Quicksilver Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise from Port Douglas

Scuba diving

We did the scuba diving. It was amazing all the staff on the boat were great, are scuba diving instructor Hiromi was brilliant.

One way to experience the reef

This was a bigger outfit so it was impersonal but the pontoon was pretty good in that it had something to offer everyone in your group. I think it’s a good way to go with a family or beginners.

Great afternoon of snorkeling

Had the BEST afternoon! I have very poor eyesight and booked this knowing my partner and friends would be able to snorkel. The option of the semi-submersible and observation deck was for me. However, I got there and discovered they had prescription goggles strong enough for me to use (-8). I was unexpectedly able to join my partner in a once in a lifetime experience! So grateful they were able to accomodate me!

The highlight of our Aussie vacay!!!

This was the highlight of our 2 week vacation! We were so lucky to have beat Cyclone🌀 Jasper the week prior. Everything about this company was spot on!! From our pre-booking and warm arrival to the enthusiastic crew on board the day of. Teddy was our guide and he did such an amazing job as our coach pairing divers and helping those who were at a little bit of a slower pace. The food offered on board was simple but good quality food. We were expecting measly tea and cookies. Apparently, QS is the only diving company that offers those perks. The following day we ran into another Quicksilver location and the service was consistent there as well. The most important part of our experience was that we ALWAYS felt safe. Highly recommend!!!

Amazing experience and very well organised

We had an amazing day sailing to the outer reef and snorkeling. The trip and activities were very well organised and the staff were very warm and helpful.

Strong recommendation, pontoon at the reef a differentiator

What stands apart with this excursion for us was the activity platform. It is a well equipped structure at the reef, providing more space and resources than just arriving on a boat. We've done a number of snorkling excursions around the world, and we found this setup differentiated. The staff were all friendly and helpful. The seas were choppy on the windy day we went out, and they worked hard to keep everyone feeling the best they could, paying close attention to anyone who said they felt nauseous. The boat is built for business, getting us out to the reef in 90 minutes. The pontoon is spacious, with separate staging areas for different activities. It was well staffed and pretty well organized. We had no issues on the day. The swim areas are well delineated and well managed by lifeguards. We did the ecological group intro snorkel, which was good. We decided to take the helicopter ride back, and it was incredible. Seeing the reef from 800 ft. in a new Bell helicopter was an exceptional life experience. The tour including two-way fly overs of areas of the reef, some rainforest and coastline was breathtaking and very comfortable. The two of us had different preferences on the day and did our own things with the pontoon as the central meeting place, including a pretty good buffet lunch, and seating in the shade. We were 100% happy with our choice going with Quicksilver and would do it again. We hope to be back in Port Douglas again in the future!

Amazing experience

The staff across all areas on this tour to the outer reef are super friendly and helpful. The weather on the day we went out was rainy and overcast, however the fish/reef don’t care about the weather and there was still plenty to see! So don’t worry if the weather is not the best, still worth going. The snorkeling around the area was amazing with heaps of coral and fish to see. The boat ride out is only 1.5 hours, with 3-4 hours or snorkeling/other activities. I only did the snorkelling, so can not comment on other activities. I would highly recommended doing this tour. The lunch food is very simple, if you are a picky eater I would suggest packing your own lunch. However you are there for the reef and not food.

First class trip to the Barrier Reef

This excursion was very well organized and offered a variety of options for the day. We regretted not coming prepared to snorkel. A previous bad experience had made us wary, but Quicksilver had such complete arrangements that we could have been comfortable doing it. We took the glass-bottomed boat, which was remarkable. The staff on the boat were personable and knowledgeable and the lunch was delicious!

