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Quicksilver Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise from Port Douglas

Badge of Excellence
Port Douglas, Australia
High interest
Booked 4 times today.
  • 8 hours (approx.)
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.6
·
· Adam_P ·
Jun 2026
This experience is a must for the family! The vessel is very large with plenty of room, the food was great, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the location was beautiful! It’s good for all ages and very safe! I’ll go again and again!
· Ray_R ·
Aug 2026
Solid experience good crew communication lots of room on platform lots of fish, warm water, safe and easy in and out from platform.

Overview

Discover the vibrant underwater world of the outer Great Barrier Reef with a Quicksilver snorkeling cruise from Port Douglas. Board a luxurious catamaran to Agincourt Reef, where you can tailor your day with activities like snorkeling, fish feeding, semi-submersible tours, or the unique Ocean Walker helmet dive. Complete the adventure with a tasty buffet lunch and options to take your exploration deeper with scuba dives for beginners or certified divers alike.
  • Vests, lycra suits, and snorkeling equipment included
  • Scuba diving and guided snorkeling excursions are optional
  • Non-swimmers' semi-submarine excursions
  • Expert marine discussions and a buffet lunch are offered

What's Included

  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Lunch
    Buffet lunch
  • Morning and afternoon tea
  • Use of lycra suit and buoyancy vests
  • Semi-submarine reef discovery tour with commentary
  • Underwater observatory
  • Informative talk by marine biologist
  • Environmental Management Charge
  • Drinks (available to purchase)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Fuel surcharge
    A$10.00 per person

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina
    44 Wharf St, Port Douglas QLD 4877, Australia

    9:00am at Crystalbrook Marina, Wharf Street, Port Douglas for check in

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Start time
.10:00 am

Itinerary

Agincourt Reef is a fantastic base for discovering the outer Great Barrier Reef, featuring a permanently moored pontoon for easy underwater exploration. Your full-day adventure begins with a 1.5-hour high-speed catamaran cruise to the edges of the reef. During the voyage, relax on the sun decks, take morning tea and watch a snorkeling demonstration.

When you arrive at Agincourt, splash into the water from a submerged platform to snorkel among tropical fish and coral gardens using provided snorkeling equipment. If you prefer to stay dry, you can still explore the world-famous reef from an underwater observatory or with an included semi-submersible boat tour.

Many optional activities allow you to customize your reef adventure (additional expense). Go deeper with an introductory or certified scuba dive, take a guided snorkeling tour led by a marine biologist, embark on an Ocean Walker helmet dive or get an aerial perspective on the reef with a thrilling 10-minute helicopter flight.

Savor a tropical buffet lunch onboard the catamaran midday, and recharge with afternoon tea. After approximately 3.5 hours at the reef, relax on the return ride to Port Douglas. 

See Itinerary below for a complete description of all included and optional tours and activities. Select the guided snorkeling tour, introductory dive and Ocean Walker at booking; other activities are payable direct on the day of your tour.
1

Quicksilver Cruises

1 hour 30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

Agincourt Reef

Admission Ticket Free

3

Great Barrier Reef

4 hours Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Diving within 48 hours of flying is not recommended. All participants will be required to complete a health questionaire prior to diving. Some pre-existing medical conditions (eg asthma, heart conditions, etc) may prevent you from diving, please consult your doctor
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Minimum age for all diving activities is 12 years, the maximum age is 70 years
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Coach transfers are not wheelchair accessible
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 300 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Jacqueline_R
The weather was a bit nasty but fun was had at the reef. The crew members were very friendly and helpful. The buffet lunch served was very tasty and plentiful. Even though the ride to and from the pontoon was rough I would definitely recommend the tour.

Reviews

4.6
based on 838 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most insightful

Awesome safe day trip to the Great Barrier

Ray_R, Aug 2026
Solid experience good crew communication lots of room on platform lots of fish, warm water, safe and easy in and out from platform.

Great day well organised...

Alison_L, Jul 2026
Great day well organised and very professional. Safety and equipment excellent, food lovely and plenty of it. Staff great. Worth the trip and the cost

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you Alison for sharing your experience with us onboard Quicksilver to the Outer Reef! We're glad to read every penny was worth it! Safe travels and we hope to welcome you back on board in the future.

