[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":193},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-the-potholes":9,"spot-the-potholes":45},{"entries":4,"total":5,"period":6,"type":7,"generated_at":8},[],0,"all_time","reports","2026-10-02T06:59:37.379659Z",{"title":10,"description":11,"canonical_url":12,"og_image":13,"structured_data":14,"breadcrumbs":40},"Snorkeling Conditions at The Potholes - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at The Potholes. Fair conditions, water 20.3°C, waves 1.20m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fthe-potholes","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fog-default.png",[15,27],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","The Potholes","The Potholes is a spectacular spur-and-groove reef formation at the southern end of Lord Howe Island's fringing lagoon. Named for its series of underwater canyons and channels carved perpendicular...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-31.555326,159.082121,{"@type":25,"addressCountry":26},"PostalAddress","AU",{"@context":16,"@type":28,"name":29,"description":11,"url":12,"breadcrumb":30},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at The Potholes",{"@context":16,"@type":31,"itemListElement":32},"BreadcrumbList",[33,38],{"@type":34,"position":35,"name":36,"item":37},"ListItem",1,"Home","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com",{"@type":34,"position":39,"name":18,"item":12},2,[41,43],{"label":36,"href":42},"\u002F",{"label":18,"href":44},"\u002Fspots\u002Fthe-potholes",{"id":46,"name":18,"slug":47,"latitude":22,"longitude":23,"description":48,"difficulty":49,"image_url":50,"status":51,"tide_constituents":52,"hazard_entries":103,"access_info_structured":136,"area_boundary":50,"routes":50,"created_at":140,"updated_at":141,"today_conditions":142,"today_verdict_view":164,"images":189,"submitted_by":190,"region_name":50,"verification_status":192,"verified_at":50,"disputed":155,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":50},"3cf33fa4-1c68-4c6d-9764-2e799a36549b","the-potholes","The Potholes is a spectacular spur-and-groove reef formation at the southern end of Lord Howe Island's fringing lagoon. Named for its series of underwater canyons and channels carved perpendicular to the reef edge, this unique geological feature creates a maze of coral-lined swim-throughs and lava-tube-like grooves that teem with marine life. The calm, crystal-clear lagoon waters make it one of the island's most sought-after snorkeling destinations, offering an intimate encounter with vibrant coral gardens, colourful reef fish, and the occasional Galapagos shark cruising through the deeper channels. The surreal underwater topography — described as 'Jurassic lava tubes' — makes every snorkel feel like exploring an ancient submerged world.","intermediate",null,"published",{"name":53,"amplitude":69,"phase":85,"latitude":22,"model":101,"epoch":102},[54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68],"2N2","J1","K1","K2","M2","M4","MF","MM","N2","O1","P1","Q1","S1","S2","T2",[70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84],0.02139020890158077,0.00832994611560039,0.12818413020744912,0.05326853970758121,0.5867049373281567,0.0031569944461296035,0.0042529652063358105,0.0006616723032913357,0.12184044318196505,0.0748081085024697,0.04368074951327377,0.010667994234053716,0.008820977751957244,0.16447142970769282,0.011868864891817129,[86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100],285.0615784027273,0.08377750737262722,350.29596142511787,312.9490384433955,300.87837537112864,278.9310791412805,226.06027467130664,144.1208886812324,292.44431443460024,314.8098407362694,348.43752963109443,285.302681902299,341.16609124437366,318.35915063447993,325.6392808594221,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[104,108,112,117,121,124,129,133],{"name":105,"description":106,"severity":107,"season_start":50,"season_end":50},"Tidal currents near reef edge","The Potholes are located near the outer reef edge of the lagoon where tidal currents can be strong, especially during