By far our best Snorkeling Adventure

Our last trip was to Port Douglas, and we went out to the outer great barrier reef, it was such a perfect clear day., visibility was amazing and this is what I expect to see in the great barrier reef all the fish and reef itself was spectacular, since it takes a while to get there you arrive around 11:30 lunch starts at 12 you get about an hour to hour and a half of snorkeling and then you’re ready to head back but I did find it sufficient amount of time we were snorkeling all over the area, and was exhausted by then, we also did the submarine tour first then lunch which was really good, then finally we did all the snorkeling, it was a large boat that docked on a floating platform, it made it easier to get in and out of the water, I would highly recommend this trip, it was the best snorkeling we have ever done

A fun day

Visiting the reef is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Especially seeing the coral and fish from the semi-submersible. I did find a swimming with flippers(fins) quite clumsy but Matt was super helpful and encouraging

Snorkling in a Great Barrier Reef

Snorkling in a Great Barrier Reef is unforgatable. Organisation of this cruise is perfect. All staff is professional, helpful and nice. Thanks to all!

Once in a Lifetime Experience

Booked as a cruise excursion. Tendering in from ship to harbor and catamaran to Activity Platform and back made for a long day but four hours on the reef were well worth it. Quicksilver catamaran was very comfortable and fast. Activity Platform had something for everyone with areas for relaxing, eating, equipment, scuba, snorkeling, submersible, and helicopter rides. The snorkel area was easy to enter and exit, fairly deep except at the far edges which limited viewing of coral and marine life. A turtle did pass right through the area. The submersible was better for exploring and viewing the reef and fish. Lunch was fine given the location and conditions. Four hours went by way too fast. I also need to thank the life guard who was able to find and retrieve my iPhone that had broken free when I exited the snorkel area. Offered him a reward but he declined. First class operation from start to finish. Bonzer.

Great Day Out!

The Marine Biologist was really informative and interesting. The submersible was clear and the guide pointed out everything to see along with interesting facts about what we were seeing. The whoke experience was well organized and seemless. Great experience, including the heli ride home!

Would go again!

A fantastic experience! This is one of the better tours we have been to the reef. Experienced staff members were everywhere. Safe for family ; the boat was large and spacious. There were activities for everyone.

The fabulous GBR

Fabulous day out on the reef! Everything was wonderful! Great hospitality on board, fantastic lunch and awesome reef experience! A fantastic day out with the family!

Worth the money indeed

It is amazing experience worth the money. The platform in the reef feels a little too touristy but on the other hand if you are not a pro or for a family it is very convenient as it has tables to sit for lunch and showers . The crew is super helpful. We loved our day snorkeling at the reef

Emma was an awesome scuba guide on our perfect day on Silversonic

We had a fantastic experience on the Silversonic on April 2nd. This is a perfect size boat for a day of adventure, whether snorkeling or scuba diving. The staff were very attentive and quite efficient in their work. We were impressed by Emma, our dive master. She made sure that each of her 7 divers were perfectly equipped and having a great experience. We Stopped at 3 reefs. Each of those providing a slightly different underwater vista. Saw reef sharks, lots of interesting fish and colorful corals. We had originally signed up for 2 dives and were given the option to buy a third dive for a nominal fee. Lunch was delicious and plentiful. Coffee and tea are provided at the start of the day and throughout. The bar is available for a cold beverage to purchase at the end of a full day of diving or snorkeling.

Great day out on the reef

The hour to arrive before departure was a bit excessive but boarding was relatively smooth and the boat wasn’t so full we couldn’t find a seat. The ride out was nice and they explained all of the things to do and how the platform worked. The snorkeling was great and better than expected. Luckily there wasn’t much bleached coral in the area they took us. The semi sub was interesting too. We didn’t do the guided snorkel and felt like we saw enough fish and wildlife otherwise.

Safe bet to explore the reef

Well organised. Food is decent too. The formula works and everything is smooth and professional. Large fast boat is a plus in wavey weather

Incredible experience!

The ship is incredible and the ride is so smooth. The snorkeling is wonderful but watch out for jellyfish! Enjoyed the walk thru underwater aquarium. The best experience was the helicopter ride over the Reef. What an experience and beautiful visual spectacle. The colors are unbelievable from the sky and the sights are memorable. Worth every penny!

Amazing experience with super nice crew

We went diving with the Poseidon vessel and had the best time. They picked the very best spots for our dives, so we were lucky enough to see many stunning underwater animals. Our instructor Gordon was guiding us through the dives with utmost care and also handled it very well when fellow divers of our group did not follow the instructions. And he was super funny and we laughed a lot :) The rest of the staff was also very friendly and made us feel to be in good hands throughout the whole trip. I can highly recommend this tour for diving.

