• Calypso Ten is a 24m catamaran capable of carrying 85 guests  
• Departing from Port Douglas visiting 3 spectacular outer reef sites on the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs for scuba diving and snorkelling. 
• If one person wishes to snorkel only and one person wishes to scuba dive then this full day reef trip offers both options.
• 3 Reef sites are chosen daily from the Agincourt Reef and Opal Reef
• All snorkel gear and dive gear is provided on the boat. Introductory dive tours are on offer for the novice.

Port Douglas snorkel and dive tours include a full day reef trip visiting 3 reef sites on the outer Great Barrier Reef. The dive & snorkel spots of Opal and Agincourt Reefs hold an abundance of colorful marine life and corals to explore.

What to Expect

Prepare for an extraordinary full-day adventure exploring the outer Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas. This reef tour takes you to three handpicked reef sites, including the renowned Opal and Agincourt Reefs, known for their vibrant coral gardens and diverse marine life. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a first-time snorkeller, this experience offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the world's most famous natural wonders.

Your day begins with a convenient pickup from your Port Douglas accommodation between 6:50 and 8:20 AM, or you can opt to meet directly at Crystalbrook Marina by 8:15 AM. Upon arrival at the marina, you’ll board the luxurious 24-meter catamaran, Calypso Ten. The crew welcomes you aboard with a safety briefing and an overview of the day’s itinerary. As you cruise towards the outer Great Barrier Reef, you’ll be fitted with top-quality snorkelling or diving gear, which will remain with you throughout the day.

By mid-morning, the catamaran arrives at the first reef site, where crystal-clear waters invite you to dive in and explore the underwater world. This is your first chance to witness the vibrant coral formations and diverse marine life that make the Great Barrier Reef so extraordinary. After your initial snorkelling or diving session, morning tea is served as the boat heads to the second reef site.

Around midday, the second reef offers even more opportunities to explore. As you enjoy your dive or snorkel, the crew prepares a delicious lunch onboard, accompanied by an interpretive talk that provides deeper insights into the reef’s complex ecosystems. If you wish to delve further into the underwater wonders, a guided snorkel tour is available, led by experienced professionals who will help you discover the most fascinating sights.

The third and final Great Barrier Reef site is visited in the early afternoon, providing one last opportunity to explore the underwater landscapes. After your final snorkelling or diving session, relax on deck with afternoon tea, soaking in the spectacular scenery. The reef tour returns to Crystalbrook Marina around 4:15 PM, with transfers back to your Port Douglas accommodation commencing shortly after.

 Features and Highlights

This full-day snorkel and dive tour from Port Douglas is thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable, informative, and memorable experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Here are the key features and highlights that make this tour stand out:

• Three Unique Reef Sites: The captain selects three distinct reef locations each day, based on weather conditions and site visibility, ensuring you experience the best of the Great Barrier Reef. Each site supports different ecosystems, allowing you to see a wide variety of coral formations and marine species.

• Luxury Catamaran: Travel in style aboard the 24-meter Calypso Ten, a custom-designed catamaran that offers both comfort and functionality. With spacious upper and lower decks, ample seating, and a submerged dive platform for easy water access, the vessel provides a smooth and enjoyable ride.
• High-Quality Gear: All necessary snorkelling and diving equipment, including masks, fins, and Lycra suits, is provided. The boat is equipped with the latest gear to ensure you have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable day on the Great Barrier Reef.
• Diving for All Levels: The reef tour caters to both beginners and certified divers. Beginners can take part in an introductory scuba diving lesson, with no prior experience required, while certified divers can enjoy up to three dives, including drift and wall dives along the outer reef. Each dive is conducted in small, guided groups with personalised attention and advanced equipment.
• Swim with Minke Whales: A unique feature of this reef tour is the opportunity to swim with Dwarf Minke Whales during their migration season from July to August. Port Douglas is one of the few places in the world where this experience is possible. The encounter is exclusive and limited to ten guests at a time, offering a rare and unforgettable experience with these curious creatures. However, sightings cannot be guaranteed, as these are wild animals. This is not a guaranteed part of this reef tour and is subject to the wild animals choosing to interact and the timing of the boat tour. Learn more about swimming with whales.

• Onboard Amenities: Throughout the day, you’ll be treated to morning and afternoon tea, as well as a freshly prepared lunch. The crew also provides an interpretive reef talk, sharing fascinating insights about the marine life and coral ecosystems you’ll encounter during your snorkelling and diving sessions.

This Port Douglas snorkel and dive tour offers a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and education, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Whether you’re snorkelling for the first time, trying out scuba diving, or are a seasoned diver, this tour ensures a safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable day on one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders.

What we like about this Snorkelling & Diving tour: 

• Visits Agincourt Reef - 3 unique reef sites each day

• Captains Choice - The 3 reef sites are chosen on the day of departure according to weather conditions

• Calypso Ten is a 24m catamaran with capacity for 85 guests
• Latest dive and snorkelling gear provided
• Divers can enjoy up to 3 dives
• Onboard compressor
• Guided snorkelling tours
• All snorkelling gear included with lycra suits
• Morning/Afternoon tea and lunch
• Interpretive reef talk by crew
• No experience necessary,
• Small groups guided by friendly and professional instructors,
• Scuba diving brief both on board and in the water,
• Submerged dive platform for easy access into the water,
• Professional supervision at all times,

See all Great Barrier Reef tours from Port Douglas.

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef and other things to see and do on our Blog.

