Snake Pit is a world-famous submerged patch reef perched between Ribbon Reef #10 and Lizard Island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Named for its resident population of olive sea snakes, this site features two large coral bommies rising from the deep, surrounded by drop-offs, sand flats, and vibrant coral gardens. The shallow reef tops are accessible to snorkellers, offering encounters with sea snakes, reef sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, and an astonishing array of reef fish. The clear tropical waters and remote ribbon reef setting make it a bucket-list spot for adventurous snorkellers.
Snake Pit
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.3 mSwell Period 5.9 sWind Speed 9.9 knPrecipitation 2.1 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Tidal currents
Strong tidal currents can sweep through the Ribbon Reefs, especially around the bommies and drop-offs.
Moderate risk: Remote location
Liveaboard-only access means remote location with no immediate emergency services or re-supply.
Low risk: Olive sea snake encounters
Olive sea snakes are venomous but generally non-aggressive; they may approach snorkellers out of curiosity. Do not touch or provoke.
Low risk: Exposed ocean conditions
The reef is exposed to the Coral Sea; wind-driven chop and swell can reduce visibility and make conditions challenging.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Accessible only by boat. Located in the Ribbon Reefs, roughly halfway between Cod Hole and Lizard Island, about 260 km north of Cairns. Most visitors reach Snake Pit via liveaboard dive trips or day charters from Lizard Island or Cairns/Port Douglas.
Parking & facilities
No parking — access is via boat only. Liveaboard vessels depart from Cairns or Port Douglas marinas with long-term parking available.
Accessible as part of liveaboard or charter tour packages; no standalone entry fee.
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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