[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":229},["ShallowReactive",2],{"leaderboard-total":3,"spot-seo-turquoise-bay-drift-the-drift":9,"spot-turquoise-bay-drift-the-drift":51},{"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":44},"Snorkeling Conditions at Turquoise Bay Drift (The Drift) - How's the Spot","Check snorkeling conditions at Turquoise Bay Drift (The Drift), Western Australia. Excellent conditions, water 23.1°C, waves 0.34m","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fspots\u002Fturquoise-bay-drift-the-drift","https:\u002F\u002Fhowsthespot.com\u002Fog-default.png",[15,28],{"@context":16,"@type":17,"name":18,"description":19,"url":12,"geo":20,"address":24},"https:\u002F\u002Fschema.org","Place","Turquoise Bay Drift (The Drift)","The Turquoise Bay Drift is one of the most celebrated shore-entry snorkels along the Ningaloo Reef, located within Cape Range National Park about 65 km south of Exmouth. Snorkellers walk north alon...",{"@type":21,"latitude":22,"longitude":23},"GeoCoordinates",-22.097856,113.88811,{"@type":25,"addressRegion":26,"addressCountry":27},"PostalAddress","Western Australia","Australia",{"@context":16,"@type":29,"name":30,"description":11,"url":12,"breadcrumb":31},"WebPage","Snorkeling Conditions at Turquoise Bay Drift (The Drift)",{"@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=western-australia",{"@type":35,"position":43,"name":18,"item":12},3,[45,47,49],{"label":37,"href":46},"\u002F",{"label":26,"href":48},"\u002Fexplore?region=western-australia",{"label":18,"href":50},"\u002Fspots\u002Fturquoise-bay-drift-the-drift",{"id":52,"name":18,"slug":53,"latitude":22,"longitude":23,"description":54,"difficulty":55,"image_url":56,"status":57,"tide_constituents":58,"hazard_entries":109,"access_info_structured":168,"area_boundary":56,"routes":56,"created_at":176,"updated_at":177,"today_conditions":178,"today_verdict_view":197,"images":225,"submitted_by":226,"region_name":26,"verification_status":228,"verified_at":56,"disputed":223,"verifier_count":5,"last_verified_display_name":56},"aaaf4fcd-4ad1-4116-9567-a02c08a82676","turquoise-bay-drift-the-drift","The Turquoise Bay Drift is one of the most celebrated shore-entry snorkels along the Ningaloo Reef, located within Cape Range National Park about 65 km south of Exmouth. Snorkellers walk north along the pristine white-sand beach, enter the calm turquoise water, and let the gentle south-to-north current carry them over sprawling coral gardens teeming with tropical fish. The reef lies 50–300 m offshore at depths of 1–5 m, offering an effortless, mesmerising float past vibrant bommies, sandy patches, and occasional turtle or ray encounters. A life-ring marker at the southern sandbar signals the strong current zone — exit well before it. This is an iconic, bucket-list drift snorkel on one of Australia's best beaches.","intermediate",null,"published",{"name":59,"amplitude":75,"phase":91,"latitude":22,"model":107,"epoch":108},[60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74],"2N2","J1","K1","K2","M2","M4","MF","MM","N2","O1","P1","Q1","S1","S2","T2",[76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],0.011153953996923415,0.01102956763611173,0.18823093856810938,0.04229673223924862,0.3224568891308591,0.000923477760143901,0.008300995536143286,0.0037464451879306647,0.06326805929976122,0.12491759882270934,0.055569603776287446,0.02927053770633094,0.014629680990187686,0.1596362756513193,0.0056898718971113435,[92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106],355.8207768486114,177.1417641007513,167.8286875416162,113.25353507103961,50.92076959531301,272.51683760485616,339.87938465258884,99.30909597712355,27.60432752609825,157.8185116311859,167.06650787195684,153.7991526494062,353.3310184850835,115.2330430699335,145.7257757182889,"EOT20","1992-01-01T00:00:00Z",[110,115,120,123,126,129,132,135,138,141,144,147,150,153,156,159,162,165],{"name":111,"description":112,"severity":113,"season_start":36,"season_end":114},"Drift Current (southern end)","The current strengthens significantly at the southern end of the bay near the sandbar. Do not swim past the life-ring post — exit before this point or you may be swept around the headland.","warning",12,{"name":116,"description":117,"severity":118,"season_start":119,"season_end":114},"Marine Stingers","Box jellyfish and other stingers may be present from October to April. Wear a full-body lycra suit or stinger suit for protection.","caution",10,{"name":121,"description":122,"severity":118,"season_start":36,"season_end":114},"Coral Cuts","Shallow coral bommies close to shore can cause scrapes and cuts. Wear reef-safe fins and avoid standing on coral.",{"name":124,"description":125,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Drift Current at Southern Sandbar","The current strengthens significantly near the southern end of the bay at the sandbar marked by a life-ring post. Snorkellers risk being swept past the safe exit point if they drift too far south.",{"name":127,"description":128,"severity":118,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Marine Stingers (Jellyfish)","Box jellyfish and other stingers may be present from October to April, particularly in warmer months. Wearing a full-body stinger suit is recommended during this period.",{"name":130,"description":131,"severity":118,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Hot Sun & Heat Exposure","Summer temperatures from November to February average 37°C, posing a risk of heat exhaustion and sunburn. Bring ample