Calypso Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Port Douglas
Recommended by 97% of travelers
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Port Douglas, Australia
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Visit the outer Great Barrier Reef in luxury and style on a full-day cruise aboard a custom-designed vessel. Travel from Port Douglas to Agincourt or Opal Reef for snorkeling opportunities at three superb sites, and the option to do an introductory scuba dive—no experience required. Certified diving is available for advanced divers. Includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea, use of snorkel equipment, and guide.
- Full-day Outer Great Barrier Reef snorkel or diving tour, from Port Douglas
- Visit three excellent snorkel or dive sites
- Choose a Great Barrier Reef tour with options for all levels of experience
- Includes lunch, snacks, use of snorkel gear, guide, cruise
What's Included
- LunchBuffet lunch
- Afternoon Tea & Coffee/Tea
- Professional Local guide
- Guided snorkel tour (Use of Snorkelling equipment) and Interpretive reef talk
- Soft drinks / chocolate bars
- Transfers from Port Douglas accommodation
- Transfers from Northern Beaches of Cairns
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 44 Wharf St, Port Douglas QLD 4877, Australia
Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf Street, Port Douglas QLD 4877 **Transfers from Port Douglas and Palm Cove are available at an additional cost payable directly to the operator. Please contact Calypso Reef Cruises for more information**
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.8:20 am
What To Expect
When your boat departs, your guide provides a safety briefing and introduction to the day's activities, and scuba divers are briefed about the dive sites.
Custom built snorkel-only vessels allow access to renowned sites throughout the Barrier Reef. If you want to go diving, introductory divers are placed in small groups with a PADI Dive Instructor. Certified divers dive in small groups accompanied by PADI Dive Masters. Scuba diving is for an additional charge.
Arrive at your first dive site at either Opal or Agincourt Reef. Have time to snorkel and enjoy morning tea before moving on to the second site before noon. Guided snorkel tours are optional at the second site. Have lunch on board the boat, then listen to an interpretive talk about the Great Barrier Reef.
Move to the third site of the day and take the optional guided snorkel tour, then nibble your afternoon tea afterwards. Finally, depart for the mainland.
Custom built snorkel-only vessels allow access to renowned sites throughout the Barrier Reef. If you want to go diving, introductory divers are placed in small groups with a PADI Dive Instructor. Certified divers dive in small groups accompanied by PADI Dive Masters. Scuba diving is for an additional charge.
Arrive at your first dive site at either Opal or Agincourt Reef. Have time to snorkel and enjoy morning tea before moving on to the second site before noon. Guided snorkel tours are optional at the second site. Have lunch on board the boat, then listen to an interpretive talk about the Great Barrier Reef.
Move to the third site of the day and take the optional guided snorkel tour, then nibble your afternoon tea afterwards. Finally, depart for the mainland.
1
Calypso Reef Cruises
2
Agincourt Reef
3
Opal Reef
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Environmental Management Charge of $7.00 per person is included in the fare from 1st July 2023
- Diving within 48 hours of flying is not recommended. All participants will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to diving. Some pre-existing medical conditions (eg asthma, heart conditions, etc) may prevent you from diving, please consult your doctor
- Additional dives may be booked and paid for on board (subject to availability). Maximum of three dives in a day.
- Children under the age of 12 years are not permitted to dive.
- Near public transportation
- Evidence of dive certification is required from all divers wishing to participate in a certified dive
- Infants must sit on laps
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- If its raining on your day of travel, the tour will still go ahead. If Calypso cancels due to poor weather, mainly high winds, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
- Cancellation fees may apply if less than 24 hours notice is given prior to departure
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 85 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
We went to 3 different spots on The Great Barrier Reef. Each one was terrific. We saw a baby shark, a ton of fish, and beautiful coral. All of the staff were friendly, nice and full of knowledge. I would highly recommend this tour!
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,454 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Great experience, everything well organised and crew very nice with explanations and everything you need to know about the trip
Well organized and monitored. Quality location. Meal appropriate. Well balanced between snorkeling and diving.
We had such a great experience! The entire crew was so friendly and helpful every step of the way. When my mom got a little panicked after first getting in the water, Katie, one of the marine biologists, was amazing—she calmed her down, stayed with her, and guided her until she felt comfortable. It made such a difference! Beautiful snorkeling and an even better crew. Highly recommend!