Awesome adventure!

Such a great day out. Snorkelling as well as semi submerged vessel to view the reef Saw turtles, Bass, Trevally and so many fish. Coral was unreal up close. You could snorkel as many times as you liked in a safe area close to the boat. So much to see and easy access. All equipment supplied. Lunch was amazing on board. Our teenage son had a great time. Hubby couldn't snorkel but had fun in the glass vessel plus watching fish feeding from a platform. There was even a fellow in a wheelchair snorkeling. Highly recommend this trip.

A great day out

A superb day. The weather was great. Not a cloud in the sky. Made for some super pictures of Agincourt Reef. Booking staff (Sheraton Mirage), Mini bus, boat and pontoon staff lovely and very helpful. Good lunch. Activities including cruise, helicopter ride, snorkelling and submarine excellent. A lovely day.

There may be 200 people with you at the same time

If I could rate this 3.5 stars I would. Okay it was a thrill and I was so happy that we were actually snorkeling the Great Barrier reef. It was an hour from the port to get to the landing site. The crew will quickly dispense Sting suits. You will want to wear that as there were jellyfish. The crew can dispense out the sizes without asking. I wish I could take them shopping with me! And they are always going to be right on the size you should have. It was a bit choppy when we were there. If you don't have physical strength or stamina this might not be the place for you. They have a diving ledge and they have ropes that a lot of people were clinging to. It did get quite a bit crowded. This is why I did not rate it for stars. People were getting in the way. One highlight was they had photographers. You'll be able to purchase photos on your way back to Port. If you can ask them to email that will be your best bet. They have an underwater sub ride. Do it. It was a lot of fun Great view under the water. Food was just okay.

Fantastic experience

We have snorkeled many places but have never seen such massive beautiful coral ! The crew were so very nice and we were surprised by the delicious buffet that was served. We enjoyed the submarine ride as well with great commentary .

A magical day - the weather was perfect

A magical day - the weather was perfect plus the catamaran was only half full so loads of room. Helpful, friendly staff on board. After about 90 mins arrived at Great Barrier Reef pontoon. Plenty of good quality equipment again helpful staff with a good lunch included. Semi submersal sub also gave an interesting experience. Highlight was at extra cost the helicopter with views of the reef from above.

Amazing combination of enjoyable experiences

Wonderful excursion. So well organized from begining to end. Very friendly staff, helpful and efficient.

Great Barrier Reef Boat Trip for Divers & Snorkelling

Absolutely the best day ever and worth every penny . We booked to go ( mother & daughter ) A long held dream to visit the GBR . My daughter is a diver & I wanted day to be a joint experience despite me just snorkelling . From beginning to end it was a full day of magic with great views, a lovely boat and fantastic food. The staff were really knowledgeable and hands on in terms of interaction and helping you get the most out of your chosen swim / dive . Everything was provided and I can’t recommend highly enough . Thanks Quicksilver ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great Experience

A great way to experience the Great Barrier Reef. Great staff, good equipment, good food and a nice boat. We did a full day trip- three locations, each one better than the last. Snorkeled, but would have like to have dove. However, you need to book that in advance.

Great dives!!

Excellent!! We did 3 dives on the outer reef. Each dive was different and all of them were phenomenal! So much to see! The reef is beautiful, saw sharks, giant clams, tons of beautiful fish!! The crew was the best part of the day though!! Very professional, efficient and organized!! Gordon led our group and made it a blast!! Knowledge and fun!! I would definitely dive with them again!

Avoid at all costs. Book with a small private charter!

This was a horrible experience. Trip from shore on a “luxury catamaran” that was anything but. Not enough seats for the 400 (yes, 400) people on board. Found the last two seats outside aft, where announcement could not be heard 1-1/2 hour trip out to the reef platform. Free for all on arrival to get a seat, get equipment and don a stinger suit. Fight to get on the platform to enter the water. Pump into hundreds of other snorkelers murky water due to all the swimmers made it difficult to see. Strong currents as well. Snorkeled for about 30 minutes before we gave up. Got out and had a mediocre lunch. Went back on the catamaran to wait for everyone to finish. Bought canned gin and tonics for $11 each. 1-1/2 return trip.