water, sunscreen, and a hat.",{"name":133,"description":134,"severity":118,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Offshore Wind (South-Westerly)","A strong south-westerly breeze can create choppy conditions and reduce visibility, making the drift less enjoyable and harder to navigate. Best snorkelled in easterly, northerly, or light winds.",{"name":136,"description":137,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Drift Current (south-to-north)","A natural current flows from south to north along the reef. Moderate to strong; not recommended for weak or inexperienced swimmers. Exit before the northern sandbar point.",{"name":139,"description":140,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Strong current at sandbar points","Currents are especially strong around the sandbar at the southernmost point of the bay loop and the northern end of the drift loop.",{"name":142,"description":143,"severity":118,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Low tide exposure","Snorkelling is best at high tide (1.2 m and above). At low tide the reef may be too shallow for safe swimming.",{"name":145,"description":146,"severity":113,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Strong drift-end current","The current intensifies sharply at the southern sandbar past the life-ring marker post, capable of sweeping snorkellers out of the sheltered zone.",{"name":148,"description":149,"severity":118,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Marine stingers (Oct–Apr)","Box jellyfish and other stingers may be present during warmer months; full-body coverage recommended.",{"name":151,"description":152,"severity":118,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Summer heat exposure (Nov–Feb)","Temperatures average 37°C from November to February with intense sun; heat stress and sunburn risk are significant.",{"name":154,"description":155,"severity":118,"season_start":56,"season_end":56},"Swell and wind chop","South-westerly winds create choppy conditions that reduce visibility and make entry\u002Fexit more difficult. Best on easterly or light-wind days.",{"name":157,"description":158,"severity":113,"season_start":36,"season_end":114},"Strong Drift Current at Southern End","The coastal current strengthens significantly near the southern sandbar at the end of the drift. Exit the water well before the life-ring marker post to avoid being swept past the safe exit point.",{"name":160,"description":161,"severity":113,"season_start":36,"season_end":114},"Outgoing tide current near sandbar point","A moderate current flows around the northern sandbar point where the two sides meet. Exit the water well before the rocky point to avoid being swept around the corner.",{"name":163,"description":164,"severity":118,"season_start":36,"season_end":114},"Shallow coral reef","Coral gardens begin within a few metres of shore. Snorkelers must be careful not to stand on or kick the fragile coral. Fins recommended for better buoyancy control.",{"name":166,"description":167,"severity":118,"season_start":36,"season_end":114},"Marine park sanctuary zone rules","Turquoise Bay lies within a sanctuary zone of Ningaloo Marine Park. No fishing, collecting, or touching marine life. Fines apply.",{"directions":169,"parking":170,"facilities":171,"fees":174,"access_method":175},"From Exmouth, head north on Murat Road and turn left onto Yardie Creek Road. Follow the sealed road into Cape Range National Park. About 20 km south of the park entry station, look for the signed turn-off to the Turquoise Bay Drift Snorkel carpark on the right.","Dedicated Drift Loop parking area at the first carpark on the access road. A second carpark is located at Turquoise Bay itself. From the drift carpark, two tracks lead to the beach: a short 50 m path or a longer 300 m dune trail.",[172,173],"parking","toilets","Cape Range National Park entry fee applies — approximately AUD $17 per standard vehicle (self-serve station at park entrance).","shore_entry","2026-07-27T02:59:31.726237Z","2026-08-04T05:36:16.070311Z",{"verdict":179,"evaluated_at":180,"models":181},"go","2026-10-02T02:21:19.472761Z",[182,188,193],{"model_name":183,"is_favourable":184,"value":185,"threshold":119,"unit":186,"operator":187},"Wind Speed",true,0.91,"kn","lte",{"model_name":189,"is_favourable":184,"value":190,"threshold":191,"unit":192,"operator":187},"Wave Height",0.341,0.5,"m",{"model_name":194,"is_favourable":184,"value":43,"threshold":40,"unit":195,"operator":196},"Visibility","","gte",{"verdict":179,"rating":198,"evaluated_at":180,"generated_at":180,"source":199,"confidence":200,"visibility":203,"parameters":204,"models_passed":224,"models_total":218},"Excellent","precomputed",{"level":201,"value":202},"High",100,{"score":43,"rating":56,"confidence":56},[205,207,212,215,220],{"name":189,"value":206,"label":56,"unit":192,"favourable":184,"score":43,"optimal_max":191,"marginal_max":36},0.34127045906611797,{"name":208,"value":209,"label":56,"unit":210,"favourable":184,"score":43,"optimal_max":211,"marginal_max":114},"Swell Period",6.15,"s",8,{"name":183,"value":213,"label":56,"unit":186,"favourable":184,"score":43,"optimal_max":119,"marginal_max":214},0.9116609600000001,15,{"name":216,"value":5,"label":56,"unit":217,"favourable":184,"score":43,"optimal_max":218,"marginal_max":219},"Precipitation","mm",5,20,{"name":221,"value":56,"label":222,"unit":195,"favourable":223,"score":36,"optimal_max":56,"marginal_max":56},"Tidal Phase","flood",false,4,[],{"display_name":227},"Daniel","unverified",1790924517055]