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Snorkelling & Diving Port Douglas | Silversonic

Tour Code: 67

Departing: Port Douglas

Pickup: Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas

Dive & Snorkel Tour - 3 Reef Sites
  • State-of-the-art computerised ride control system means a smoother ride to the reef minimising seasickness
  • 5 full hours and 3 exclusive reef sites at Agincourt Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef
  • Permits for 29 diving and snorkelling reef locations ensure you see the best of the Great Barrier Reef 
  • Multi-award winning marine tour operator with a permit for swimming with Minke Whales if they approach the boat (not guaranteed)
  • Divers and snorkellers use different sections of the boat so there are no hold ups or crossovers with the passengers making for a smooth transition into the water. 

Included In Price

  • Coach pick up from Port Douglas accommodation
  • Return Silversonic cruise from Port Douglas
  • 5 hours actual reef time
  • Morning and afternoon teas
  • Hot and cold tropical smorgasbord lunch
  • Qualified lifeguards on hand
  • Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel & fins) and instruction provided. Snorkel brief at each site
  • Equipment for divers provided, including wetsuits. All dives are guided
  • Guided snorkel tour
  • Prescription masks available at no extra cost
  • Lycra suits

Your day will be spent touring the Agincourt Reefs on the iconic Outer Great Barrier Reef. Visit three stunning sites in this World Heritage area. You will be snorkelling and diving (even if you haven’t dived before) and discover a whole new underwater world.

What to Expect

Get set for an incredible day on one of the best Great Barrier Reef tours from Port Douglas on an unforgettable adventure to the Agincourt Reefs, a premium diving and snorkelling location on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Aboard a state-of-the-art luxury catamaran, you'll cruise swiftly to 3 distinct and stunning coral reef sites, handpicked for their exceptional coral formations and abundant marine life on the day. Whether you're a snorkeller, a scuba diver, or just enjoying the sea breeze, this Port Douglas diving and snorkelling tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the underwater wonders of a World Heritage-listed area with an award-winning marine tour operators the Silver Series.

Features and Highlights

Luxury Catamaran Experience

Speed and Comfort:
  • The fastest Great Barrier Reef tour boat in Port Douglas reducing travel time, maximising your time at each snorkelling and diving location. With inbuilt stabilisers the catamaran skims across the waves reducing the chances of seasickness. The boat is licenced to carry over 100 guests but chooses to carry up to only 85 guests and with the ratio of staff being one person to eight guests, you will receive the best service above and below the water. 
Amenities:
  • Enjoy spacious sundecks, a licensed bar, and comfortable lounging areas, ensuring a relaxing journey.
  • The rear platform lowers down to provide easy access into the water for both scuba divers and snorkellers without any wait time.

Snorkelling and Diving Opportunities

Guided Adventures:
Snorkelling:
  • If it's your first-time snorkelling a full snorkelling briefing will be given before you descend into the calm, clear reef waters, so don't be concerned if you have never snorkelled before or are a little rusty, and there are snorkel guides in the water to offer extra assistance.
  • You can also join a guided snorkelling tour and learn more about life on the Great Barrier Reef. 
Dive Options:
  • If you have never scuba dived before or are not a certified diver, you can still go with a trained diving instructor and experience an amazing snorkelling adventure with an introductory dive. 
  • Certified scuba divers can choose to take a guided diving tour with an experienced dive guide to one of the most amazing parts of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
  • Certified dives and introductory dives are both available, allowing everyone from beginners to experienced divers to explore the reefs, just make your choice on the booking forms.
  • Please read our scuba diving and medical requirements.

On Watch:

  • Our marine guides are there to keep an eye on everyone in the water and ensure everyone is safe and having a good time. If you are nervous just alert the crew and they will take good care of you.

Flotation Equipment:

  • The boat provides flotation equipment for younger children, older folks and those that may be a bit nervous when snorkelling.

