Snorkel with Nemo on Cairns Great Barrier Reef

Cairns Snorkeling Tours: The Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly the world’s best place to snorkel! Vibrant coral reefs await your discovery just metres beneath the surface of warm, clear waters. A multitude of fish, anemones, sea stars, urchins and clams festoon the underwater world of Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef, all easily seen and enjoyed from above.

Snorkeling tours depart Cairns’ Marlin Marina every morning, taking excited visitors to the Great Barrier Reef, its coral and sand cays and tropical islands. Each of these places offers a range of snorkeling sites and opportunities, with conditions varying to suit people of all ages and abilities. Fact: If you can swim, you can snorkel.

Cairns Snorkeling Tours – Information in this section

• Cairns Snorkel Day Tours: Price Comparison Table
• What is snorkeling like in Cairns
• Cairns Snorkeling Tours – Safety Tips
• Cairns Snorkeling Tours – Activities
• Cairns Introductory Scuba Dives

Ready to snorkel with Quicksilver's Silver Series

Cairns’ 23 Great Barrier Reef snorkel tours all include equipment (mask, snorkel and fins), tuition and safety briefings, in their package price. Should you desire, wet suits and lycra suits are all available on board, as are buoyancy vests and flotation devices: these are sometimes an extra charge.

As Cairns is one of the closest mainland points to the Great Barrier Reef, there is less travel time and more time to enjoy and explore the reef, some operators provide up to six (6) hours reef time on a day tour. Most operators depart Cairns’ Marlin Marina around 8am and return at 5pm, however, later starts are available and snorkeling can also be booked as a half day tour.

Cairns snorkeling tours vary in price, duration, destination, boat and inclusions. To ensure you book the tour which will provide you with the very best experience of the Great Barrier Reef for your skills and interests, it is highly recommended you review the options available and make an informed choice. To assist, we have provided a few notes on varying snorkel destinations.

Corals just under the water: Deep Sea Divers Den

Cairns snorkel tours to the Outer Great Barrier Reef are suitable for confident swimmers and families with older children. With these tours, the boats leave Cairns and take you to one, two or even three different reef sites, depending on the operator. No matter which boat you choose, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef is excellent, with the corals lying just metres beneath the surface. Travelling times to the Outer Great Barrier Reef is longer than to an island or cay, but faster boats ensure you still have plenty of time to explore. Note these tours see you snorkeling in ‘open water’ which means there may be waves and currents.

Snorkel from the beach at Green Island: Great Adventures

The Great Barrier Reef’s sand cays and tropical islands offer excellent snorkeling conditions, particularly for guests who may not have much open water swimming experience, younger children and older visitors. Shallow waters and protected positions provide calm waters. Walk out and snorkel on the fringing coral reef systems, from the reef or beach. Giant clams and a myriad of fish make these sites a joy to explore: you may even see a turtle, stingray or sea cucumber. These tours, and/or a trip to a reef pontoon, are highly recommended for people who have not snorkeled before, as you can practice in comfort before heading out to the reef.

Snorkeling the coral gardens at the Marine World pontoon

Reef pontoons combine snorkeling with a range of other activities such as glass bottom boat tours, semi-submersible tours, underwater observatories and in some instances, marine touch tanks. These are included in the tour price: optional extras can include guided snorkel tours, scenic helicopter flights, introductory dives and helmet dives (no experience necessary). Pontoon tours are generally more expensive but do include these extra experiences: these tours are recommended for singles, couples, families and older guests.

Snorkelers can also book liveaboard tours to the Great Barrier Reef, giving you even more time on the reef. Most of these packages are promoted as being liveaboard dive trips, but discounts are available for snorkelers, who are more than welcome on board.

Cairns snorkeling tours can be tailored to suit your budget, preference and itinerary: there is something for everyone. All snorkeling equipment is provided and included in the ticket price. For basic comparison, we have prepared the below pricing table which compares the cost of various Cairns Great Barrier Reef snorkel day tours. Please note: the prices for Cairns snorkeling tours do not include port taxes, which are payable direct to the operator on the day of travel.

Cairns Snorkel Day Tours: Price Comparison Table

What is snorkeling like in Cairns?

If you can swim, you can snorkel

Snorkeling allows you to explore the amazing wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with no previous experience required and no sore eyes from the salt water. The masks (which are included) provide clarity of vision and the snorkel allows you to keep your head down, enjoying the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, without having to come up and take a breath.

Anyone who can swim, can snorkel. First time snorkelers may find breathing through a snorkel a little strange and uncomfortable, so we recommend practising in shallow water first. A Cairns island, cay or pontoon snorkel tour is recommended for first time snorkelers (as opposed to an Outer Great Barrier Reef day trip), as you can get comfortable in the shallow waters, before heading out to explore the reef.

Snorkeling is just like swimming, except you are floating on top of the water, face down, breathing through the snorkel. This allows you to make the most of your time on the reef, seeing the corals and fish beneath you. The masks provide the vision / lens / clarity you need to see the reef. A mask has three basic components, a glass “lens”, silicone “skirt” and adjustable strap.

Cairns operators are experienced at fitting masks to faces, so will be able to find one that is comfortable and best for you. Top tip: the adjustable strap, which fits around your head, will allow you to make the mask fit properly. You do not need to tighten this strap too much, as the water pressure will hold the mask to your face.

