What to pack for a Great Barrier Reef snorkel trip
Most reef boats supply the snorkel gear, so your bag is mostly about sun and spray. Below are twelve things we would pack, and why the sunscreen you choose matters at the reef. Two trips list less, and we say what to check on those.
What the boat already gives you
You do not need to own a mask or fins. Snorkel gear is listed on Passions of Paradise from ~$189 and on Ocean Freedom. Pure Snorkelling's half day from ~$144 lists it too, as does the snorkel option of the Green Island day.
For Wavelength and Iconic Whitsunday, check the listing for gear before you go. Stinger suits get their own page, our guide to stinger season, since they matter for more than jellyfish.
Twelve items for the day bag
- Reef-safe sunscreen. Whatever is on your skin rinses off into the water and onto the coral below. Choose one sold as reef safe and put it on well before you get in;
- A hat. A wide brim or a cap with a cord, since the deck is windy and a hat that goes over the side is gone;
- Polarized sunglasses. Glare off the water wears on the eyes over a long day, and polarized lenses make reef patches easier to see from the deck;
- Your swimsuit, worn under your clothes. Changing space on a busy boat can be tight, and arriving ready saves you a queue;
- A towel. Some boats lend them and some do not, so bring your own if the listing does not say;
- A dry bag or zip bag for your phone. Spray reaches most of an open deck on the way out, and a wet bag sits there all day;
- Motion-sickness tablets. Take them before you board if you tend to feel unwell. Our seasickness guide has eight more tips;
- A refillable water bottle. Sun and salt dry you out faster than you notice while you are in the water;
- An underwater camera or a phone pouch. Test a pouch in a sink at home before you trust a phone to it at sea;
- A long-sleeved top for the ride back. Wet hair and wind on the return trip feel cool, even after a warm day;
- Cash or a card. For drinks at the bar and for any photos sold on board;
- Your prescription, for the mask. Some boats carry prescription masks, so ask ahead if you wear glasses.
Why sunscreen choice matters out there
A popular reef site sees a lot of snorkelers over a day, and whatever is on their skin ends up in the water. Brands sold as reef safe leave out some of the ingredients that raise concern for coral.
A stinger suit covers most of your body, so you need far less cream than on a beach. Put it only on the skin a suit leaves bare. That means your face and neck plus your hands and feet.
Apply it on the way to the marina rather than on the boat. It has time to settle, and less of it slides off the moment you hit the water.
Food and money on board
What you pay for on board depends on the trip. Passions of Paradise includes a chef-prepared lunch with tropical fruit, but drinks from its bar are paid by cash or card. Ocean Freedom includes a smorgasbord lunch with smoked salmon and prawns.
Pure Snorkelling serves snacks rather than lunch, so eat before the 11:00 am check-in. Hotel transfers on Passions of Paradise cost extra (A$25 from Cairns city, A$45 from the Northern Beaches).
Our price guide sets out what each of the six tours includes. It also explains why the same trip can cost a different amount on the two booking sites.
Green Island packs a little differently
A Green Island day mixes reef with a beach and a rainforest walk, so sandals you can walk in are handy. The snorkel option includes the gear, or you can choose the glass bottom boat and stay dry.
Great Adventures guests can also use an island pool, which suits younger children. Our page on a reef day with children has more on packing for a family.
A reef day with a beach attached
Great Adventures runs half or full days to Green Island from Cairns on a fast catamaran, with hotel pickup listed on Viator. It holds 4.4 from 2,000+ reviews, the lowest score of our six, and the island gets busy.
The trade is clear enough. You get turtles often seen near the island and an easy crossing, but not the outer reef. Our outer reef or Green Island comparison sets the two side by side.
Port Douglas and the Whitsundays
Wavelength boards at 8:10 am at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, so pack the night before. Our page on Port Douglas or Cairns covers the drive north if you are staying in the city.
Iconic Whitsunday from ~$229 rides a jet speedboat, so the dry bag matters more there. The day also includes a bushwalk up to the Hill Inlet lookout, which calls for shoes rather than flip-flops.
What to leave at the hotel
Leave behind anything you would hate to see soaked. Bags sit near the open deck for hours, and spray gets into zips and pockets on a breezy day.
A small backpack is enough for the twelve items above. If you own a mask that fits you well, bring it along, since a good seal makes the first swim much easier.
Nervous in the water? Our page on snorkeling when you can't swim lists the floats and guided options crews lend, so you can travel light and still feel safe.