Great Barrier Reef Cruise from Townsville or Magnetic Island

Better for divers

We found that this tour is better suited to diving than snorkeling. A lunch service and other offerings would be a nice addition given the length of the day

Great Reef Location Selection

The reef that we visited was healthy and thriving. Staff could have been friendlier though and the lack of food/drink options was disappointing.

Ocean like glass, hope to make it a yearly outing.

We lucked out and scored a beautiful calm day when the ocean was like glass and crystal clear. There was a couple of thing that could have improved out experience. More detailed instructions on how to find the boat in the morning would have been helpful. We walked around for 5 minutes until another family came along and I asked them if they where booked on the tour too and they said Yes and that they had also asked directions of someone else to how to find the boat too. The boat was adequate however, the fumes from the engines were overwhelming when they were running. I had to go up on top so I didn't get sick. A curtained off section somewhere at the front of the boat to get dressed in and also to dress kids would be helpful as there is only a tiny toilet. The staff were inexperienced at working together and with the boat but they were friendly, enthusiastic and keen to be involved with the guests' experience. We will go again, I hope we get another calm day.

Great experience and wonderful staff

Recently went on a tour to the Great Barrier Reef with Adrenalin. It was a wonderful experience and the divers were helpful and patient.

GREAT DAY AMAZING DIVING AWESOME CREW

All smooth from booking to end of boattrip. Great, superfriendly, helpful crew. Absolutely amazing dive, very nice lunch and actually served tea/coffee morning and afternoon. If you have license but havent been diving for some time like me and therefor was planning to snorkle, FORGETit ,These guys give you all the refreshing you need and makes sure you have a good time under water. Loved it!!!

Awesome GBR trip

Take a day and head to the reef. It’s a bit of a ride out but it’s worth it. Staff are helpful and entertaining. Diving was great with plenty to see and great visibility. Lunch is simple but does the trick. We got more snacks on the way home, fruit, biscuits, cheese and crackers. All that was missing was the champagne. Definitely recommend to all divers.

Near Drowning

On a recent trip my fellow snorkelled took on some water Luckily for her there were doctors and nurses also diving with us if not she would definitely not be alive today. The oxygen did not work because the regulators were changed but the tanks were not and therefore they didn’t fit The crew were not informed. They were unable to reach the coast guard for some reason and the mobile phone didn’t work Luckily a research ship was nearby and we used their oxygen tanks The captain wanted to make the 2 hour trip back to Magnetic She would surely have not survived as her lungs were aspirating. She was airlifted by helicopter and spent 2 days in intensive care. Thank God for the doctors who were insistent on what to do.The owner was profusely apologetic but after I made contact with the company and asked for her trip cost to be refunded as a gesture of good will they did not return my call Just be aware The company was ill equipped to handle an emergency and made no effort for repatriation

Snorkeling fun!

Went snorkeling for the first time and had a great time!! Crew was great, food was great and it was amazing!!

Fantastic Day

I went out to snorkel while my wife did a refresher diving course. We both had a fantastic day. The crew were very knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge and enthusiasm. The snorkeling was great. My wife had a great time and appreciated the chance to dive again after 25 years. Thank you to the crew for a great day.

Fantastic, over the Moon Trip

If there is only one thing you can do when in Australia and in particular in Townsville , then that is to go out to the Great Barrier Reef.. And the name is Adrenalin who you want. These are the people who know where to go and what to do . You can place your safety with these professionals. What a day , my only disappointment was that i did not bring a under water camera. Kick myself for that but i have the pictures embedded in my mind. If you go and do not come back with that over the moon feeling then you have missed out on some thing special. Thank you all at Adrenalin for a super , super day from three of us that went with you.

Reef Dive

Very professional company. Staff were great. It was well organised. Had a great day out in the reef and even had an up close and personal encounter with an inquisitive whale. I will be going out with this charter again. Fantastic day all round 😊

Fun with the fish

It was amaZing! I'd never done anything like this before. I'd recommend this trip to anyone...you'll have an adventuous underwater day. By Harry aged 11

best day in australia yet

this daytrip to the great barrier reef was just amazing! i had so much fun and learned a lot about the reef and stuff :) also had the best scuba-diving instructor ever! thanks to the Crew :)

Excellent Day

Just had a great day on Lodestone Reef trip. The weather wasn't the best but the organisation and knowledge of the crew was certainly the best. The skipper also took time out on the return journey so we could have a beautiful encounter with a family of whales.