100% Recommend

Kristie_W, Jul 2026
Amazing experience, snorkelling was fabulous. The staff were outstanding, looking after everyone during a windy, rough trip to the reef.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you, we’re so pleased to read that you had an amazing experience and enjoyed the snorkelling with us! We appreciate your kind words about our crew as they work hard to ensure everyone feels safe, comfortable, and well looked after, especially when conditions are challenging. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another fantastic reef adventure! 🐠💙

Excellent day!

Gillian_R, Jul 2026
Excellent snorkeling. Professional and friendly crew. They provided everything needed to enjoy our time in the water. Even with a full boat it didn't feel crowded in the water.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for your great feedback. We’re delighted to read you enjoyed the snorkelling experience and that our crew helped make your day memorable. Our pontoon is designed with plenty of space for guests to relax and explore, so it’s wonderful to hear that even on a full day it never felt crowded in the water. We hope to welcome you back soon!

It was a good day out....

Mike_S, Jul 2026
It was a good day out. The trip was well organised, staff friendly and helpful and the buffet was great.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for sharing your day with us on Quicksilver. We're happy to read that you had a good day out. Safe travels!

Once in a lifetime but be prepared if you get motion sick

Yolanda_K, Jul 2026
A fantastic way to get out to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reed. You’re on a huge boat with other travelers and have the chance to see the coral and fish whether by snorkel or semi-submersible. A lovely lunch, Lycra suits, snorkels, find are provided. We paid extra for the advanced (longer) 1 hour snorkelling with a marine biologist. My 10 year old and i were nervous in the waves and Ellie was great in guiding us and providing that individual attention while Glen the marine biologist took the rest of our group out to see more (turtles!). Do note: if you get motion sick, get Rx medication and still be prepared to vomit, as many people did. Each way to and from the pontoon is 2 hours. Sit in the back outside if you tend to prevent motion sickness and don’t choose to do the submarine ride. The Crew were all so nice and friendly, looking after everyone. It was well organized. You can choose a helicopter back instead of the ship but it’s an extra fee. Communication before the activity was also good.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback! We’re so pleased to hear you and your 10 year old enjoyed your Great Barrier Reef experience with us! It’s fantastic to know Ellie and Glen helped make your snorkelling experience memorable. We appreciate your helpful tips for future guests and hope to welcome you back again soon!

A little disappointing

Julie_S, Jun 2026
Snorkelling on the reef was great. Lots of interesting fish and coral. Very difficult to hear and see the on board presentations. I would have liked to have done an introductory dive but no one asked and if they told us I didn't hear it. Lunch was good. Enough for all. The submerged boat ride was OK but all of the good stuff was on the right hand side and I was seated on the left.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on your recent experience with us. We’re really pleased to hear you enjoyed the snorkelling, the variety of marine life, and that lunch was satisfying for everyone on board. It’s always great to know those key parts of the day met expectations. It is unfortunate to read that you were not able to easily hear or see the onboard presentations. Our crew aim to ensure all passengers are clearly informed about optional activities such as introductory dives. Your comments will be shared with the onboard team. Thank you again for your constructive comments. They genuinely help us improve the overall guest experience.

A must do when visiting Port Douglas

Adam_P, Jun 2026
This experience is a must for the family! The vessel is very large with plenty of room, the food was great, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the location was beautiful! It’s good for all ages and very safe! I’ll go again and again!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and fellow travellers. We're delighted to read that you and the family enjoyed your Great Barrier Reef experience with us!

Best experience hands down

Julie_O, May 2026
So well organised- safe and really fun. Once in a lifetime experience. Great for all ages to get involved.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your lovely feedback. We’re so pleased to hear you found the experience well organised, safe and fun, and that it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime day. Great to know it was enjoyable for all ages to get involved.

All the gears are...

Trinity_H, May 2026
All the gears are included. That is very handy. The adventure snorkeling was not very worthy though as I did not see any other different marine life.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you found the included gear convenient. Our Adventure Snorkel experience is designed as a guided activity focused on reef interpretation and learning from a marine biologist, with sightings of marine life naturally varying day to day depending on conditions. We appreciate you sharing your comments.