Couldn't fault it. Great food, great boat. Great helpful staff, the reef was amazing too see all the fish.
Excellent tour, amazing crew and felt very lucky to see a heap of whales on our trip thanks to Jorg for stopping so we could get a good look at them!!!
This is, without any doubt, one of the highlights of my life. We were extremely lucky with the weather, I must say that. The waters were so clear, the corals were just so pretty, and we even swam with a turtle! The crew was very friendly, really enjoyed the “chat” from Freya.
Crew was so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Our three stops for snorkeling were all amazing. Totally worth it!
Weather was not great. 3-4 meter seas meant the trip to the reef was hard going. Not enough seats inside meant that we got drenched on the way. First 2 snorkel sites were good but the weather meant the 3rd was almost impossible to swim. Check weather before you go.
Fabulous day out for family, first time for grandchildren ages 11 to 13 who loved it. Staff very helpful and cheerful, safety protocols excellent. Food plentiful. Very well organised. Highly recommend it.
Great and safe tour. Lovely and helpful staff. All three reefs we visited were beautiful. Food was delicious and plentiful.
Ideal experience on the outer reef, such a wonderful team on board. Can highly recommend. Not too crowded, and very relaxing.
Great boat and even better crew to keep you safe. Unfortunately, the day we went the wind had picked up and the sea was very rough. This impacted our ability to fully enjoy the sites while snorkeling.
It's a lovely day out on the water. Make sure to get your coffee or tea before the boat leaves the dock then sit back and relax, it's a bit of a ride to the first stop.
Lunch was great, simple but hardy.
My only pick is that during the 3rd swim the guy who was supposed to be watching the snorkelers on the upper deck was on his phone. Thankfully, there were others watching as well.
Even though the weather was not ideal (think big swell, lots of wind), the crew made sure everyone had a good day. The reef itself is incredible and should be seen by everyone at least once.
The staff was amazing, attentive, and focused on safety and fun. A+
The snorkeling was also outstanding. Lunch, drinks, cookies on board delightful. Loved it. Weather wasn't good, bit no one can affect that. Memorable experience and would recommend this cruise and boat.
What a wonderful day. I was nervous about going as a solo traveler. Concerned I would get left or have difficulty, the staff on calypso was wonderful and made me feel very safe and comfortable. We drive 1.5 hrs on a very rough journey to the opal reef. At the opal reef we snorkeled at 3 different sites. They have stinger suits with hood, and gloves for everyone since it is the end of stinger season. They have life jackets and noodles. The reef is very superficial and you simply need to float on the top of the water at the edge of the reef to see amazing fish, coral, etc. the last snorkel site I did the introductory scuba dive where I was taken out with a guide Roman. He was terrific and also a patient teacher and very reassuring and calming. He calmly taught me the in water skills (book work or way out). Then took me around the bottom of the reef. Although it was only about 10 feet down, it’s amazing how different the reef looked lower. It was a wonderful experience. I didn’t think they would leave me once I got on the boat as it’s a small group with not more than 85 people. They have multiple 2-4 wandering the ship counting before they leave. As for at each snorkeling site, they have a couple of spotters on the boat, a few staff in the water swimming around to ensure everyone is ok. Even a dingy boat hanging out to help distressed swimmers. It was a wonderful experience. The reef was beautiful, the staff was amazing, I felt quite safe and the only complaint was the rocky ride out to the reef which is common this time of the year. Take the anti sea sick meds they sell!
Excellent tour on Calypso! Staff was excellent on the boat and in the water. Very safely conscious and attentive. Buffet lunch was plentiful. Turkey, roast beef, rolls and salad etc. 3 reef stops were perfectly clear on April 20th. We wore stinger suits which were comfortable. It was end of the stinger season. They covered us from head to ankle including our hands. Fins covered our feet. We snorkeled and the view of the reefs and fish were amazing. Colors of the fish were brilliant with a huge variety big and small many in schools. Coral was like a garden of neon flowers. All stunning. I would have preferred to dive but couldn't at that time. The snorkeling happily surpassed my expectations. The guides in the water were protective and informative pointing to things like moray eel and a giant clam along with an array of fish. The fish and coral were a rainbow of bright colors. On one of the reef stops, the guided tour talked about the sea life between snorkeling. On the way back we stopped to view Low Isle off Port Douglas. Steve Irwin was taken to Low Isle following the fatal stingray attack near by on September 4, 2006 and that is where he passed before a rescue helicopter got there. Very fun, educational experience. Bucket list checked!