Bucket list

We weren’t prepared for that many people on the tour. When it came time to go snorkeling it was a bit chaotic finding the right size Lycra suits and snorkels and masks. Then entering the water was very crowded. There was quite a current to fight and too many people in the water in a small area. The coral reef was beautiful and we saw some beautiful fish. It just wasn’t quite the adventure we dreamed of. Crew was all very friendly.

Disappointing…not worth it

Just because a boat has capacity does not mean that it should be filled to capacity. While I truly understanding the economics of running a business, it is a shame when the customer experience is compromised by overcrowding. On a recent trip the boat was filled with passengers and the overall experience was impacted in 2 meaningful ways: -The air conditioning could not keep and it was sweltering on the boat -There was a very long line to get in the water to snorkel and the snorkeling area had so many people that it was hard to really enjoy the in-water experience. Additionally, the underwater observatory is a joke as there is little visibility and it seems some window work is needed to improve the viewing. On a positive note the staff was very helpful and eager to please.

Great experience

Friendly crew, an amazing activity and an absolute must do. The opportunity to relax on the pontoon between the sub ride, snorkeling and scuba for those that chose to do so. Just great. Plenty of food available for lunch and a good variety.

Amazing!

Absolutely amazing experience. Recently travelled on the Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef cruise, so many things on offer at the pontoon. Staff were friendly and well organised. Trip to the reef was smooth and informative throughout the journey. Plenty of fish to see at the reef and the fish feeding was great. Would highly recommend as a must do!

Outer barrier reef

Easy to book, great pre-trip communication, checking in was a breeze. All the crew were friendly and the facilities very good. We had booked just as the cyclone had hit Queensland. Quicksilver reached out to us a few times to check where we were staying and make sure we were okay to get to the marina. They arranged alternative plans for those that were staying outside of Port Douglas. We were kept well informed and really appreciated hearing directly from people in the area.

Fantastic day out on the reef

Great visibility and abundance of fish, coral and a turtle spotted. Comfortable journey and excellent lunch provided.

Awesome Day!

Just wow! If you are looking to spend a fantastic day on the outer reef, go with Quicksilver. These people know what they are doing; your safety and enjoyment are #1 & 2 on their list. I'm a newbie snorkler and was a bit nervous, but the staff helped me every step of the way from equipment selection to getting in the water. When I snorkled, I couldn't believe how easy it was, but more importantly, how beautiful the reef is. What a great day. The food buffet was delicious, too. Thank you, Quicksilver, for a very memorable day at the GB Reef. One I will never forget.

Not really worth it for snorklers. Scuba divers probably won't complain.

The cruise was a disappointment for us as snorklers. The platform is far from the reef so when you snorkel you only see it deep below you. You need to swim quite far from the platform to get closer to the parts where the reef is closer to the surface, but even then it's still deep. Scuba divers probably won't complain. You get to see some of the reef from the glass-bottom boats, and that's probably good enough for parents with kids and those who don't want to get wet. The whole cruise seems to be a family-orientated matter as there are lots of small childern there as well as seniors.

Wow wow wow

The whole excursion was very well organised Staff were always very helpful Outing of a life time and I’m just so pleased we did it

Do the intro scuba diving - you won’t regret it!

Amazing scuba dive on quick silver barrier reef cruise. Had always wondered if I could scuba dive. At 60 years old I did the intro dive and it was amazing. Gus our instructor was so good! Always felt safe and saw amazing fish and coral. Recommend you go for it!!

the best and only thing to do in port douglas

this was the most amazing company Totally on time picking you up at your hotel right on time as well friendly service. Thank you. for making our time. in Port Douglas, the best If it wasn’t for the two days we had with this company it would’ve been a horrible time here The rest of our experiences were terrible Other companies pretended and took advantage of tourist during the cyclone but not this company they treated us fairly, was respect and gave good prices. Also, the meals were fantastic. The service was impeccable. Our scuba guides were phenomenal and safety was amazing and they were so highly efficient. I just loved this company.