Floatation Devices are available at Marine World

If you get water into your mask while snorkeling, simply lift it away from your face and drain it. If you get water into your snorkel, then blow sharply, to push the water through the end of the snorkel.

If you are not a confident swimmer, you can still enjoy snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef as all operators are able to provide you with buoyancy devices such as vests, noodles and safety rings. If you become tired while snorkeling, rest on the floatation device, or flip over and swim on your back, which uses different muscles. Alternatively, signal to the boat, they always have lifeguards on duty who can come and collect you in their tender.

Please note, it is recommended that you have a reasonable level of fitness to snorkel, especially if you are choosing an Outer Great Barrier Reef trip.

Cairns Snorkeling Tours – Safety Tips

Snorkeling is an extremely safe activity, especially if you take all of the correct precautions and listen to your own body whilst swimming. Below are some basic Great Barrier Reef snorkeling safety tips.

Fitness. Make sure you only snorkel / swim to your fitness levels. Do not get too far away from the boat / island / coral cay / pontoon that you are not going to be able to swim back to it. Watch the currents and make sure you do not get carried away. It is highly recommended that you do not snorkel after consuming alcohol.

Sunburn. The Cairns Great Barrier Reef is located in a tropical location. Summer is hot and even winter is warm with high UV rays being emitted from the sun at all times throughout the year. When snorkeling, the water is running across your back, so while you may feel cool and comfortable, if you have not taken appropriate precautions, you could be getting sunburnt, which in extreme cases may lead to sun stroke. There are some easy ways to avoid this. Make sure you apply (and reapply) waterproof sunscreen throughout the day and take advantage of the lycra suits on offer, they provide great sun protection. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated throughout the day: all Cairns reef tour operators provide cool water on board, free of charge.

Marine Stingers. Two types of marine stingers, or jellyfish, are found on the Cairns Great Barrier Reef. Both are poisonous and can leave painful stings and sometimes scars. Usually, they are only present in the waters between November and May, but this may change pending weather conditions. You can easily avoid painful contact with marine stingers by taking advantage of the full length body suits / lycra suits, available on board the boats. All Cairns day tour operators provide briefings and safety instructions regarding marine stingers, en route to the Great Barrier Reef. You do not need to do anything to prepare in advance for this.

Take a Friend. Like diving, it is always a good idea to snorkel with a friend. That way, if something goes wrong, like you get a cramp, you are not on your own. Stay close together while snorkeling and share the experience of exploring the Great Barrier Reef.

Don’t Touch the Reef or its Residents. The Great Barrier Reef is a protected marine environment, home to rare and endangered corals and marine life. It is advised and preferred that you do not touch any corals or marine animals, for your safety and theirs. Corals are sensitive to sunblock and creams, which can be easily transferred from your hands. Similarly (most) fish do not like to be handled and may respond with aggression. For your benefit and the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, for the enjoyment of future generations, please do not touch the reef, its residents or try to take a souvenir shell / coral home: fines do apply and will be enforced.

Cairns Snorkeling Activities

Take your buddy snorkeling at Green Island with Big Cat

There a lot of Cairns snorkeling tours activities available on Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef. The first option is to take your mask, fins and snorkel and hit the water yourself (or preferably with a buddy). The corals are often close to the surface and you can explore their vibrant colours and formations on a gentle swim / snorkel. Take an underwater camera with you to capture some of the magical moments and unbelievable fish that you will see. Fish identification charts are available, which will help you to identify what you have seen.

All Cairns operators offer guided snorkel tours of the Great Barrier Reef. These are usually with a marine biologist or experienced local residents. The benefit of taking a guided snorkel tour are two-fold: firstly, the guide knows the reef locations and will take you to the best and most interesting sites, secondly, they can explain what you are looking at and name the fish and corals for you.

Adventure snorkels and drift snorkels are also available on the Great Barrier Reef. These are recommended for experienced snorkelers, as they last longer, require more fitness and usually involve swimming with and against the current. These tours allow you to explore and see more and often the guide will take a flotation device with him / her, for those that get tired.

Cairns Introductory Scuba Dives

Introductory dive with Passions of Paradise

All snorkelers are welcome and invited to try introductory scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. No diving experience is necessary, although you will have to pass a basic medical on board to be able to try an introductory dive.

Introductory dives are a great way to see if you want to take the next step and become a certified scuba diver. Qualified scuba instructors provide safety and equipment briefings on the trip to the Great Barrier Reef. They also show you the hand signals that divers use to communicate with each other underwater. These are very important and include showing you how to indicate that you are having a problem, as of course, you can’t talk when you are under the water.

On arrival at your Great Barrier Reef destination, you are provided with a wetsuit and shown how to put on your scuba gear. Entering the water, your instructor will be with you every step of the way. Firstly, they make sure you are comfortable in the water and that your mask is fitted correctly. When you are ready, they descend one metre under the water, so you can practice breathing through your regulator and get used to not coming up for air. Once you are comfortable, you descend another few metres and rest to become familiar with your new surrounds. Finally, when you indicate that everything is OK, the dive instructor will take you by the hand or arm and show you around the Great Barrier Reef on your first introductory scuba dive.

Introductory dives are an optional extra to the Cairns snorkeling tours day price and usually last around 20-minutes. Cairns Dive Adventures is pleased to provide an introductory dive review, to give you a first hand account of what you can expect on an introductory dive.