• 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 dive reef locations ensure you see the best of the Great Barrier Reef 
• Multi-award winning marine tour operator

Silversonic is one of the most popular snorkelling & diving tours from Port Douglas as it offers the opportunity to visit 3 unique outer Barrier Reef sites in a day.

What we like about this Snorkelling & Diving tour

• State-of-the-art computerised ride control systems mean a smoother ride to the reef
• Hydraulic platforms for easy water access
• Change rooms and hot freshwater showers
• Delicious food provided
• Spacious sundecks, air conditioned lounge areas and a licenced bar
• The latest dive and snorkel equipment
• Permits for 29 dive reef locations 
• The skipper chooses the 3 locations the morning of the tour to decide the best reef to visit 
• Travelling up to 32 knots, they spend less time getting there which means more time at the reef for you
• For the comfort of all, Silversonic is a non-smoking vessel  
• 29 metre custom built catamaran
• Multi tourism award winning marine operator

Itinerary - Your Day

7.30am - Check-in at Quicksilver Cruises office the Port Douglas Marina for your boarding passes.

8:00am - Vessel boarding. Complimentary morning tea/breakfast served.
8:30am - Depart Port Douglas Marina for the Outer Reef. On the outward journey, certified and introductory dive briefings begin.

10:15am -Arrive at first Agincourt Reef site. Divers gear up, while snorkellers’ site briefing begins. Get ready to see the beauty of this natural wonder!

11:30am - Silversonic departs for second reef location. Option for introductory divers and certified divers to do a second dive. Snorkellers site briefing.

12:00pm - Tropical hot and cold lunch served in the air conditioned cabin.

1:40pm - Silversonic departs for third reef location. Snorkellers are once again briefed as to the best areas to snorkel and Guided Snorkel Tour. Option for certified divers to do a third dive or second introductory dive.

2:30pm - Afternoon tea served.
2:50pm - All passengers board vessel for final passenger count.
3:00pm - Silversonic commences return journey to Port Douglas.

4:30pm - Silversonic arrives at Port Douglas Marina.

4:55pm - Coaches depart for accommodation.

Times may vary subject to sites visited. On rare occasions, services can be subject to the effect of weather or unforeseen circumstances requiring changes to the scheduled itinerary.

Snorkelling

Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef is easy as the boats anchor next to coral bommies and reef ledges that the snorkellers can view from the top of the water to see all the corals and marine life.

Tips & Hints

If you have never snorkelled before we recommend you read these Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tips.

Introductory Scuba Diving

If you have no previous diving experience, but want to experience the wonder and magic of scuba diving, then Introductory Dives are the perfect way to 'take the plunge' and explore the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef - with very close supervision and the highest safety standards.

The on board dive instructors will take you step by step through the experience, from the initial briefing lecture to getting to know the equipment to jumping in with you to guide you through your first scuba dive.

On the journey out on the boat, the instructors will assess your suitability for an Introductory Dive and you will sign the necessary paperwork which includes a medical questionnaire.

You will learn the fundamentals of scuba diving, watch a quick video and take a quiz to make sure you're familiar with the basic concepts. 

Once the boat arrives on the reef, you will gear up and hit the back dive deck ready for your first dive.

The instructor will confirm with you along the way to make sure you're comfortable with everything before diving down to around 12 meters, with the instructor by your side the whole way.

The initial dive lasts around 30 minutes, and if you're in love with scuba diving by the end there is a chance to do a second Introductory Dive at a different dive site to see an entirely new reef environment. 

Note that certain medical conditions and medications may mean some people are not able to participate in the Introductory Dives.

Minimum age is 12 years. It is strongly recommended to wait at least 24 hours following scuba diving before flying or ascending to an altitude greater than 300m above sea level. 

Tips & Hints

As a first time scuba diver we recommend you read these travel tips to prepare you for your introductory scuba dive.

Certified Diving

Being a Certified Diver means you can participate in up to three spectacular dives in different reef environments on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

The different sites present a range diving conditions, from drift and wall dives, coral gardens, swim throughs and bommies to explore.