Marine Life Encounters

Swim with Minke Whales:
  • Imagine swimming alongside inquisitive, gentle Dwarf Minke Whales! These beautiful creatures who love interactions with snorkellers in the water, visit the Great Barrier Reef during June to July. Tropical North Queensland is the only place in the world where you can snorkel and swim with these gentle giants, and this is one of only three boats in Port Douglas with a "Swim with Dwarf Minke Whale" licence. 
  • Please note: This is a rare event and not a guaranteed part of this diving and snorkelling tour, it's just a bonus if the whales choose to approach the boat and the boat captain gives the approval.
  • Humpback Whales come to the Agincourt Ribbon Reef region to calve during the months of June – August and sometimes September, dependant on the water temperatures.
  • It's a breathtaking sight when we are lucky enough to see humpback whales breaching in and out of the water as you cruise to your dive and snorkel location – a 'must-do' experience for young and old. 
  • Rich Biodiversity:
  • Each of the 3 Agincourt Great Barrier Reef sites are chosen based on the day’s conditions, promising the best underwater visibility and marine diversity possible.

Comfort and Convenience

Comprehensive Briefings:
  • Whether you choose to go diving or snorkelling, you’ll receive detailed safety briefings onboard to ensure a safe and highly enjoyable experience.

Coach Transfers Optional:

  • Choose convenient pick-ups from local accommodations in Port Douglas and Cairns on the booking form.

This Port Douglas diving and snorkelling tour is perfect for those looking to really immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and see as much of it as possible in the one day along with opportunities to relax, explore, and learn about this incredible ecosystem.

See all Great Barrier Reef tours from Port Douglas.

If you are a Non - Swimmer take a look at our Port Doulgas interactive Quicksilver pontoon tour and our list of other Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef tours that are perfect for Non - Swimmers.

Pick Up and Check-in

Return coach transfers from Port Douglas accommodation are included in your Great Barrier Reef tour price.

Check-in at Port Douglas Reef Marina is between 7.30am and 7.45am.

You'll find a delicious morning tea/breakfast waiting for you aboard your spacious catamaran along with tea and coffee which will be served until your departure. 

At 8.30am it's time to head off to enjoy five full hours on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. 

Great Barrier Reef tour boat - Luxury 29-metre catamaran

Our luxury custom-designed 29-metre catamaran will whisk you out to the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas at an amazing 32 knots.

This fabulous reef tour boat has been designed for both speed and comfort, with a computerised control ride system ensuring the vessel remains stable for a smooth ride if the weather is rough, which is just perfect for those guests who may suffer from seasickness.

You'll find plenty of room to lounge and sunbathe on the sundecks whilst sipping a drink from the licensed bar onboard, or cool off in the air-conditioned lounge areas. 

Reef Education and Guided Eco Reef Talk

Enjoy a fascinating eco presentation as you travel out to Agincourt Ribbon Reefs on the Great Barrier Reef.

You will learn that coral is a living animal, how the marine life interacts with each other and quirky facts many of the fish you will encounter on the Reef. 

Port Douglas Snorkel Tours - Great Barrier Reef Tours

A full snorkelling briefing will be given before you descend into the calm, clear reef waters, so don't be concerned if you have never snorkelled before or are a little rusty. 

There are also snorkel guides in the water to offer extra assistance and buoyancy aids are available and included in your Port Douglas snorkel tour price. 

You will never forget the experience of seeing the Great Barrier Reef underwater world unfurl below you as you look through your mask.

Guided snorkel tour

If you wish to know more about the Great Barrier Reef and it's inhabitants, you can join a guided snorkel tour group (included in the price) and learn in detail about life on the Great Barrier Reef. 

Everything is planned and organised for you, so all you have to do on the day is relax and enjoy a truly memorable experience.

Introductory Scuba Diving

Introductory scuba diving is available for beginner divers. No experience is necessary, you'll be provided with a full briefing from an experienced dive instructor who will take you through some theory and basic skills underwater. 