Had to do once in my life ... but now want to do again and again!

Despite being a lifelong Qld resident, I've never been on the GBR or snorkelled before. The best complement I can pay is that I, and my 3 teenaged kids, are all keen to get into snorkelling, and even scuba diving. With luck, we might even convince my very cautious wife to come next time! Why this response? The small group, and excellent guides (I think we had about 20 guests and about 6 guides, excluding boat crew), meant that there was always someone to ask questions of. Yet, neither were we mollycoddled or babysat; the vibe was always one of "you've got this". Even our generally apprehensive 12yo took about 30 seconds before he was heading off by himself, and was the first one back in and last one out for the after-lunch session! The reef was the reef: it looked quite healthy, with plenty of fish and other sea life around, and no bleached/dead coral apparent. I certainly didn't have a sense of "seeing the reef before it dies". The guides were happy to explain how the generally earthy tones of the reef that I saw (browns, greens, pinks, yellows) were a good thing. Vivid colours often indicate stress, injury ... or UV lighting in an aquarium. So thanks to the whole crew at Adrenalin: from the office staff who took our booking, the boat crew, and the dive team. You really do make us aware of what a fantastic world we live in! (Bonus points for the sensitive and diplomatic way you handled the dilemma of having a large group fail to turn up on time, then arrive at the dock shortly after the boat had left. Very professional, and classy.)

Small group and great guides

After having gone out on a few snorkle tours from several different places this one way by far my favorite. There was a smaller group and a very friendly atmosphere from the staff

Great adventure to the reef

We did the resort dive. And a snorkel. The crew were fantastic, the reef was better. Helpful, knowledgeable and fun. Nothing fancy about the boat but the team knew what they were doing and made it a delightful trip - nothing was too much trouble. Definitely worth doing if you're in Townsville!

Amazing day on the reef

We took the tour from magnetic island out to Loadstone reef. My husband and teen sons were diving and I was snorkelling and we all had the most amazing experience. Everyone should see this reef before it disappears! The staff/crew on the boat were all really helpful, friendly and informative. There was food flowing all day. The only downside was the hard metal seats for the two hour trip each way, but overall it was a wonderful way to spend a mid winters day.

Had a Ball!

The day started out a beatiful clear crsp (some might say bloody cold) day in the Townsville harbour. The fantastic crew went through the boat briefing and we were off. We reached Lodestone reef in reasonably quick time. Once anchored up, our instructor Yannis took us through the dive dive briefing and we were in water within minutes. The ample fish life gave us an excellent opportunity to video and photograph them in their surroundings. Lunch was served (one of my favourite times) during our surface interval. The food was great and there was plenty of it! After our second dive, coffee was the order of the day, but the other divers has eaten all of the biscuits. (mongrels bahahahahah) We dried off and headed home. What a great day, friendly, helpful crew and excellent dives.

Loved it!

Our snorkelling trip to the reef was one of the highlights of our stay. We were picked up from magnetic island and then on our way. The crew were friendly and well organised and very accommodating of our kids. There was plenty of time to explore the reef before and after lunch (which was perfect), there was plenty of food throughout the day. If you get seasick at all I would encourage you to take meds as recommended by adrenaline as a number of people were unwell the day we went.

Great experience

The crew and boat were excellent. Well organised, attentive, knowledgeable, friendly and instilled confidence in keeping everyone safe. Equipment was in good order and the dive spot was spectacular. Plenty to eat with lots of fresh salad for lunch and fruit and cheese on the return trip. Highly recommend this company and experience.

Great Barrier Reef dive/snorkel trip

Where do I start??! The crew put there heart & soul into giving you a great day, informative covers many aspects. Nothing is too much trouble for them to accomodate their passengers & once the boat anchors, seriously! Wow! The colour of the water has to be seen, it’s absolutely beautiful. Also, Hi Thor 😁 Geoff & Ngaire Dunn

Outstanding trip to a remarkable ecosystem

Excellent day trip to the GBR. 40NMs to Keepers reef. Crew was fabulous, attentive to every customer with all levels of experience. Focus on safety and protection of the reef environment was always evident. We had our own gear but what was provided was in great shape and well cared for. An experienced not to be missed! One small upgrade to the boat might be some marine cushions for the seats for the two hours out and back.