Port Douglas Snorkel & Dive Tour Itinerary

6:50 - 8:20am - Guests are collected from their Port Douglas accommodation.
8:15am - Guests who are making their own way are to check in at the Calypso Shop at Crystalbrook Marina.
Once guests board the vessel, they are asked to remove their shoes (and place them either in an allocated shoe container on board or in their
own bags) and are fitted with a mask, snorkel and fins. These are kept with the guests for the day.
8:45am - Vessels depart the Crystalbrook Marina. Guests are welcomed on board, an outline of the day announced and safety briefing
conducted by the crew
10:15am - Arrive at first reef site. Divers will be briefed while travelling to the reef. Once moored, divers are ready to go while all other guests are
joined together for a snorkel briefing. Morning tea is served before moving to our second reef site
11:55am - Second reef site. Snorkelling and diving available. Lunch is served and an interpretive reef talk is conducted by one of the crew.
Guests can join in on a guided snorkel tour.
1:40pm - Third and last reef site for the day. Snorkelling and diving available. Afternoon tea is served.
2:45pm - Vessels depart outer Great Barrier Reef
4:15pm - Arrive back at Crystalbrook Marina
4:25pm - Transfers commence back to your Port Douglas accommodation
Please note: timings above are a guide only.

Activities available on your Port Douglas Snorkelling and Diving Tour

Snorkelling

Snorkelling is the easiest way to enjoy the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. The primary appeal is the opportunity to observe underwater life in a natural setting.

It appeals to all ages because of how little effort there is, and without the exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving equipment. It is the basis of the two surface disciplines of the underwater sport of fin swimming.

Is this your first time snorkelling? Read our Travel Tips on Snorkelling.

Introductory Scuba Diving Lesson

Introductory Diving is open to everyone who visits the Great Barrier Reef. It is scuba diving for beginners. No previous scuba experience is necessary and anyone aged 12 years and over who passes the dive medical questionnaire can try an Introductory Scuba Dive. Please note there are some health ‘conditions’ which may prevent you from trying introductory scuba diving. The most common reasons include asthma, epilepsy, heart conditions and/or prescription medication (other than the contraceptive pill).

Once you have decided you want to try this new experience out (and you won’t regret it!) the PADI qualified scuba Instructors on board MV-CAL provide safety and equipment briefings on the cruise out to the first reef site. They also show you the basic hand signals that divers use to communicate with each other under the water.

Restrictions of Flying: Allow 12 hours after the completion of a single dive to go altitude flying or 18 hours if participating in multiple dives.

Read our Travel Tips on introductory scuba diving before going out to the reef

Certified Scuba Diving On The Great Barrier Reef

The more experienced divers (Must provide proof of certification) can enjoy up to three dives during the day, including drift and wall dives on the outer edge on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

• Small guided groups with a full safety briefing,
• Dive computers,
• Exclusive dive sites,
• Wall and drift diving,
• Fast safety tender,
• Catering for beginners to advanced divers

Swim With Whales

Port Douglas is the place to be if you want to swim with Dwarf Minke Whales as it is the only place in the world you can actually do that.

Permits to swim with whales are very limited and only three boats out of Port Douglas have one.

Ten guests will be allowed in the water at one time and will be holding on to a rope the whole time, guests are then rotated to give everyone a turn. 

Minke Whales are very curious by nature and will come up close to swimmers.

The official Minke Whales season is from July to August.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no guarantee you will see whales even during whale season as they are wild animals and very unpredictable.

Diving & Snorkelling

Calypsos high quality snorkel and dive tours from Port Douglas offer a memorable underwater experience for everyone when they join in for a full day reef tour exploring the outer Great Barrier Reef just 70km North of Cairns.

The captain of the boat will choose three different reef sites to visit during this full day Great Barrier Reef snorkel and dive tour. Each coral reef site will have its very own eco-system and support a differing varierty of marine life at each one. 

This luxury boat has a large back platform for easy access into the water with the reef just meters away for your snorkeling adventure and is only one of three boats departing from Port Douglas where you can swim with whales during whale season which is usually June to July.  Learn more about the places to see whales on the Great Barrier Reef for an unforgettable experience! 

These Great Barrier Reef snorkel and dive tour boats are custom-designed reef boats which are efficient, safe, comfortable and sturdy for a full day out on the reef and provide plenty of space for all to move around or relax.

Your Great Barrier Reef Snorkel & Dive Tour From Port Douglas

Travelling to the Great Barrier Reef from the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas, this purpose built luxury 25m catamaran is ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving. You will love its spacious upper and lower foredecks designed with comfortable day bed seating to maximise outdoor relaxation with a top deck providing breathtaking 360 degree views of the Great Barrier Reef.

See all snorkelling tours and scuba diving tours from Port Douglas and Low Isles. 

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Port Douglas

Departure Time

Boarding at 8:20am, departs at 8:45am, returns 4:30pm

Departure Instructions

Please check in at least 30 minutes before boarding time

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Opal & Agincourt Reefs

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

8 hours (approx)

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Underwater camera hire
• Soft drinks, bottled water and chocolate bars
• Onboard purchases: soft drinks, bottled water and chocolate bars
• Alcoholic beverages (only available while travelling home and maximum of two drinks per person)

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

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

• DIVERS PLEASE NOTE: Some medical conditions and medications may prevent guests from diving.
• Languages offered when possible: German & French
• Please note: a credit card surcharge will apply to credit card payments at the prevailing rate for any onboard purchases
• Please note: no responsibility will be accepted for loss of personal items while on board. Guests are urged not to bring valuable items.
• With fluctuations in world oil prices, it may be necessary to apply a fuel surcharge to the ticket price. In such cases, the levy will be collected on departure

• Swimwear, towel, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• Change of clothes - showers are available on board
• Certified divers need to bring their certification cards on board

Child price applies to children 4 to 14