I have mobility issues, assured I would be able to access most activities, not correct

Christine_C, May 2026
The hype of the advertising was not reflected in the actual experience. The pontoon was underwhelming.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the experience didn’t fully meet expectations. The Quicksilver pontoon is designed as a stable reef platform with a range of accessible viewing options, including semi-submersible tours, an underwater observatory, and spacious decks for relaxing and enjoying the reef. For guests with mobility needs, a chair lift is available on the Agincourt 3 floating platform to assist entry into the water for snorkelling (subject to a 90kg weight limit). Daily fish feeding presentations also provide an excellent way to view a wide variety of marine life from above the water.

Awesome trip!

Callie_H, May 2026
Amazing! Staff was all amazing and made sure we had a great time! Also loved that you could rent a GoPro and keep the memory card! Was awesome to go home and relive the memories!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your amazing feedback. We’re thrilled to hear our crew helped make your day so enjoyable and that you loved the GoPro hire option. It is such a great way to capture and relive the reef memories!

Enjoyable day

Kerri_B, May 2026
The day is well structured. 90 mins ride on boat there and back. You can move around the boat at any time. Both indoor and outdoor seating available. Lunch was plentiful and you can go back for seconds. Instructions and guidance from staff was top notch and you are free to snorkel as much as you like.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your review. We're pleased to hear you enjoyed the relaxed format of the day, the plentiful lunch and the flexibility to snorkel at your own pace. It's also great to know our crew's instructions and guidance helped make your experience enjoyable. 😊

Well managed cruise

Abhishek_P, Apr 2026
The cruise was very well organised with high level of attention to details. They even had powered snorkelling masks which was helpful for me as I have a high eye power. The crew were very friendly and always reaching out to check on us. Semi submersible tour was amazing, especially for those for whom getting into the water can be difficult.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for your lovely feedback. We’re delighted to hear you found the cruise so well organised and that the attention to detail made your experience enjoyable from start to finish. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you back on board again in the future.

Worth every penny

Kathy_T, Apr 2026
A fabulous day out to the reef. Once in a lifetime trip for us. Everything was very well organised. The staff went above and beyond and a great day was had. The reef was beautiful and we are so glad we made the trip.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re delighted to hear you had such a special once-in-a-lifetime day at the reef and that everything was well organised for you. We’re so glad you chose to make the trip, and we hope the memories of the Great Barrier Reef stay with you for a long time.

Great snorkeling trip!

Denise_A, Apr 2026
Excellent tour with plenty of activities on the platform once off the catamaran. Buffet lunch was sub-par and seemed to cater more to Asians.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback and we’re really pleased to hear you enjoyed the tour and the variety of activities on the platform. We’re sorry to hear the buffet didn’t meet your expectations. Our menu is designed to cater to the wide range of nationalities and dietary preferences we welcome each day, with a mix of international dishes to suit as many guests as possible. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know, and we hope you were still able to enjoy a great day out on the Great Barrier Reef.

Fab time

Joanne_H, Apr 2026
Great service, friendly and professional staff. The buffet was plentiful and caters for everyone. Clean facilities.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience with us on board with us on Quicksilver. Safe travels!

Great boat ride to The Great Barrier Reef, but too many people!

Lisa_C, Apr 2026
There were too many people on this trip to enjoy the snorkeling. I wish I had chosen one of the smaller excursions so that we weren’t on top of each other on the water.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear you felt the snorkelling areas were busier than expected. Our vessel and pontoon are surveyed and operated in line with strict capacity guidelines to ensure a comfortable experience for all guests, both on board and in the water. That said, we do understand that perceptions of space can vary depending on timing and conditions on the day, and we appreciate your comments. Thank you again for travelling with us and for sharing your experience.

We went with our two year...

Palesa_N, Apr 2026
We went with our two year old. The staff was amazing so attentive even getting me a drink and making me lunch whilst my toddler slept on me. They were so helpful checking times for different activities and ensuring you get to experience everything you wanted to. Even with a 2 year old in tow we were able to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. Go through the underwater tunnel, ride in the submarine and also take a lovely 10 minute helicopter ride to see the Great Barrier Reef from the sky. Absolutely unbelievable and well worth the extra money. Lunch was really delicious too and everything is so well thought out. If you’re visiting port Douglas it’s worth every penny.

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for sharing this lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a special experience with your little one on board, and that our team helped make the day feel easy and enjoyable for your family. It’s wonderful you were able to experience so much of the Reef, even with a toddler in tow! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back again one day.

