name":183},"b1f7ba88-ba5a-4ec9-8543-ff3ff56b0dd0","approved","CC BY-SA 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby-sa\u002F4.0\u002F","Photo by Lkos8608","Lkos8608",{"display_name":185},"Daniel","unverified",1791009196816]