There are professional dive instructors available at no extra cost to accompany you on your dives, ensuring maximum safety and enjoyment.

Their in-depth knowledge of the reef and dive sites means you'll have all the right local knowledge to make the most of your dives.

Diving on the iconic Great Barrier Reef is breathtaking and you'll be comfortable in the pleasant 22-29 degree water.

You'll be diving within the largest reef system in the world, home to over 1,500 species of fish, 400 different kinds of coral and over 10,000 species of sponges. 

To participate in the Certified Diving, you'll need to present current proof of certification. 

Meals

Meals Included On board The Boat

The boats hot and cold buffet lunch with prawns is one of the most scrumptious on offer for hungry snorkellers and divers.

You can also purchase soft drinks, snacks like chips and chocolates at the ships bar and cold water is complimentary as are the ginger tablets for those that may suffer motion sickness.

Morning and afternoon tea is also on offer with cakes, biscuits, cheese and crackers being served with tea and coffee until departure for the return journey back to Port Douglas.

Watch the DVD of your day snorkeling and diving on the reef available for purchase from the Silversonic photography crew and peruse the photos taken throughout the day which you can also purchase as a memento of your trip to Australia's Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas.

Why not enjoy a refreshing beer or a relaxing wine on the journey home with some cheese and nibbles.

Swim With Dwarf Minke Whales From Port Douglas July To August

This vessel is only one of three Cairns and Port Douglas reef tour companies with a Swim with Whales License which is very rare indeed.

This swimming with whale's license enables them to allow snorkellers in the water to interact with the cute inquisitive Dwarf Minke Whales for a period of ten minutes at a time.

The boats crew let out a long rope on the side of the boat and snorkellers hold onto this whilst the Dwarf Minke Whales come and take a look at all the activity going on around the boat.  Every ten minutes the guests change over and let other guests interact with the whales whilst they are swimming around.

The Dwarf Minke Whales sometimes come right up close to you so you can just about touch them. Swimming with Dwarf Minke whales is an awesome, humbling experience!

You do not want to miss this opportunity during June to August.  Please note the whales are on the Great Barrier reef at different times based on the water temperatures being cold enough for them and the water currents.

Swimming with the whales is not guaranteed it is just a bonus. These marine animals are wild and free and the interaction is at their option and not yours and the reef boat has to abide by some very strict guidelines when interacting with the whales.

The boat is not allowed to chase or pursue the whales and the boat is required to shut off the engines and the Dwarf Minke Whales are free to come over to the boat if they are open to some interaction with the snorkellers in the water.

Please note swimming with Whales is not a guaranteed activity it is totally up to the whales.  Our high quality Great Barrier Reef tour caters for up to 80 guests and has plenty of space and is really nice and roomy and the crew are great.

Read more about swimming with Dwarf Minke Whales in Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef.

Check in

Your coach will arrive at Port Douglas at around 8.30 am for check-in at the Marina in Port Douglas before you are welcomed by the entire crew of MV-Silver Sonic when you board the ultra modern 29m catamaran (they are lots of fun).

If you are self driving to Port Douglas them make sure you check in by 8.30 am at the Great Barrier Reef tours office at Crystabrook Super Yacht Marina with your pre-paid voucher.

The reef boats crew will have laid out tasty fruit muffins, danishes,(pastries) biscuits and savory focaccia, and tea and coffee which will be served until your departure to the Outer Barrier Reef from Port Douglas.

Just what you need after an early start! Once our boat is underway and steaming out with our guests for their Great Barrier Reef tours, you will be briefed by your snorkeling or scuba diving instructors for the days chosen activities.

If you are scuba diving you will be required to fill in a Medical Questionnaire and once those formalities are completed with you will then be taken out to the scuba dive deck, allocated a station and given your scuba diving equipment for the day and shown how to use all of the equipment once the boat has reached the first of the three scuba diving and snorkeling locations of the day.

See more dive and snorkel tours from Port Douglas and Low Isles tours.

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.

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

The minimum age for diving is 12 years