Everything was excellent!
It started right on time; the crew was fabulous: efficient, sharp, helpful, and friendly making an environment friendly and vibrant.
The boat was clean and well kept. The food was very pleasant and appropriate for a day on the ocean.
And the reef was spectacular!!! Wonderful experience!!!! And the crew was knowledgeable & made us understand and respect de environment.
A+++++++
Highly recommended
We loved this trip. We went to 3 different locations at Opal reef, where we had up to an hour’s snorkelling at each location. Saw some lovely fish and coral, and I particularly enjoyed the guided (middle) snorkel, where the guide pointed some fish & coral out, and gave some facts. After each snorkel stop there was a rest with light snack/drink (morning & afternoon), and at lunchtime drinks, fruit and a roll with choice of meats/veggie fillings. Due to my high blood pressure I was concerned I may not be able to snorkel for long if too much effort was involved, but they instructed me to use a life jacket for my snorkels, which worked perfectly. They also recommended all snorkellers used pool noodles as 3 lots of hour long snorkels would be pretty tiring otherwise. Most people used the noodles. On the way back, they stopped by the low isles for photo opportunities and some info, and we were lucky enough to see a small species of shark (black tipped maybe?). There’s also a photographer onboard so you can buy a photo of you snorkelling. We had an amazing day, the boat had plenty of seating inside and out, and the team were great I would definitely recommend this Calypso outer barrier reef trip.
This was truly a bucket-list experience and one of the highlights of our trip. Snorkeling the outer Great Barrier Reef was absolutely breathtaking—the coral was vibrant, the marine life was incredible, and every stop offered something new to take in.
The crew on the Calypso was outstanding. They were highly professional, organized, and clearly prioritized safety at every step, which made it easy to relax and fully enjoy the experience. Whether you’re an experienced snorkeler or trying it for the first time, you feel well taken care of.
The day was very well run from start to finish. The snorkeling sites were excellent, the equipment was top-notch, and the included lunch, along with morning and afternoon tea, was a great touch and much appreciated after time in the water.
One important note for future travelers: the ride out to the reef (about 1.5 hours) can be quite rough depending on conditions. Our day was very wavy, and several people experienced significant seasickness that lasted most of the day. I strongly recommend taking motion sickness medication well before departure—it will make a big difference in your overall experience.
Overall, this tour delivers exactly what it promises—an incredible day on the reef with a top-tier crew. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Port Douglas.
Loved the snorkeling. Going to theee sites was fantastic and we only had around 60 people on board! Lunch was great and really enjoyed the talk by the marine biologist! Overall 10 out of 10!!
Wonderful experience!! The staff was super nice, friendly, and helpful. Three different dive/snorkel spots; lunch; drinks. Professional photographer to take pics above & below the water. Would recommend this experience to everyone!!
This experience was amazing! The staff was excellent, we enjoyed this so much and learned a lot about the Great Barrier
No matter what your level of experience with snorkeling or diving, Calypso will make sure you get to see the beautiful Barrier Reef. The staff is ready to help in any way they can, even a really terrible swimmer like me got to experience the snorkeling experience and have a wonderful time. To me, the Great Barrier Reef is definitely a world wonder. Also the tour was just the right length, we got back in plenty of time to have a full evening of fun back in Port Douglas. My only minor complaint is that the food they served for lunch made me nauseous. Maybe, that's not the point of the cruise, but better food would make for a better day.
Wonderful experience. Crew was very attentive. Very comfortable ship. Lunch and Tea were great. Thank you Timmy and Crew. Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef was an experience of a lifetime.
We found the entire experience amazing! The crew and the snorkeling were absolute top notch. Would recommend to anyone.
Great trip, well organised. Quite a lot of people on the boat so the guided snorkel tour was a bit cramped. It’s a long way out to the reef.
Insistence on barefoot onboard is outdated. Especially when you have so many area being exposed to direct sun.
Amazing tour. we have snorkled all over the world but this has to ne one of the best snorkling experiences EVER. saw so many fish, coral and even a shark.
the staff were great and very experienced. lunch was great
100% would do again
Loved this tour! The crew were all amazing! Really helpful and nothing was too much to ask! The food was great too and plenty of it
From $232.73
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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