Evelyn fam

Killer location, solid staff, sweet boat and snacks on point. Best snorkel trip I've done by far!!!!

Mary

Fantastic day out, was a little rough going in but the crew were so helpful to everybody including those that were ill. Loved the dive and the snorkel experience and again the crew were so very helpful. My girls and I loved the experience 👍🏾

The crew on the Boat were outstanding!

I would highly recommend this trip to other people, especially families of children between 8 and 13. The staff were very friendly and helpful the whole trip.

One of the best days in my life

On our way to Townsville we did a ultra last minute call less than 24 hours prior departure and luckyly they still had 3 empty spots for outer reef tour. Because the forecast was pretty good we made a resarvation via phone and this was an excellent choice. Next morning meeting at the marina and after picking up few more guest on Magnetic Island full steam ahed. Small group, even smaller what I was expecting and the reef was like from an other world. 2 sessions in the cleanest waters I have ever seen. Perfect conditions, Nadine and her team professionals, well organized, smooth operation. Highly recommended

The best dive company

Awesome day spent diving on the Great Barrier Reef with Adrenaline Snorkel & Dive. Have been out with them before on their SS Yongala Wreck ‘Live aboard’ trip. This is the friendliest dive company in Townsville, with dive instructors who go the extra mile to help you with every part of the snorkeling or diving experience. 100% recommend them.

Great experience

Fantastic day on the reef. Crew was very helpful and did everything they could to make sure everyone had a great time. The snorkling was like swimming in an aquarium. Boat trip bit rough so take seasick tablets . Great day 👍👍

A must do

We loved our day with Adrenalin. The crew is really sweet and really help you with everything. The coral reef is about 2 hours by boat. You can snorkel freely on the reef for about an hour. Then the crew served you lunch. After that you can snorkel or if you want, have an introductory dive, which we did. It is a breath taking experience and we even got to see a reef shark.

Experienced crew and skipper, incredible snorkels and dives on the reef

Adrenaline is a friendly, professional operator that considers diver/snorkeler comfort, experience and interests. Our boat ride was very comfortable, the dive sites having been selected based on wind direction and current. The dive briefing was thorough, personal and aimed at all on board - not only those with experience. All staff were more than willing to assist with gear and answer questions, and provided refreshments and reef information booklets/cards. The dive locations were incredible, and supplemented by an explanation of current conservation, research and management efforts by the skipper. Our on-board lunch was ample and catered to most dietary requirements. I highly recommend this organisation for viewing the Great Barrier Reef from Townsville or Magnetic Island, however, account for a 2 hour boat ride each way.

Bucklist List!

This was my ultimate dream trip! I've been dreaming of SCUBA diving at the Great Barrier Reef since I was a little girl and yesterday (Dec 23rd) I was finally able to make that dream come true! The crew on the boat was amazing. They took away any minor anxiety I may have had and were very helpful. The trip was fabulous aside from the sea sickness I suffered from all day however once I got in the water I felt fine! Adrenaline Dive was a great company to go with and I would do it again in a heartbeat! If you're going to dive I highly reccomend taking an underwater camera! So happy I had mine! They provide lunch and snacks. I also reccomend taking something for sea sickness the night before. I learned my lesson the hard way! Lol

First class staff, very attentive and knowledgeable

My sons and I snorkelled with Adrenalin at the Great Barrier Reef, my wife went on a SCUBA trip. The crew on our trip knew the reef well and looked after snorkellers and scuba divers equally. The briefings were accurate and thorough. Throughout the long transit to and from the reef, the staff were consistently attentive to customer needs, providing drinks, snacks and friendly chat. The reef we visited was quite wonderful and offered an excellent example of what one can see. The dive industry can sometimes get by employing inexperienced staff and just relying on the attraction the Great Barrier Reef holds to attract customers. Adrenaline most definitely don’t do this, they have fantastic staff and I highly recommend them.

