[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":211},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-swansea-channel":9,"spot-swansea-channel":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 Swansea Channel - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Swansea Channel, New South Wales. Excellent conditions, water 20.2°C, waves 0.38m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fswansea-channel","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_swansea-channel_0_b1a041c45725.jpg",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Swansea Channel","Swansea Channel is the dynamic tidal passage connecting Lake Macquarie to the Pacific Ocean at Swansea, NSW. This unique snorkeling site offers underwater explorers the chance to drift along the ch...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-33.076828,151.640291,{"@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 Swansea Channel",{"@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\u002Fswansea-channel",{"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":132,"area_boundary":125,"routes":125,"created_at":140,"updated_at":141,"today_conditions":142,"today_verdict_view":163,"images":191,"submitted_by":208,"region_name":26,"verification_status":210,"verified_at":125,"disputed":189,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":125},"af9079b2-6981-4887-a8ee-1a1036685b17","swansea-channel","Swansea Channel is the dynamic tidal passage connecting Lake Macquarie to the Pacific Ocean at Swansea, NSW. This unique snorkeling site offers underwater explorers the chance to drift along the channel beneath the historic Swansea Bridge, where abandoned shopping trolleys and pushbikes on the sandy bottom have become artificial reef structures teeming with life. The bridge pylons host colonies of decorator crabs, pineapple fish, large blue eels, fan-bellied leatherjackets, and dazzling nudibranchs. Drift diving on an incoming tide carries snorkelers under the bridge spans from the RSL side into the lake — a thrilling ride past encrusted pillars and curious marine life.","advanced","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],0.019271541441144877,0.011795053459147213,0.16168113801745532,0.037411633818358006,0.5058025936733677,0.0072193394459548095,0.0017451742298796847,0.002456837768501326,0.1108958661235863,0.0926253309358248,0.049138034750613215,0.019597175337549,0.014671869003379114,0.1239355497040404,0.006883748171131809,[91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105],278.51490686857414,4.440043911817867,328.40965230560306,317.8063642711972,306.54445603888934,271.1130057510039,203.52775607581725,107.94792901398472,297.3610308221421,298.80359867060196,325.83578176408923,265.563099709046,313.97820287829916,315.17484106976497,261.1995838202067,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[109,114,118,121,126,129],{"name":110,"description":111,"severity":112,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Strong tidal currents","Swansea Channel experiences powerful tidal flows as Lake Macquarie drains and fills. Drift dives are best on incoming tides, but currents can be hazardous for inexperienced snorkelers.","danger",12,{"name":115,"description":116,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Boat traffic","The channel is a busy navigation route for boats entering and leaving Lake Macquarie. Snorkelers must be vigilant and stay aware of vessel movements.","warning",{"name":119,"description":120,"severity":117,"season_start":36,"season_end":113},"Tidal timing risk","Slack water is essential for safe snorkeling; misjudging the tide can result in being swept out to sea or into the lake. Only snorkel during calm, slack conditions.",{"name":122,"description":123,"severity":124,"season_start":125,"season_end":125},"Poor visibility after rain","Heavy rainfall in the days prior can reduce visibility to 1–2 m. Ideal conditions see 10 m vis.","caution",null,{"name":127,"description":128,"severity":117,"season_start":125,"season_end":125},"Disorientation under bridge","Navigating between the bridge pylons can be disorienting. Snorkelers must keep track of their position relative to the exit point to avoid surfacing in traffic.",{"name":130,"description":131,"severity":124,"season_start":125,"season_end":125},"Sharp debris & underwater obstacles","Shopping trolleys, old pylons, pipes, and dumped gravel on the seabed present entanglement and injury hazards.",{"directions":133,"parking":134,"facilities":135,"fees":138,"access_method":139},"From Sydney, drive 1hr 45min north on the M1 Pacific Motorway to the Swansea exit. Cross the Swansea Bridge and park near the Swansea RSL Club or along Pacific Highway. Enter the water from the shore near the RSL club or the western boat ramp on the channel.","Free parking available near Swansea RSL Club and along the Pacific Highway adjacent to the channel.",[136,137],"parking","toilets","Free public access.","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:55:25.133922Z","2026-08-04T05:36:16.070351Z",{"verdict":143,"evaluated_at":144,"models":145},"go","2026-10-03T02:16:20.378279Z",[146,153,158],{"model_name":147,"is_favourable":148,"value":149,"threshold":150,"unit":151,"operator":152},"Wind Speed",true,7.53,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":154,"is_favourable":148,"value":155,"threshold":156,"unit":157,"operator":152},"Wave Height",0.38,0.5,"m",{"model_name":159,"is_favourable":148,"value":160,"threshold":40,"unit":161,"operator":162},"Visibility",2.22,"","gte",{"verdict":143,"rating":164,"evaluated_at":144,"generated_at":144,"source":165,"confidence":166,"visibility":169,"parameters":170,"models_passed":190,"models_total":184},"Excellent","precomputed",{"level":167,"value":168},"High",100,{"score":160,"rating":125,"confidence":125},[171,172,177,180,186],{"name":154,"value":155,"label":125,"unit":157,"favourable":148,"score":43,"optimal_max":156,"marginal_max":36},{"name":173,"value":174,"label":125,"unit":175,"favourable":148,"score":43,"optimal_max":176,"marginal_max":113},"Swell Period",6.4,"s",8,{"name":147,"value":178,"label":125,"unit":151,"favourable":148,"score":43,"optimal_max":150,"marginal_max":179},7.53238,15,{"name":181,"value":182,"label":125,"unit":183,"favourable":148,"score":43,"optimal_max":184,"marginal_max":185},"Precipitation",1.7,"mm",5,20,{"name":187,"value":125,"label":188,"unit":161,"favourable":189,"score":36,"optimal_max":125,"marginal_max":125},"Tidal Phase","flood",false,4,[192,198,201],{"id":193,"image_url":13,"sort_order":5,"is_primary":148,"moderation_status":194,"license":195,"license_url":125,"attribution":196,"author_name":197},"c2bb89f5-0ac3-49a6-b27a-fdf7cb4d350d","approved","CC0","Photo by JaredMcKenzie","JaredMcKenzie",{"id":199,"image_url":200,"sort_order":36,"is_primary":189,"moderation_status":194,"license":195,"license_url":125,"attribution":196,"author_name":197},"e78317c9-3b77-43de-baae-e5ab03810f56","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_swansea-channel_1_7078ddb0f5d6.jpg",{"id":202,"image_url":203,"sort_order":40,"is_primary":189,"moderation_status":194,"license":204,"license_url":205,"attribution":206,"author_name":207},"75ce9277-edfe-4911-9946-ac9b6f8ba713","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.syd1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fspots\u002Fimport_swansea-channel_2_cd2737b5a4e4.jpg","CC BY-SA 2.0","https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby-sa\u002F2.0\u002F","Photo by Tim J Keegan from Lake Macquarie, Australia","Tim J Keegan",{"display_name":209},"Daniel","unverified",1791009201293]