How To Choose The Best Snorkelling Tours In The Whitsundays
Here is our guide to choosing the best Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tours in the Whitsundays! The Whitsunday Islands aren’t just home to one of the world's most beautiful beaches, but also some of the world’s most beautiful reefs. And with them being situated within the Great Barrier Marine Park, it’s not hard to understand why.
People journey here from all corners of the planet to get the opportunity to gaze upon these magnificent underwater worlds. Luckily for them, there is a huge array of Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tours directly from Airlie Beach that will transport you there in comfort and style.
Snorkelling Great Barrier Reef Tours in the Whitsundays
With a variety of snorkelling day tours and overnight sailing trips on offer, travellers can easily explore the Great Barrier Reef during their time in the Whitsundays. How to choose the best snorkel tour for experiencing this little pocket of paradise in person can seem like a somewhat daunting task. There are just so many options!
But we’re here to help out and simplify that decision for you with this useful guide. Our travel experts are based in the Whitsundays, and many of us have snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef in locations all over Australia. The Whitsundays are a particularly special section of the reef, so we're going to recommend the best snorkelling Great Barrier Reef tours to choose from!
Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Day Trips
Snorkelling Great Barrier Reef day tours in the Whitsundays often include one or two reef sites. Snorkel gear is provided, and you'll get a time-efficient day trip around the Whitsunday Islands. Most of these tours visit Whitehaven Beach, include lunch, and give you the chance to snorkel among the fringing reefs of the Whitsunday Islands.
Check out some of our top snorkelling Great Barrier Reef day trips!
Whitsunday Bullet
- Duration: Day tour
- Capacity: 37
- Perfect for: Families, friends, couples, solo travellers, backpackers, small groups, those short on time
- Visits: Hook Island, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout
Newly refitted and with a fresh lick of paint, this iconic Whitsundays tour is back in the water and ready for action! After a fantastic morning spent on Whitehaven Beach, you’ll zoom up the coast of Whitsunday Island before reaching the beautiful Hook Island, famous for its stunning fringe reefs that literally surround the entire island. Usual visit spots include Luncheon Bay, Manta Ray Bay, Mackerel Bay or Cockatoo Point (depending on many factors such as wind and current), where you’re likely to see Green Turtles, Maori Wrasse, Parrot Fish amongst many other species.
Ocean Rafting - Northern Exposure
- Duration: Day tour
- Capacity: 32
- Perfect for: Families, friends, couples, solo travellers, backpackers, small groups, those short on time
- Visits: Hook Island, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout
With two amazing snorkel spots to enjoy, Northern Exposure is Ocean Rafting’s more snorkelling orientated tour that takes you to the best locations generally around Hook Island, such as Mantaray Bay and Mauren’s Cove.
The exact snorkel locations depend on the condition at sea - the skipper will use their extensive knowledge of the islands to determine the best snorkelling location on the day to ensure a memorable underwater experience. Get ready to spot an abundant range of corals and marine life, such as Humphead Maori Wrasse, loggerhead turtles, dolphins and whales (during the cooler months).
Explore Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Tour
- Duration: Day tour
- Capacity: 75
- Perfect for: Families, friends, couples, solo travellers, small groups, those wanting to snorkel in the Outer Reef
- Visits: Bait Reef on the Outer Great Barrier Reef
While the fringing reef around the Whitsunday Islands is incredible, avid snorkellers can also visit the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Explore takes guests far out to sea, where you can snorkel amongst the giant coral gardens of the Outer Reef. The boat ride out here is much longer (about 3 hours), but it's worth the journey!
You'll spend at least 3.5 hours at Bait Reef, the closest section of the Outer Reef to Airlie Beach. Here you can snorkel to your heart's content and admire the vast nautical scenery of the world's largest coral reef system.
Thundercat
- Duration: Day tour
- Capacity: 32
- Perfect for: Families, friends, couples, solo travellers, backpackers, small groups, those short on time
- Visits: Hook Island, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout
Redcat’s Thundercat take you to two snorkel spots, generally Peter Bay (just up the east side of Whitsunday Island from Whitehaven) and up to Mantaray Bay at the tip of Hook Island- both of these considered to be the best snorkel locations in the Whitsundays.
Peter Bay can only be accessed by boats with a special permit, which makes Thundercat one of the few snorkel tours that can explore this exquisite location. Make sure to keep an eye out for green sea turtles, giant sea clams and clown fish at these spots.
Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Overnight Trips
For those with more than one day to spare, choose a multiday snorkelling Great Barrier Reef tour! Overnight trips provide much more time to relax at sea, admire the tropical Whitsunday scenery, and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef.
Depending on the length of the tour, guests can snorkel at multiple different locations around the islands and possibly even the Outer Reef. You'll also get to witness the magic of sunrise and sunset over the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday islands, which is truly incredible.
Whitsunday Adventurer
- Duration: 2D2N
- Capacity: 12
- Perfect for: A great option for couples, families, groups of friends and single travellers alike
- Visits: Hook Island, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout
Whitsunday Adventurer takes you to some of the best spots around the Whitsundays for snorkelling which can include Mantaray Bay, Luncheon Bay, Mackerel Bay and Cockatoo Point. Expect to see a variety of fish species, soft and hard corals and anemone fish, with a high possibility of seeing turtles, stingrays, moray eels, sharks, and the huge Maori Wrasse!
Summer Jo
- Duration: 3D3N
- Capacity: 32
- Perfect for: Ideal for solo adventure-seekers, friend groups or families with older children!
- Visits: Various islands including Whitsunday Island and Hook Island, Blue Pearl Bay, Great Barrier Reef
The recently refitted Summer Jo benefits from being a 3 day, 3 night trip as it has more time to take you to many amazing spots throughout the trip. Visiting some of the area’s most beautiful snorkel spots, including Blue Pearl Bay, this trip also includes a free scuba dive with every trip, and also offers the chance to snorkel at the outer reef!
Reefsleep Great Barrier Reef Experience
- Duration: 2D1N
- Capacity: 24
- Perfect for: Couples or solo travellers wanting a tranquil, unique Outer Reef experience
- Visits: Hardy Reef Pontoon on the Outer Great Barrier Reef
Combine your snorkelling Great Barrier Reef tour with an exquisite overnight stay at sea. Reefsleep is located on the Hardy Reef Pontoon, where the stable, spacious surface has everything you need for a luxurious stay. You'll be sleeping in an outdoor reefbed, which give you an immersive and beautiful connection with nature while you spend the night on the Coral Sea.
During the day, you can snorkel around the flourishing coral walls of the Outer Reef. Add on guided snorkelling tours to enhance your experience!
British Defender
- Duration: 2D1N
- Capacity: 26
- Perfect for: The social atmosphere is perfect for backpackers, friends or even solo!
- Visits: Hook Island, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet Lookout
British Defender is a 2D1N backpacker trip that will take you to snorkel at some of the best sites in the Whitsundays, generally found at the fringe reefs around Hook Island and Hayman Island. The experienced crew on British Defender will determine the best snorkel locations based on the day's weather and tidal conditions to deliver you the optimal snorkelling experience during your trip!
