Snorkelling Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Liveaboard snorkelling tours are a fantastic way to see Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.  With unlimited snorkelling available throughout the day.

If you love snorkelling and being up close and personal with fish and coral in more colour than you can believe, then this could be your perfect reef experience.

Our Liveaboard snorkel tour is a great way for friends, couples or family members to share the Great Barrier Reef liveaboard experience.

Snorkelling is available all day except for lunchtime and when we move the vessel to another spectacular location.

All of our reefs offer excellent snorkelling.

Great Barrier Reef snorkeling tipsHelpful Snorkelling Tips

Wear a wetsuit its a great form of sun protection, and it helps you float.

What starts to be a quick snorkelling session can turn quickly into an hour while you watch some of our brightly coloured marine life play in the coral reefs.

 

Snorkelling Noodles make snorkelling a breeze.

 See the Great Barrier Reef on our Liveaboard Snorkel Tours

One day on the Great Barrier Reef is never enough!

Reef Encounter, Australia’s only floating luxury boutique hotel, is situated on the spectacular Great Barrier Reef off Cairns’ coast.

Guests get a unique opportunity to enjoy the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience.

Enjoy the sunset, stay on the reef. Our snorkelling packages allow time to really to enjoy the beauty of the coral reef and marine life.

Reef Encounter, a 35-metre luxury catamaran, offers all the luxury facilities of a reef resort, making it one of Australia’s most unique holiday escapes.

Reef Encounter has a sizeable secure access water platform, which allows hassle-free snorkelling directly off the side of the boat.

The vessel also features comfortable staterooms and deluxe Top Deck Club rooms, all with double or twin beds and private bathrooms.

Staying overnight on the reef is a truly excellent experience.

Witness the spectacular sunrises and sunsets that rise over the calm, azure waters.

The abundance of brightly shining stars adds to the perfect natural setting.

 

Flexible transfers to Reef Encounter are available daily via a 90-minute fast catamaran boat ride from Cairns or a stunning helicopter trip over the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Reef Encounter has fantastic scuba diving packages. Click the link to find out more.

Please note, this itinerary based on a three-day, two-night stay with Reef Encounter.

First Day

Arrive

Snorkelling:

Unlimited in water sessions


7:30 am
Board the transfer vessel ‘Reef Experience’ at Cairns Marlin Marina for breakfast, check-in and your journey to Reef Encounter

9:30 am
Arrive onboard Reef Encounter for your ‘Welcome & Safety Talk’ before being shown to your room to settle in and relax

10:30 am
 Water Session: Time to snorkel for all guests before lunch

12:00
Lunch served in the dining saloon

13.00
Water Briefings: Certified Diver Briefings / Try Scuba Diving Briefings / Snorkel Adventure Briefings

13.30
 Water Session:  snorkel time

15:00

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

15:30
 Water Session: Scuba dive or snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

Summer


18:00
Dinner served in the dining saloon

18:45
Night Dive Briefings

19:00
 Night dive commences for all those scuba diving

Winter


17:30
Tropical cocktails enjoy the sunset

18:00
 Night scuba dive starts for all those scuba diving

19:15
Dinner served in the saloon

20:00
Dessert served in the saloon

After dinner is a great time to view the stars of the Southern Cross on the sundeck

Full Day

On the Reef

Snorkelling:

Unlimited in water sessions


6:00 am
A wake-up call for the early morning snorkel session

6:30 am
 Water Session: Sunrise snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

7:30 am
Breakfast served in the dining saloon

8:00 am

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

8:30 am
 Water Session: Snorkel Time

10:30 am
Water Session: Snorkel Time

12:00
Lunch served in the dining saloon

13:30
 Water Session: Snorkel Time

15:00

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

15:30
 Water Session: Snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

Summer


18:00 Dinner served in the dining saloon

18:45 Night Dive Briefings

19:00 Night dive commences for all those scuba diving

Winter


17:30
Tropical cocktails enjoy the sunset

18:00
 Night scuba dive starts for all those scuba diving

19:15
Dinner served in the saloon

20:00
Dessert served in the saloon

After dinner is a great time to view the stars of the Southern Cross on the sundeck

Last Day

Return

Snorkelling:

Unlimited in water sessions


6:00 am A wake-up call for the early morning  and snorkel session

6:30 am
Water Session: Sunrise scuba dive or snorkel time. Glass bottom boat tour available upon request

7:30 am
Breakfast served in the dining saloon

8:00 am

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

8:30 am
Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time

10:30 am
Water Session: Scuba Dive or Snorkel Time

12:00
Lunch served in the dining saloon

13:30
 Water Session: Snorkel only session available to passengers before departure

14:45
Departing passengers board the transfer vessel ‘Reef Experience’ for the journey back to Cairns. Complimentary wine, cheese and biscuits served on the return journey

15:00 

Reef Encounter moves to another spectacular outer barrier reef location

16:30
Approximate arrival time to the Cairns Marlin Marina

*Stateroom Check-In time 10.00 am with Check-Out time 8.00 am on the morning of departure. Access to a shared transfer/baggage room with a bathroom is available, along with all other boat facilities.

*Top Deck Club guests check-in time is 10.00 am with Check-Out time 2.00 pm on the day of departure.

*This itinerary may vary due to weather conditions or other circumstances.