Barrier Reef Snorkelling Trip from Cairns?
Discussion
Haven’t done a reef trip from Cairns for a while, but have from Port Douglas a few times, but there are a few things to think about…
How long do you want to spend on the boat? A trip to the Outer Reef could be 1.5-2 hours each way
How big a group do you want to be with? For example, the best known is probably Quiksilver but their groups are often in the order of 100+ and whilst well-organised, it all feels a bit ‘processed’
How strong swimmers are you all? Some of the spots are v sheltered, within a netted area, others are more open and subject to local currents (Low Isles, when I had to go sprint-swimming to catch PBJnr3 who was just 8 at the time and got caught in a drift…!)
My pref would be a smaller group going to the Inner Reef. From Cairns maybe look at one of the trips to Green Island and go by sail to make it part of the trip?
How long do you want to spend on the boat? A trip to the Outer Reef could be 1.5-2 hours each way
How big a group do you want to be with? For example, the best known is probably Quiksilver but their groups are often in the order of 100+ and whilst well-organised, it all feels a bit ‘processed’
How strong swimmers are you all? Some of the spots are v sheltered, within a netted area, others are more open and subject to local currents (Low Isles, when I had to go sprint-swimming to catch PBJnr3 who was just 8 at the time and got caught in a drift…!)
My pref would be a smaller group going to the Inner Reef. From Cairns maybe look at one of the trips to Green Island and go by sail to make it part of the trip?
No practical advice to offer, but wanted to say you really really should get it organised.
We went to aus as a family when I was young (nearly 30 years ago), and snorkeling on the great barrier reef has stuck with me as a brilliant childhood memory.
We had two days, one was very calm, and the second rougher. I'm not sure if that was because we went to different places though. My sister couldn't swim on the second day as she was younger.
We went to aus as a family when I was young (nearly 30 years ago), and snorkeling on the great barrier reef has stuck with me as a brilliant childhood memory.
We had two days, one was very calm, and the second rougher. I'm not sure if that was because we went to different places though. My sister couldn't swim on the second day as she was younger.
We did this last year from Port Douglas.
We went with one of the larger operators (Quicksilver) that have a pontoon on one of the reefs. They provide all of the gear (snorkal, wetsuit, flippers etc) and lifeguards were doing a brisk trade in pulling drowning Chineese tourists out of the water!
As the poster said above, it was very well organised and professional, but a lot of people.
If you are a novice or not the strongest swimmer, this might be the way to go, but as you can imagine, there are lots of people so getting your flippers on and getting into the water was a pain but once in you could paddle around in peace.
The water was quite choppy and there was a strong current when I was there.
If going again, I'd try to do it in a smaller group/operator if possible.
But it is a must-do if you are in the area. Bucket list ticked off.
ETA: We also did a helicopter trip out over reefs a couple of days before we went.
We went with one of the larger operators (Quicksilver) that have a pontoon on one of the reefs. They provide all of the gear (snorkal, wetsuit, flippers etc) and lifeguards were doing a brisk trade in pulling drowning Chineese tourists out of the water!
As the poster said above, it was very well organised and professional, but a lot of people.
If you are a novice or not the strongest swimmer, this might be the way to go, but as you can imagine, there are lots of people so getting your flippers on and getting into the water was a pain but once in you could paddle around in peace.
The water was quite choppy and there was a strong current when I was there.
If going again, I'd try to do it in a smaller group/operator if possible.
But it is a must-do if you are in the area. Bucket list ticked off.
ETA: We also did a helicopter trip out over reefs a couple of days before we went.
Edited by gamefreaks on Monday 21st July 00:22
Update - we (five of us) went with a smaller operator, Ocean Free, from Cairns. Schooner with 16 or 17 customers on board that day, it anchors up close enough to Green Island for an excursion onto dry land if you wish.
Coral Sea wasn’t the glassy millpond it is in some of the pics, so journey back fully under sail felt a bit Jack-Sparrow-Isla-de-la-Muertaish at times (added to the trip!). Saw lots of stuff including a reef shark whilst snorkelling, and swam near turtles off the Green Island beach.
Food was good - my sister and niece had asked for vegetarian / vegan options and these were clearly done with care.
Glad we went with them rather than the “industrial scale” operators from Cairns.
Highlight of the trip - we stayed two nights in Cairns in super budget accommodation that was fine. The tank museum there is also great - they had stuff on display that Bovington doesn’t.
Coral Sea wasn’t the glassy millpond it is in some of the pics, so journey back fully under sail felt a bit Jack-Sparrow-Isla-de-la-Muertaish at times (added to the trip!). Saw lots of stuff including a reef shark whilst snorkelling, and swam near turtles off the Green Island beach.
Food was good - my sister and niece had asked for vegetarian / vegan options and these were clearly done with care.
