Snorkel Trails | MagneticIsland Guide

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Magnetic Island Snorkel Trails

Before you start, please help to protect our reef and DO NOT stand on the coral or hold onto the subsurface numbered floats.

1. Nelly Bay Snorkel Trail  

2. Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail 

Surface floats 

Follow the yellow surface floats (SF) that outline the trail and offer flotation for snorkelers to rest.

 Inner yellow buoys show where the snorkel trails start and finish and are close to the shore and very safe.

Outer yellow buoys further out to sea (and fringing Magnetic Island) are the baited shark lines. DO NOT swim up to the outer yellow buoys.

What will you see?

Magnetic Island Snorkel Trail Card.jpg

Nelly Bay Snorkel Trail

The Nelly Bay Snorkel Trail starts approximately 100m off the beach near Nomads/Island Burger and turns left from the beach to follow the reef closest to shore. Follow these five yellow surface floats (SF) that outline the trail and offer flotation for snorkelers to rest.

Nelly Bay Snorkel Trail Map.jpg

The Nelly Bay Trail offers easy access from the beach and a great swim for beginners. There is a great selection of corals at Nelly Bay including Lettuce Coral, Cauliflower Coral, Boulder Coral and Staghorn Coral.

Nelly Bay Snorkel Trail

Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail

The Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail starts approximately 390m from the beach opposite Hotel Arcadia (parallel with the old barge ramp).

Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail Map.jpg

The Geoffrey Bay Trail offers a good selection of fish to see around the Moltke wreck. For stronger swimmers the WWII aeroplane propeller and engine block (from a CW-22B Curtiss Falcon) also is a great adventure.

Geoffrey Bay Snorkel Trail

Safety advice

We strongly advise you wear stinger suits between the months of November to April as stingers (marine jellyfish) are usually present. If you are stung, wash with vinegar and seek medical attention immediately.
Do not use the snorkel trails in strong winds and rough sea conditions when water visibility is poor. Water clarity is poor during and immediately after strong SE winds.
Avoid very low or high tides during new or full moon phases. Click here to  find the tide times.
Surface floats are there to delineate the trail path but also have handles for snorkelers who need a rest. Always keep an eye on the surface floats to avoid getting hit by floats in rough conditions.
Snorkeling can be strenuous activity even in calm water. If you are a novice, have a medical condition that can worsen with strenuous activity, or are over 50 years old and more prone to heart disease or stroke consider these limitations.
Please do not handle, stand on, remove, or damage the coral.
In case of emergency call 000.

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