Great barrier reef

I have read the bad review's and cannot understand why people have written them. Our experience was nothing short of amazing, the crew we're helpful professional and understanding. Allowed myson and I to change from snorkeling to diving while on the trip to the reef. They had our safety foremost as Cyclone Owen was hovering around and felt at ease the whole time. My wife overcame her fear of snorkeling with the patient help of Gunston (crew member).I would like to thank all the crew for making it one of the best excursions I have been on. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone, worth every penny. Cheers LORIMER family

An Amazing Reef Experience

I traveled to Townsville for the sole reason of seeing a different part of the Great Barrier Reef other than what I saw in Cairns. I had read that the recent bleaching events had hit the southern region of the reef less than the more northern parts like Cairns. I was not disappointed! The reef here was so much more vibrant, and beautiful than what I saw in Cairns. It was as if I was snorkeling in a Planet Earth episode. Absolutely amazing! The crew was great, the snorkeling was amazing! If you have to choose, choose Townsville and Adrenalin. I did travel in June and the water was cold, but it was so worth it.

Even better than I imagined!

Had such an amazing day going to the Great Barrier Reef. The crew was lovely and did everything they could to ensure everyone had a great time. I was a bit scared to enter the water at first, but my fear soon disappeared after seeing what was waiting for us. It was such a magical sight, to see the corals and the fish. I would recommend this company to everyone! We were with a small group, which was nice and personal. We almost decided to go and do a trip in Cairns to the GBR because it was a little bit cheaper, but so glad that we didn’t and went with these guys. Thank you Adrenalin!!

What a great way to spend your day!

4 Dec '18: Awesome day out! The crew (Nadine, Gunston, Reece, Craig) were just wonderful; nothing was too much trouble and they really made the day. It was easy, equipment was good and plenty to eat - nothing gourmet, but certainly hit the spot and fresh and regular. It helps that the reef is lovely: great colour, good visibility and pretty exclusive; no-one else there. Definitely a recommend.

Great snorkel and great dive with great company

Wow. I have dived and/or snorkeled The Great Barrier Reef on at least 5 other occasions all from Port Douglas. And they were really good, but this was great. Great boat; friendly, informative and helpful crew; and a great part of the reef not badly damaged by solar bleaching. The reef is great for snorkeling and great for diving - I did both, while my partner snorkeled and loved it. The diversity of corals and fish beggars belief. The crew really cared - we are in our early 60s but that didn't matter. They put on a good on board lunch and snacks and cold water were available all day. I should add that it is stinger season but all care was taken and there were no incidents. Just a really great day, which from listening to others seemed a universal view.

Great experience

We had a great day out on the boat and snorkelling in the reef. The organisation of the trip was very smooth, and the crew was enthousiastic and genuinely passionate about the reef. Thanks a lot for the memorable experience!

Good diving from Townsville

Despite the weather, we had good dives and decent visibility. Crew was friendly and helpful. Probably give it 5 stars, but the diving in general out of Cairns is much better value.

Great day out with a crew both very knowledgeable and friendly.

Trip was fun with great engagement from crew and captain. Wetsuits and snorkelling gear was provided and fitted well. Food was fresh and plentiful. We were the only people at Lodestone Reef and plenty of sea life and coral to see.

Awsome first time ever snorkel & scuba diving

It was my first time ever snorkel and scuba diving and I was terrified. Gunston helped me relax and get over my fear. Achim was AMAZING, made sure I was ok during the dive and made it a fantastic experience after all. Thank you guys!!! Andrea :)

Picturesque day on the Great Barrier Reef!

We were able to enjoy a wonderful day trip with the crew on the Great Barrier Reef at the Lodestone Reef. We had 2 great dives! The staff was very helpful and nice to have around. The set-up was very organized and roomy. We would highly recommend them if you are going to be in Townsville and want an enjoyable day on the reef!

Great refresher and awesome experience!

I did a refresher for my first dive, super easy, the crew went over it on the way then did a practical immediately after entering the water. Brad showed us around and we saw some great coral structures! Lunch was good, I have a gluten sensitivity and there were rice crackers available for my sandwiches! The second dive we saw a turtle! We focused more on the big reef and it was awesome! Thanks for a perfect diving day!