Your dive will be around 30 minutes and you will be taken to a shallow depth of 12m (36ft). 

The conditions on the Great Barrier Reef are perfect for first-time divers. 

With crystal clear, warm waters, no currents and, of course, loads of marine life to look at, this is the chance of a lifetime. 

Dives must be selected and pre-booked. 

Please note dive medical requirements. Enjoy up to two dives. 

Certified Scuba Diving

Here's your chance to dive the largest coral reef in the world! You'll be able to explore three stunning dive sites on this tour, some with pinnacles and bommies (coral mountains) others with walls and drop-offs, swim-throughs and amazing coral gardens. 

Your maximum depth will be a shallow 18 metres (60ft). Your experienced dive guide, who has intimate knowledge of the dive sites, will show you the best that each one has to offer.

If you have forgotten your dive certification card, no worries, for any PADI certifications this can be checked online.

Dives must be selected and pre-booked. Please note the dive medical requirements. 

Swim With Dwarf Minke Whales (June – July)

This reef trip is only one of three Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef tours with a Swim with Whales License.

Whilst this reef tour trip does have a swim with whales licence it is only conducted on rare occassions and you have to be one of the lucky one's onboard that day to experience it.

This unique whale license enables them to allow snorkellers in the water to interact with the sweet, inquisitive Dwarf Minke whales for a period of ten minutes at a time.

The Dwarf Minke whales sometimes come right up close to you so you can just about touch them. Swimming with Dwarf Minke whales is magical – don't miss this bucket list experience from June to July.

Please note the whales are on the Great Barrier Reef at different times based on the water temperatures and water currents.

Swimming with the whales is not guaranteed, it is just a bonus if it occurs at all. 

Humpback whales (June – July) 

Humpback Whales come to the Agincourt Ribbon Reef region to calve during the months of June – August and sometimes September dependant on the water temperatures.

It's a breathtaking sight to watch the humpbacks breaching in and out of the water as you cruise to your dive and snorkel location – a 'must-do' experience for young and old. 

See more swim with whales tours on the Great Barrier Reef and other Great Barrier Reef tours and out Low Isles tours from Port Douglas.

Tour Languages Offered
  • English
Departs From

Port Douglas

Departure Time

Check in 7:45am - Boarding 8:15am - Departure 8:30am - Return to Port Douglas Marina at 4:30pm

Departure Instructions

Check-in at Quicksilver’s Reservations office, Port Douglas marina for boarding passes

Pickup Locations
  • Cairns
  • Palm Cove
  • Port Douglas
Destinations
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • 3 stunning & exclusive outer edge reef locations at the renowned Agincourt Ribbon Reefs
Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Does not operate on Christmas Day
The vessel may differ to the images displayed. In such cases, we will be operating our Poseidon vessel. A tropical buffet lunch will be served as lunch and there will be freshwater showers available only”. Please call our Reservations team if you would like to confirm whether it is a Poseidon vessel or a Silversonic vessel on a particular date.

Duration

8 hours (approx.)

Available for Purchase / Hire
  • Coach transfers from Cairns to Port Douglas and Return
  • Introductory and Certified Scuba Diving - needs to be pre-booked
  • Wetsuits available for hire on board for snorkellers
  • Souvenirs, photos & underwater camera
Fitness Level Required

Medium, Active

Restrictions

Scuba Diving – minimum age 12

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

  • Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
  • Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
  • Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
  • Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Advanced Dive Medical Intro Dive Medical

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Additional Information
  • Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving. Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years. Flying after scuba diving: A wait of 12 hours is recommended but preferably 24 hours, if doing multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.
  • The vessel may differ to the images displayed. In such cases, we will be operating our Poseidon vessel. A tropical buffet lunch will be served as lunch and there will be freshwater showers available only”. Please call our Reservations team if you would like to confirm whether it is a Poseidon vessel or a Silversonic vessel on a particular date.