outgoing tides. Snorkelers should be aware of water movement that could push them toward the reef.","warning",{"name":109,"description":110,"severity":111,"season_start":50,"season_end":50},"Sharp coral and rock","Sharp coral formations and rocky reef edges are present in the spur-and-groove channels. Reef shoes are strongly recommended to avoid cuts.","caution",{"name":113,"description":114,"severity":111,"season_start":115,"season_end":116},"Swell and wind conditions","The Potholes can be affected by southerly swells and wind, making conditions rough and reducing visibility, particularly in winter.",5,8,{"name":118,"description":119,"severity":111,"season_start":35,"season_end":120},"Lagoon swell surge","Swell can occasionally wrap around the reef into the lagoon, reducing visibility and creating gentle surge. Best on calm days.",3,{"name":122,"description":123,"severity":111,"season_start":50,"season_end":50},"Reef shark presence","Small Galapagos sharks and other reef sharks occasionally patrol the lagoon, but are not aggressive.",{"name":125,"description":126,"severity":111,"season_start":127,"season_end":128},"Wind chop on lagoon","The lagoon is protected behind the fringing reef, but conditions can change with wind and tide. Strong southerly winds can create choppy surface conditions on the southern lagoon.",9,11,{"name":130,"description":131,"severity":111,"season_start":35,"season_end":132},"Tidal current through reef passages","The lagoon is tidal and water flow can pick up around reef passages. Snorkelers should be aware of tidal movement when drifting over coral bommies.",12,{"name":134,"description":135,"severity":111,"season_start":50,"season_end":50},"Shallow coral bommies","Parts of the reef in the lagoon are shallow with sharp coral bommies. Snorkelers should maintain buoyancy awareness to avoid contact with fragile coral.",{"directions":137,"parking":138,"facilities":50,"fees":50,"access_method":139},"The Potholes are located at the southern end of Lord Howe Island's lagoon, near the reef edge. Access is easiest by walking from the southern beaches or by taking a short swim from shore. Many visitors access the area via guided snorkel tours that depart from Lagoon Beach.","Parking is available near the lagoon beaches on Lord Howe Island. The island is small and bicycles are the primary mode of transport; there is no dedicated parking lot at The Potholes itself, but the southern lagoon beaches are accessible via the island's road network and bike paths.","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:53:55.002325Z","2026-08-04T05:32:31.002327Z",{"verdict":143,"evaluated_at":144,"models":145},"marginal","2026-10-02T02:16:32.972839Z",[146,153,159],{"model_name":147,"is_favourable":148,"value":149,"threshold":150,"unit":151,"operator":152},"Wind Speed",true,6.3,10,"kn","lte",{"model_name":154,"is_favourable":155,"value":156,"threshold":157,"unit":158,"operator":152},"Wave Height",false,1.199,0.5,"m",{"model_name":160,"is_favourable":155,"value":161,"threshold":39,"unit":162,"operator":163},"Visibility",1.56,"","gte",{"verdict":143,"rating":165,"evaluated_at":144,"generated_at":144,"source":166,"confidence":167,"visibility":170,"parameters":171,"models_passed":120,"models_total":115},"Fair","precomputed",{"level":168,"value":169},"High",100,{"score":161,"rating":50,"confidence":50},[172,174,178,181,186],{"name":154,"value":173,"label":50,"unit":158,"favourable":155,"score":5,"optimal_max":157,"marginal_max":35},1.198664352755358,{"name":175,"value":176,"label":50,"unit":177,"favourable":148,"score":120,"optimal_max":116,"marginal_max":132},"Swell Period",7.1,"s",{"name":147,"value":179,"label":50,"unit":151,"favourable":148,"score":120,"optimal_max":150,"marginal_max":180},6.304148698005284,15,{"name":182,"value":183,"label":50,"unit":184,"favourable":148,"score":120,"optimal_max":115,"marginal_max":185},"Precipitation",1.2,"mm",20,{"name":187,"value":50,"label":188,"unit":162,"favourable":155,"score":35,"optimal_max":50,"marginal_max":50},"Tidal Phase","ebb",[],{"display_name":191},"Daniel","unverified",1790924511338]