Best Mermaid Beach Snorkeling

South of Gold Coast, the snorkelling at Mermaid Beach offers a good snorkel dive, if you hit the surf conditions right. During Gold Coast snorkeling, you may encounter stingrays and nurse sharks along the sand flats. Keep in mind there isn't any coral or reefs to be found from Gold Coast beach-accessed snorkeling dives.

While most people recommend April and May, the surf can still be quite high for beach-accessed Gold Coast snorkeling spots. The best time of year for snorkeling at Mermaid Beach is really from August to October when the surf is low and the visibility is higher. However, the water temperature is cooler, so you may want to wear a thick dive top for warmth.

Overall, Mermaid Beach is the 7th most popular snorkel dive spot of all 43 snorkeling dives in Queensland. Several of the better snorkeling spots are nearby Mermaid Beach including Cook Island Aquatic Reserve, Gold Coast Seaway, Kirra Reef, Wave Break Island, Spiral Beach and Palm Beach Reef.