Beware of the Ocean Walk scam!

We just returned from our trip to Australia and New Zealand which included a couple of days in Port Douglas and snorkeling tour booked with Quicksilver. I wanted to share our experience with this tour so that other are better prepared. We booked this well in advance and chose to add the introductory snorkeling tour. First, the good things about the tour and Quicksilver. All the logistics at the port went smoothly. Cruise to the reef on the big catamaran was smooth and snorkeling equipment provided on the pontoon at the reef was fine. Upon checking in with the guided snorkeling tour leader on the boat, we were advised that if we are not comfortable with swimming for 45 minutes with the group, we should perhaps not do this tour and they will refund it if we choose not to do it. None of us are strong swimmers so we were discussing this. At this time, they suggested that perhaps the "Ocean Walk" helmet dive might suit us better since it involves no swimming. So, we talked to the person handling the Ocean Walk. We had no idea what it was. Person responsible explained that it was a pressurized helmet dive where in you dive and walk to the reef on a platform under water and will be guided by experienced scuba divers. We are assured that this would not interfere with any other activities that we want to at the reef. So, we opted for this very expensive dive and opted out of guided snorkeling tour. This turned out to be a big mistake! After a while we were give a time slot of 1pm for the dive. We were told to be at the dive platform 10 minutes before the slot and warned NOT to go any semi-sub tours (free) that start after 12.30pm. The boat arrived at the pontoon a little after 12.00 and Quicksilver put out a pretty good lunch spread. We had a 1pm slot for the dive so we decided to eat lunch first which took 15-20 min. Since we were told we shouldn't get on the semi-sub tour after 12.30, and it would take too long to put snorkeling gear on and snorkel for a bit on our own, we just hung around and decided to do the tour of the "Underwater Observatory". Underwater Observatory was the first let down. You go down the steps for may be 1 or 2 meters and there is a windowed chamber under the water that is a few meters long. There was no one there and that should've been a tip off that this is waste of time. We did not see anything through the windows other than the reef in the distance and the red fish they "feed" so that they hang around. Was very disappointed, but the helmet dive should be fun right? Next was helmet diving which we were very exited about. We put on the heavy gear and was lead down a stair case in to the water. This is where the scam unfolded. This wasn't any kind of "Ocean Walk"! You just stay on a platform under water (probably 3-4 meters below) holding on to a rail facing the reef. The guide with scuba gear will then perform some "tricks" for you such as feeding the same red fish that appear to hang around because they are used to the feeding and the guide blowing bubbles at you! You don't see any other marine life of the reef. They also take some pictures and video that they later try to sell!. That is it! So, we paid as much as the actual cruise for this stupid trick and wasted all our time! It was 1.30pm by the time we got out and returned the gear. We were told that we had till 2.00pm to return to the boat to leave. At this point, we haven't done any meaningful reef activity, and we only have a few minutes. There is a semi-sub tour at 1.40 and that was the last one. So, we had to choose between doing some snorkeling on our own or do the sub tour and not do any snorkeling! We didn't travel half around the world to not snorkel on the GBR at all, so we chose to do that. Our friends that were with us only did a few minutes of snorkeling and got on the last trip. Snorkeling on the reef by ourselves was amazing. As we venture out on to the reef we were treated to tons of marine life and the beautiful reef itself. It would've been wonderful to spend more time doing that as opposed to wasting time with the Ocean Walk scam!! Then our friends returned from the sub-tour and told/showed the magnificent views of the bustling reef they saw from the sub. We were mad that we missed that (free) tour because of the stupid helmet dive. We are very disappointed that we spent a lot of time and money to get to GBR only to be scammed by the stupid helmet dive. I would've gladly paid more for the actual cruise instead of this scam. I would've rated this five stars as well. Buyer beware and know what you are getting in to. If I were to do this again (which probably won't happen in my lifetime), I would skip lunch (it was good, but takes time) and would stick with the guided tour. Keep in mind you only have about 2 - 2.5 hours at the reef and spend it wisely!