A 5 star operator!!

Lucas_H, Apr 2026
Possibly the biggest reef cruise operator at PD, well maintained catamaran and friendly service staffs, ample buffet lunch and snorkelling gears, overall a very satisfied experience

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for the 5 STAR review. We're so happy to read that you enjoyed your day. Happy travels!

All day reef experience

Jacqueline_R, Apr 2026
The weather was a bit nasty but fun was had at the reef. The crew members were very friendly and helpful. The buffet lunch served was very tasty and plentiful. Even though the ride to and from the pontoon was rough I would definitely recommend the tour.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your five-star review! While it’s a shame that Mother Nature didn’t cooperate on your day with us, we’re thrilled you were still able to enjoy and appreciate our tour.

Amazing Reef

Fiona_M, Feb 2026
Great experience snorkelling over so many beautiful kinds of coral and fish. Was supplied with very good equipment.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your lovely review and experience with us on board Quicksilver - safe travels!

Great Barrier Reef - must see

Meena_s, Feb 2026
The lifeguards, staff and everyone in quicksilver cruise were professional and well organized. It was a big group and everything went well. The helicopter ride would have given a overall better experience of the massiveness of great barrier Reef. ( we did not do that). The submarine was great to see all the corals up close. We did snorkel in a small area close the pontoon boat and it was Ok.Did not see many fish..

Great reef experience for all

Allan_R, Feb 2026
Great for swimmers and non-swimmers. Submersible had good views of reef and good commentary. Snorkeling was within a corded off area. Watclaws. very nice temperature for snorkeling with some spectacular coral and fish viewing, including some colorful giant clams.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your positive review, we hope to see you back with us for more snorkelling Allan!

This is a Definite!

Debbie_S, Feb 2026
Quicksilver was an over the top snorkeling experience. We’ve been on many snorkeling trips and have never had the ease getting in and out of the water. Saw so much coral and so many fish. The crew were energetic, helpful and knowledgeable. Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef was a Bucket List check off for me and I couldn’t be more delighted. Lunch was so so.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We’re thrilled that we made your snorkeling adventure on the Great Barrier Reef so enjoyable and stress-free.

Great Barrier

Susan_M, Feb 2026
This is a can’t miss experience! We enjoyed the staff immensely their attention to details was great! This was the best snorkeling! Alana also helped us out after tour as we had a flat tire. Can’t say enough great things about today’s tour!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your lovely review of our day with us on board Quicksilver! We're glad our Reservations team member Alana could help with your flat tire too!

The staff was excellent...

Timothy_S, Jan 2026
The staff was excellent and the boat was very clean. Winds and the sea were calm on the day we went out so it was a nice trip to the reef. We’ve snorkeled at other places on the reef and were hoping for more sea life variety but it could been the day we went.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the company of our crew and found the boat clean and comfortable. We completely understand wanting to see a wider variety of marine life, sometimes it can depend on the day and the spots we visit. We hope you’ll consider joining us again in the future, as each trip can offer something a little different!

Informative and Amazing

Wendy_P, Jan 2026
The trip to the pontoon at the Great Barrier Reef was terrific! It was very well - organized. Safety, efficiency and enjoyment were all well-planned. An amazing place!

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for your lovely review of your day with us on board Quicksilver!

Try not to go on a day a...

Louise_F, Jan 2026
Try not to go on a day a cruise ship is in Port as very busy as spoils the trip. Snorkeling was too busy and a little chaotic for weaker swimmers

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback. Cruise ship days can certainly mean there are more visitors enjoying the reef but rest assures, our crew works hard to manage guest numbers and maintain a safe environment in the water so everyone can enjoy their time on the reef. For guests who may feel less confident while snorkeling, our lifeguards are always happy to assist and flotation devices are available to help make the experience more comfortable. There are also a variety of other ways to enjoy the reef, including guided activities and reef viewing options suitable for all abilities. Thank you again for visiting, and we hope to welcome you back for another reef experience in the future.

Didn’t have the opportunity to experience the trip

Sean_P, Jan 2026
We unfortunately had the trip cancelled twice in two days… sadly on the second attempt we received an email at 615 in the morning, to say the trip is on and when we arrived at the check in to be told it was cancelled…

From $243.74

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 41 days in advance.

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