Your camera, swimming costume and beach towel, hat, sunscreen and shirt for sun protection, cash for drinks at the bar, credit cards for souvenirs, certification card for Certified Dives

Customer Reviews

Average Rating

Lisa M

Reviewed on October 04, 2016

We had the most fantastic day out on the reef thanks to your recommendation. The boat, staff and location was absolutely brilliant. Everything was so well organized and the staff were friendly, helpful and professional. We were picked up from our accommodation by comfortable coach which was waiting for us when we arrived back tired and blown away by our amazing day out on the reef. Can't thank you enough for your recommendation and for the most amazing experience with memories that will last a life time.

Response From Barrier Reef Australia

Thanks Lisa! The Tour Specialists are pleased you enjoyed your time on the Outer Reef and Agincourt Ribbon Reefs. Visiting 3 amazing sites in the one day with the free guided snorkel tour really does allow you to see the best the Great Barrier Reef has to offer and the staff on this amazing vessel are well known for their great knowledge and service.

Containes notes on wheelchair accessContaines notes for the visually impairedContaines notes for the hearing impaired
Wheelchair Accessibility

From the Port Douglas Reef Marina there are no steps to reach the vessel

Doorway Measurements For Wheelchair Access

Access for wheelchair – but doors too narrow to access wheelchairs so would require a collapsible wheelchair

Number of Steps

To board the boat: 2 steps up and 1 step down (gradient of these steps will be dependent on tide)~|~For certified divers there is an entry from the side of the vessel – with a drop of 2 metres (6 ft). (Giant stride entry)~|~Access to Introduction Divers entry point – 6 steps down~|~Back ladders for return to boat: 5 steps

Boarding Access

To board vessel – 2 steps up and 1 step down

Activities

Introduction Divers will be taken down a descending line whilst holding on (with one hand)

Wheelchair Accessibility
Doorway Measurements For Wheelchair Access

Access for wheelchair – but doors too narrow to access wheelchairs so would require a collapsible wheelchair

Number of Steps

To board the boat: 2 step up and 1 step down (gradient of these steps will be dependent on tide)~|~Access to from snorkel area to water: 6 steps~|~Back ladders for return to boat: 5 steps

Boarding Access

From the Port Douglas Reef Marina there are no steps to reach the vessel.

To board vessel – 2 steps up and 1 step down

Pre-order Local Transport

You must arrange your own local transport in advance.

The minimum age for diving is 12 years

All cancellations must be in writing.

We understand things may change, so we have made cancellations very easy.

In every instance we always recommend you purchase travel insurance for life’s last-minute hiccups.

Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.

Operators policy:

  • No refund within 24 hours of travel
  • On rare occasions, services can be subject to the effect of weather or unforeseen circumstances. 
  • Should a cruise not operate for any reason passengers will be offered an alternative day of travel or a refund will be authorised.
  • Note: The vessel may differ to the images displayed. In such cases, we will be operating our Poseidon vessel. A tropical buffet lunch will be served as lunch and there will be freshwater showers available only”.  Please call our Reservations team if you would like to confirm whether it is a Poseidon vessel or a Silversonic vessel on a particular date.
  • Whales - June to August : Please note swimming with Whales is not a guaranteed activity it is totally up to the whales. The captain will not search for whales. It is the Captains discretion to stop and allow you to enter the water. There is no Guarantee.

Snorkelling & Diving Port Douglas | Silversonic

Tour Code: 67

Departing: Port Douglas

Pickup: Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas

Dive & Snorkel Tour - 3 Reef Sites

From

au$302.00

Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.

Child: au$218.00
Family: au$1,040.00

Tour Code: 67

From

au$302.00

15 yrs & over

4 - 14 yrs

0 - 3 yrs

Ages of Children
(Discounts May Apply)
Phone
1300 231 118
WhatsApp
+61 427 074 745
Phone
1300 231 118
WhatsApp
+61 427 074 745

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