Amazing Scuba Trip with Adam from Quicksilver

Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef had been on our bucket list for many years . Chris was extremely helpful and suggested going out with a private instructor . He put us together with Adam from the Quicksilver team who was amazing ! We were met on arrival and he looked after us all day. All of the equipment was sorted out for us and the whole process was seamless. The diving was stunning and Adam was the perfect guide. The catering on the boat was great and the crew fun and really friendly . If you are travelling to Port Douglas and are planning a scuba trip go with Quicksilver !

You must snorkel

After looking at photos when I got back I realise that the reef does not look like a coral atoll, so I got over my initial disappointment, as it really looks like seaweedy rocks. The trip out, the instructions given were all great. Snorkeling for the second time only - first time was 20 years ago, now at the age of 72 I was rather apprehensive. I needn't have been It was great. Good safety instructions given, but I found the actual area to snorkel in a bit limited - the fish were rather nice though. Buffet on board was lovely and a good variety of foods on offer. We also did the semi submersible trip and saw sea turtles and more and the rather limited sea walk from the pontoon. The boat was not at all full - no ships were in port otherwise it would have been a much different experience. The add ons that you could purchase were rather expensive, such as walking on the sea floor with a divers helmet on and a short helicopter ride. However so glad we could tick off an item on the 'bucket list' with a delightful day.

A Perfect Day on the Great Barrier Reef

Literally, a perfect day! Extremely well organized, unhurried, well designed trip to the outer reef. The team at Quicksilver were friendly, informative and helpful and did everything imaginable to make the tour fun. Add ons abound(helicopter flights, scuba, snorkeling with a marine biologist) so you can do whatever floats your boat. Lunch on board the pontoon was excellent. We wouldn’t change anything about this tour. A+

Perfect day

Great day out at the reef. Perfect weather,staff very friendly, lunch was delicious,snorkelling was excellent,highly recommend

A great chance to try different activities

What a fantastic trip. We really appreciated the range of activities available on the platform and added a helicopter ride for the most amazing aerial view of the Reef. Everything was well organised and instructions were clear. We felt really safe. There was a really informative talk from the marine biologist, setting the scene and dispelling some myths. Lunch was a good buffet with some hot food if you wanted it. We did the semi submersible trip straight away on reaching the pontoon. Mesmerising! Then we got the chance to do a short helicopter ride and what an amazing view! Safety was obviously paramount but they gave us a unique look at the coral from above. Then it was time for the snorkelling. A bucket list activity for my 70th birthday! Lots of help and encouragement from this lively and friendly crew. This is a trip well worth doing. Thanks everyone.

An incredible day out - Strongly recommend !

This was an excellent day out. We were picked up from our hotel by minibus by a driver who was chatty and explained the arrangements for the day ahead. Driven the short distance to the port. A boat trip to the pontoon at Agincourt Reef part of the barrier reef, the term pontoon conjures up an image of a small platform, but this is sizeable and includes different sections, a kitchen area, showers, changing rooms, also an underwater viewing gallery. Once on board we were required to fill in a form detailing our previous snorkelling/diving experience (if any) and whether we had any relevant medical conditions. A knowledgeable member of the diving crew went over our responses with us and reassured us that all levels of snorkelling ability (or non ability!) could be catered for and there were lifeguards available to supervise. There was an excellent talk from a marine biologist about the coral reef, fish and wildlife The submersible trip was excellent saw lots of fish and 2 turtles. Took the helicopter ride over the reef at an additional cost which was excellent too. Lycra (sting) suits are provided as are buoyancy aids, snorkels,masks and flippers. The snorkelling experience was excellent loads of tropical fish to see. The lunch provided was excellent There is a gift shop on board too. All the staff were knowledgeable, friendly and courteous. They are very well trained and want to ensure all guests have an enjoyable time. Bus back to hotel The day lasted from pick up at 9.15 am to hotel return at 4.30pm An excellent day out and one of the highlights of our holiday.

Awesome

The snorkelling. All very professionally organised & very safety orientated. Food , service & staff wete amazing.