Planning a Great Barrier Reef Trip

Most people only do this once. This page is here to get you from “I want to see the reef” to “I know what to book” — and to answer honestly, including where the answer is “it depends” and where it is “this trip probably isn’t right for you”.

Start here: three decisions, in this order

1. Where are you based? Cairns and Port Douglas reach different reef. If you are already booked into one, that decision is made and either is a good answer.

2. What kind of reef day suits you? This is the big one, and it is below.

3. How many reef days do you want? One is enough for most people. More changes what is worth booking.

Everything else on this page is detail underneath those three.

What kind of reef day suits you?

Almost every trip is one of three things. The difference is not price or quality — it is how you meet the reef.

A pontoon

A large moored platform on the reef with an underwater observatory and a semi-submersible. You can see coral and fish without getting in the water, and get in whenever you like. Stable, sheltered, and the easiest option when not everyone in the group wants to swim.

A dive or snorkel boat

Visits two or three different reef sites and puts you in the water at each. More time in the water, more variety, a smaller group. Best if you are comfortable swimming, and the only real choice if you want to dive properly.

A sailing or island day

Quieter, usually to a coral cay or an inshore island, often under sail. Calmer water, a beach, a slower day. Good if you get seasick, or if you want the reef to be part of the day rather than all of it.

Still not sure? If everyone in your group is reasonably comfortable in the water, a dive or snorkel boat to the outer reef is where most people start. If someone is nervous about swimming, or you are travelling with young children, it is worth comparing the pontoon trips — they are set up so that people who would rather not get in still have a full day. Suitability varies from trip to trip, so check the details on the ones you are considering, or ask us and we will talk it through.

Compare Cairns reef tours · Compare Port Douglas reef tours

Cairns or Port Douglas?

They reach different reef. Boats from Cairns visit reefs like Michaelmas Cay, Moore, Flynn, Norman and Hastings, plus the islands — Green and Fitzroy. Boats from Port Douglas visit the Agincourt ribbon reefs on the outer edge, and Low Isles. Cairns has more operators and more choice; Port Douglas is smaller and closer to the ribbons. Both reach excellent reef.

How many days on the reef do I need?

One good day is enough for most people to see the reef properly. Take a second if you want to dive more than a couple of times, if you want a different kind of reef day, or if you would be disappointed to lose your only day to weather. If you want several days of diving without coming back to shore each night, that is a liveaboard. Cairns liveaboards

In the water

What is the difference between snorkelling and scuba diving?
Snorkelling means floating on the surface with a mask and snorkel, breathing through a tube, looking down. Scuba means carrying a tank so you can breathe underwater and stay down. On the reef, most of the colour and life is in shallow water — which is why snorkellers see a great deal, and why plenty of experienced divers still spend time on the surface.

Can I go if I’m not a confident swimmer?

Yes, and say so when you book. Reef boats carry flotation aids — pool noodles, vests, lifejackets — and crew are generally in the water with snorkellers. If you would rather not swim at all, a pontoon lets you see coral from an observatory and a semi-submersible without entering the water.

Can snorkellers and divers go on the same boat?

Yes. Almost every reef boat carries both, and diving is usually an optional extra. Nobody has to sit out.

Can I try scuba diving without a qualification?

Yes, an introductory or “resort” dive is designed for people who have never dived, with a briefing in shallow water and an instructor with you throughout. Each operator sets its own conditions, including minimum age and health requirements, so check the trip you are considering before you book, or ask us and we will check for you.

I’m a certified diver — what do I need?

Your certification card and usually your logbook. If you have not dived recently, expect to be asked when you last dived; some operators require a refresher. Bring your own computer and mask if you have them.

Are there sharks?

Usually, yes, and seeing one is a highlight for most divers. The reef sharks common at these sites are small, wary of people, and not regarded as a danger to snorkellers or divers. Crew brief you on what you might see. We would rather tell you they are there than pretend otherwise.

