Scuba Diving from Port Douglas

The Great Barrier Reef extends for some 1700 kilometres along the North Queensland Tropical coast and offers some of the best scuba diving experiences available in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is closer to the coast of Port Douglas than any other area along the east coast of Australia. This means that the travel time to the outer reef is far less…enabling you to spend more time in the water scuba diving or snorkelling. The clear waters of the Coral Sea make for spectacular visibility and great scuba diving. The diversity of marine life to be seen when scuba diving or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas Australia is beyond your imagination. Port Douglas Queensland Australia has long been recognised as one of the premier scuba diving destinations in Australia

There are over 1500 species of fish and 400 of coral to see when scuba diving the outer Great Barrier Reef. Turtles and dolphins abound on the Great Barrier Reef, and during the winter months of July-September humpback and Minke Whales can be encountered from the day boats. Some of the scuba diving boat operators in Port Douglas have special permits and under the correct conditions you may have the opportunity to snorkel with Minke or Humpback Whales. For the ultimate whale experience consider a weeklong liveaboard boat that departs Port Douglas and snorkel with the Minke and Humpback whales.

If you wish to simply snorkel then Port Douglas Reef Charters can recommend two exclusive "pure snorkelling" vessells. There are numerous advantages to selecting a snorkel only boat to visit the Great Barrier Reef- in windy weather the snorkel only companies can take you to shallow and sheltered lagoons on the Great Barrier Reef, whereas the dive boats will take snorkellers to deep sites first up in order to cater to the divers on board. In addition, snorkellers are viewed as potential Introductory Divers on dive/snorkel boats. The crew on these boats are paid commission to upsell snorkellers to an Intro Dive.

Pure snorkelling tour companies select their sites on the Great Barrier Reef based on the needs of snorkellers- ensuring that the reef sites are shallower and more suitable for snorkelling. And remember- 90% of reef life lives in the top 4 metres of water- so snorkellers will not miss out on seeing anything by not doing a scuba dive.

The vessels listed below specialise in providing safe and professional one-day PADI scuba diving and snorkelling experiences.

The prices provided are for a whole boat charter. If you are interested in independent advice on which boat to choose for yourself on a share charter scuba diving experience or for snorkelling the great barrier reef then please contact us!

Port Douglas Reef Charters are happy to book your day scuba diving or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef at no extra charge to you. Our price is the same as the brochure price for each individual boat.
Our expert knowledge gained from 15 years of putting the right people on the right boats will ensure that you receive an honest and unbiased recommendation on which boat is best for you to choose for scuba diving or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef.

If you decide to "wait till you get there" please be aware that supposedly independent "information centres" in Port Douglas are all owned by private tour and boat companies. You will be given information that is biased towards their products. There are a number of reef diving and marketing myths out there...so be careful. One tour shop will tell you that Agincourt Reef if the best there is, another will tell you that Opal Reef cannot be beaten. Some operators will tell you that you can not experience the reef without scuba diving...all myths. The Great Barrier Reef offers huge variety and diversity for scuba diving and snorkelling. If you wish to experience the diversity then consider travelling on two different boats on two different days. Each boat operator has specific reef permits which only enable them to utilise specific reefs on their day trips. (hence the bias on which reef is best)

The Great Barrier Reef is spectacular in its entireity. Scuba diving the great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas will blow you away.

Be aware that during peak tourist times of the year (July to January) the scuba diving and snokelling boats in Port Douglas can all book out up to 4 days in advance. It is far better to book before you get there, so that your choices are not limited.

Most of the boat operators offering scuba diving and snorkelling to the Great Barrier Reef or Low Isles are very professional and well organised. BUT each operator is different in a subtle way. Some boats are more oriented to Scuba Divers, some are more suited to introductory or resort divers, and some boats cater specifically to snorkellers. If for example you have a mixed travel group and you don't want to travel with 450 other people you might like to consider a trip to Low Isles instead. Which boat you choose for your Great Barrier Reef trip also is dependant on the time of year and a number of other individual differences.

Port Douglas Reef Charters have been travelling on all dive and snorkel boats out of Port Douglas on the Great Barrier Reef for the past 15 years, we know which boat will be best for you.

58 foot long Randall Monohull purpose built snorkeling vessel visiting three outer reef locations daily. On Board marine biologist and wide variety of pristine sites to choose from. SPECIALISING in SNORKELLING
		Specifications: Cruising Speed 21 knots Max passengers day;–30 Activities-Eco snorkeling.Includes guided snorkel tour with marine biologist and visits three reef sites in the one day.Instruction for beginners.Sole charter rate from $4000 per day Per person rate from $180.00pp

24 metre 5 star purpose built diving catamaran with eco certification and whale watching permits. This state of the art vessel is permitted to explore the reefs offshore via Port Douglas and most frequently travels to the Agincourt Reefs.
		Specifications: Cruising speed 24 knots Max passengers day 80 Permitted areas- Offshore Port Douglas, Agincourt Reef. Activities- Certified diving, Introductory Diving, Snorkelling and whale watching. Per Person from $165 for snorkelling, valid to 30 June 2008.

21 Metre purpose built catamaran specializing in Outer Reef Diving, Introductory Diving and Snorkelling. Owned and Operated by a local family with 25 years experience in outer reef day trips. Large and spacious boat with sundeck and modern facilities, airconditioned saloon and dinign area.
		Specifications: Cruising speed 24 knots Max passengers day -60 Activities- Certified Diving, Introductory Diving and Snorkelling. Per Person from $175pp for snorkelling, $225pp for introductory dive, and $245 for certified divers- includes 3 dives at 3 different locations.

65 foot high speed catamaran purpose built for diving and snorkeling. Visiting 2 sites on the outer reef daily. This vessel has permits for Agincourt , Opal, St Crispins and Tongue Reefs.
		Specifications: Cruising speed 30 knots Max passengers 100 Activities- Certified diving, Introductory diving and Snorkelling . Sole charter POA Per Person snorkeling from $165pp Scuba diving for certified and intorductory divers also available. Glass bottom boat tours also available on board - additional fee and subject to weather conditions.

90 foot sailing yacht, recently refurbished. Spacious and comfortable, perfect for intimate wedding groups of up to 45 passengers. Loads of deck room, well set up for sunset cruises.Offers one day scuba diving tours to Great Barrier Reef
		Specifications: Sailing speed – 10 knots Max passengers day –45 Activities- sailing and pleasure cruising to exotic and private island locations Day charter rate from $3000- $3500 per day, depending on numbers. Scuba diving for certified and Introductory divers

43 foot OBrien perfect for smaller family groups wanting a personalised outer reef snorkelling day- without the crowds. One of the only vessels allowing you to snorkel and fish in the same day. Air conditioned saloon area and permitted for Great Barrier Reef as well as tropical island destinations.
		Specifications: Cruising speed – 22 knots Max passengers day –10 Max passengers ext.-4 Activities- snorkeling,reef fishing, and overnight/extended island exploration. This vessel is only available on a sole charter. Sole charter rate from $2500 per day . Charter rate is inclusive of all meals and equipment, BYO Alcohol.