Glad we went with them rather than the “industrial scale” operators from Cairns.
Highlight of the trip - we stayed two nights in Cairns in super budget accommodation that was fine. The tank museum there is also great - they had stuff on display that Bovington doesn’t.
Thought I’d update this thread as we’ve recently done a Reef trip from Port Douglas. We went with Wavelength, and it was prob my best GBR experience.
Group size was approx 35 and we went to 3 different snorkelling sites in the day, mostly towards the outer reef.
But it was the relaxed yet knowledgeable and helpful crew that set it apart. At each site they gave us a briefing as to the local coral topography and what to expect where, and then simply left us to it.
Crew were in the water with us the whole time to help or answer questions and they just blasted the horn when it was time to get in. Food was a bit light, but good quality - maybe take some of your own.
Suitable for all but better swimmers or those more confident with snorkels would get more out of it as you were basically out in the ocean.
And saw my first white-tipped Reef Shark too
Group size was approx 35 and we went to 3 different snorkelling sites in the day, mostly towards the outer reef.
But it was the relaxed yet knowledgeable and helpful crew that set it apart. At each site they gave us a briefing as to the local coral topography and what to expect where, and then simply left us to it.
Crew were in the water with us the whole time to help or answer questions and they just blasted the horn when it was time to get in. Food was a bit light, but good quality - maybe take some of your own.
Suitable for all but better swimmers or those more confident with snorkels would get more out of it as you were basically out in the ocean.
And saw my first white-tipped Reef Shark too
I've been fortunate enough to travel most of Australias coastline. (It was 25 years ago though !).Did a boat trip as most do from the Queensland coast with the masses for an hour or so in the water.
What I find astonishing is most people still don't know about the Ningaloo reef on the Cape Range peninsula in WA (Exmouth being the largest sizeable town).
The reef there is stunning and 100m from the beach !
I must have spent weeks exploring it - couldn't get enough and you do it for free and at your leisure.
Yes it's geographically out on a limb but you can take in other sights along the way - WA was my favourite state in the end. Can only think the Aussies prefer it as one of their hidden gems.
What I find astonishing is most people still don't know about the Ningaloo reef on the Cape Range peninsula in WA (Exmouth being the largest sizeable town).
The reef there is stunning and 100m from the beach !
I must have spent weeks exploring it - couldn't get enough and you do it for free and at your leisure.
Yes it's geographically out on a limb but you can take in other sights along the way - WA was my favourite state in the end. Can only think the Aussies prefer it as one of their hidden gems.
.....and coincidentally we took our trip the other day too!
From Port Douglas we went with ABC reef tours - originally booked for a small group (12 pers) we turned up to a much bigger boat than expected with now 24 people swimming.
I was a bit taken aback and gave them a bit of space to see if they managed things well. The key thing was that my wife is not confident in open water like that and I wanted a small group so she didn't feel lost in loads of swimmers.
The team were actually very good and looked after her very well, to the extent that the second swim was done with one of the group leaders. The groups were six people and each lead managed them very well so we didn't feel crowded in the water.
The run out to the reef was over an hour and both swims were around rudder reef with the boat moored up for the duration of the swims. The food was great, plenty of information and updates of what we would expect to see.
The second swim was far better from a viewing perspective. From a turtle, to sharks, clownfish, parrot fish etc, etc. we had an absolute blast.
I don't know much about reefs and marine biology, but after the media coverage in the UK of the bleached coral, my perception was that there was much more colour than I expected.
From Port Douglas we went with ABC reef tours - originally booked for a small group (12 pers) we turned up to a much bigger boat than expected with now 24 people swimming.
I was a bit taken aback and gave them a bit of space to see if they managed things well. The key thing was that my wife is not confident in open water like that and I wanted a small group so she didn't feel lost in loads of swimmers.
The team were actually very good and looked after her very well, to the extent that the second swim was done with one of the group leaders. The groups were six people and each lead managed them very well so we didn't feel crowded in the water.
The run out to the reef was over an hour and both swims were around rudder reef with the boat moored up for the duration of the swims. The food was great, plenty of information and updates of what we would expect to see.
The second swim was far better from a viewing perspective. From a turtle, to sharks, clownfish, parrot fish etc, etc. we had an absolute blast.
I don't know much about reefs and marine biology, but after the media coverage in the UK of the bleached coral, my perception was that there was much more colour than I expected.
Ranger 6 said:
.....and coincidentally we took our trip the other day too!
From Port Douglas we went with ABC reef tours - originally booked for a small group (12 pers) we turned up to a much bigger boat than expected with now 24 people swimming.
If it was anytime over Christmas/Boxing Day then we probably passed each other on the street… From Port Douglas we went with ABC reef tours - originally booked for a small group (12 pers) we turned up to a much bigger boat than expected with now 24 people swimming.
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