Will I see turtles, rays, whales?

Green turtles are common year-round and most trips see them. Rays are frequent. Dwarf minke whales appear on the northern ribbon reefs in winter, mainly June and July, on specific permitted trips. Humpbacks migrate past between roughly June and September. None of it is guaranteed, it is wild.

Health, safety and comfort

Will I get seasick?

Some people do. The trip out to the outer reef crosses open water and it can be bumpy, particularly between about May and August when the south-easterly trades blow. If you are prone to it: take medication before you leave, not once you feel unwell; stay on deck where you can see the horizon; and choose a larger vessel or a pontoon, which is moored and stable once you arrive. An inshore island day is calmer again.

Do I need a dive medical?

You will be asked to complete a dive medical questionnaire, and some answers require a doctor’s clearance before you can dive. What is required differs between an introductory dive and a certification course, and between operators — the trip you are booking will tell you which applies. If you have a heart, lung or ear condition, high blood pressure, asthma, or you are pregnant, check before you book rather than on the morning. Dive medical requirements

How long after diving before I can fly?

The widely used guidance is a minimum of 12 hours after a single dive and 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days. If you have a flight home, plan your last dive day accordingly — this catches people out at the end of a trip.

What about stingers?

Marine stingers are mainly a coastal issue in the warmer months, roughly November to May. Full-body stinger suits are standard on reef trips through that season, and plenty of people wear one year-round anyway for sun protection and warmth. Outer reef sites carry a much lower risk than inshore beaches.

Is the water cold?

Not really. Sea temperatures run roughly from the mid-20s Celsius in winter to around 29°C in late summer. Most people are comfortable in a stinger suit or thin wetsuit.

What should I bring?

Swimwear on underneath, a towel, a hat, sunglasses, a light layer for the boat, reef-safe sunscreen applied before you board, and any medication you need including seasickness tablets. What the trip itself provides — snorkel gear, a suit, meals — is listed on each tour page.

Weather and seasons

When is the best time to visit?

There is no bad time, but there are trade-offs. June to October is the dry season — comfortable temperatures, low rainfall, busiest; winds are stronger, so seas can be choppier. November to May is warmer and wetter with calmer seas and often excellent visibility, but it is also cyclone and stinger season. Great Barrier Reef weather

Why is the weather on the reef different from Cairns?

Because the reef is 40 to 70 kilometres offshore, around 90 minutes to two hours out. It can be raining in town and clear on the reef, or calm in town and windy out there. Do not cancel your day because of what you see from your hotel window — operators decide on conditions at the reef.

Does rain ruin a reef day?

Less than you would think. You are getting wet anyway, and underwater visibility is driven by wind and swell rather than rain. Grey skies do flatten the colours near the surface.

What happens if my trip is cancelled for weather?
Operators cancel when conditions are unsafe, and the decision is made on conditions at the reef rather than in town. Where a trip is cancelled you will be offered an alternative date or a refund. The terms differ between operators and are set out when you book.

What it costs

What is included?

It varies between trips, and the differences are real — some include a dive, some charge for it; some include everything, some add extras on the day. Each tour page lists what that trip includes.

What is the reef levy?

Every visitor to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park pays an Environmental Management Charge, which funds reef management, research and monitoring. It is collected by the tour operator. Whether it is already inside the fare you see, or added when you book, is set out on the tour page.

Are there other compulsory charges?

Some trips carry additional mandatory charges — a fuel levy, for instance, or a surcharge on particular dates. Where a trip has one, it is set out on that tour page and included in the total shown to you before you pay.

Is it cheaper to book on the day?

Generally not, and popular trips sell out, particularly in the dry season and school holidays. Booking ahead also means you can move your date if the weather turns.

Ready to look at trips?

Compare Cairns reef tours· Compare Port Douglas reef tours

Not decided where to base yourself yet? Start with Cairns as a base for the reef, or read about the Great Barrier Reef.