Must go again!!!

Fantastic crew, learned lots about the GBR and saw an amazing reef! Highly recommend! They were safe, friendly, and very knowledgeable.

Awesome day on the water and snorkeling

My husband and I booked this trip to go snorkeling about a week before the day of the trip. I would definitely not wait to book- there was only one day left that week that had any spaces. We booked online through the website, though, it was a little confusing as the name of the company completing the booking was not Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive. In any event, we contemplated the "introductory SCUBA dive" but decided not to in the end, because it wasn't clear to us on the website what sort of instruction was going to be given before getting into the water. So, we just signed up for the snorkeling part of the trip. We left from Breakway Marina, which does not really have parking on it. If you can walk or take a taxi, that would be best. We were met by very friendly crew members and soon the boat was about 2/3 filled with passengers. Prior to confirmation, you do have to submit information about your health history, height, weight and shoe size (in order for them to bring the correct gear for you). We found our gear in a plastic crate labeled with our name, which made it really easy. We tried it all on and then boarded the boat. The boat does have a marine toilet on board. So, if you are feeling shy, you could change into your swim gear in there. We just wore ours from the start, with layers on top. We left Townsville and then stopped to pick up some additional passengers in Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island. We left pretty early (0700) and didn't have breakfast ahead of time. If I were to go out again, I'd definitely have breakfast. We each also took some preventative seasickness medication before disembarking. I am not generally prone to seasickness, but I'm glad I took it because there was a lot more rocking and rolling than I would have imagined, given the calmness of the water. We had some fruit and cookies on the way out for morning tea. There was also water, lemon cordial, and hot drinks available for the duration of the trip. Lunch was sandwiches and afternoon tea was fruit and lamingtons. Before lunch we had our first time to snorkel/dive at Lodestone Reef. There was a lot of movement around the boat as people got their gear on and there was some pre-snorkel instructions and safety briefings. The people who were doing their first introductory SCUBA dive had a lot of instruction on the ride out to the reef and had to pass a skills test at the surface and underwater as part of that process. The reef was incredible. Huge in size and fantastic in diversity. There was a huge diversity of corals and fish. We did happen to see some reef sharks as well. Some of the divers saw an octopus. We were out for a bit over an hour (I think) and then were called in for lunch. After lunch there was a second session in the water. If you didn't want to stay out for the whole session, you could come and go from the boat as you wished. The ride back was fairly uneventful and took around 2 hours (I think). The staff members were all incredibly friendly and helpful, both in practical terms (around gear and the like) and in conveying information about the Great Barrier Reef and its inhabitants. Our trip had Brad, Gunston, Ariella and Reece. I would highly recommend this tour and if I am back in Townsville would definitely do it again.

Very professional crew and great dive site

Very professional crew and great dive site at Lodestone reef! Very helpful team of skipper, deck hands, dive masters and instructors. My friend was doing her PADI course (and very impressed with her instructor) and I did two regular dives. Good visibility and sea life on the reef.

Great day at Lodestone Reef

The Adrenaline crew were fantastic, and there was plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful reef. We had two kids (9 & 12) who had some snorkeling experience but this was a totally different experience. The crew accommodated our family among the needs of divers which we were very grateful for. The wind was up for the trip, but the skipper made it a shot smooth a ride as possible, and the reef was worth it. Thanks

An enjoyable experience of diving with a good crew

This was my first experience diving, but the impression left by the Adrenalin crew was a good one. The instructors were knowledgeable and had an appropriate focus on everyone being safe and comfortable in what they were doing. The equipment was in good condition (with a minor exception to one of the fellow divers suits) and the dives went smoothly - even when one of the other divers was struggling with ear pain, this was calmly and safely managed. The food and snacks were good and the crew approachable. My only negative thought would be on the comfort of the journeys, though I have no previous diving experience to compare to. Part of this was due to the ocean conditions (which I appreciate cannot be helped), but I feel that the layout, seats, etc of the boat itself does not help with the comfort either.

Fantastic staff for a fantastic dive

The staff was super friendly, they take a great care of people on board. The dive was fantastic, we got a lot of valuable information about the reef and the life around it, it was extremely interresting. The food on board was absolutely excellent.