Frequently Asked Questions

On the Option A: Low Isles Reef Snorkeling (No Island Access) tour, you snorkel from the back of the boat, whereas on the Option B: Lagoon & Low Isles Snorkeling (Island Access) tour, you snorkel from the beach. They are both the same in terms of what you will see snorkeling; it just depends on whether you are comfortable in the water to snorkel from the boat (Option A) or from the beach (Option B).

The Outer Reef is further out, so the visibility is usually better. In saying that though, the Low Isles is a shallow snorkeling site, so you don’t need heaps of visibility like you do on the Outer Reef to be able to see everything.

The Outer Reef tour is more weather dependent and does not run every day. We have to have good conditions to head out there, and guests need to be able to swim as there is no glass-bottom boat on the Outer Reef tour.

If you have never snorkeled before, we recommend the Low Isles trips as it is more sheltered, shallow, and only 15 minutes away. It is a great option for kids, and there are lots of turtles and beautiful types of fish.

Yes. We don’t take infants.

Our minimum age for the Option A: Low Isles Reef snorkeling Tour is 5 years old.

Our minimum age for the Option B: Lagoon & Low Isles snorkeling Tour is 3 years old.

Our minimum age for the Option C: Outer Reef snorkeling Tour is 7 years old.

If your child is a few months off turning one of those ages, that is fine; they can still do the tour as the age limit is not strict, it is just set as a guideline.

Every child must sit on their own seat (no sitting on a parent’s lap).

You should come dressed with your bathers/swimwear underneath your clothes. This makes it easier for when you put your stinger suit (mandatory November-May) or wetsuit (optional May-October) on in the shop.

You need to bring your own hat, sunglasses, towel and sunscreen. There is plenty of room on the boat to bring a small backpack with you containing any snacks, cameras or a change of clothes you also want to bring. In the winter months of June, July and August, it is a good idea to bring a jacket with you for the ride home.

If you have heart disease, asthma, lung complaints, high or low blood pressure, epilepsy, diabetes, a previous history of fainting, seizures or blackouts, any mobility issues, or any other condition that may affect you while you are in the water, you will be identified as a high-risk snorkeler. It will not stop you from going snorkeling; you will have to let us know and sign the back of the waiver form.

If the wind is above 15 knots, we do not recommend any pregnant women to go on our boats. The boats can be very bouncy, especially when it is windy, and there will be high wave impacts resulting in jolting movements.

Please call us if you are pregnant and wanting to go in the next few days and we can look at the winds and advise.

We don’t do any transfers from hotels in Port Douglas or from Cairns to Port Douglas. If you are staying in Port Douglas, there are a range of local shuttle busses that pick people up and drop them to the Marina.

Just Google Port Douglas shuttle busses and a range will come up. We don’t do transfers from Palm Cove or Cairns. We recommend hiring a car for the day and driving up to Port Douglas. This can sometimes be cheaper than catching a shuttle from Cairns to Port Douglas.

We have a strict 100% cancellation and change policy. This means you cannot cancel or change your trip within 48 hours of the trip time. Once you are within the 48 hours before your trip leaves, the trip is non-refundable. If you cancel outside of the 48 hours, you will get a full refund. Please see our Cancellation Policy page for more information.

Our crew will teach you the basics of snorkeling upon arrival at the destination. We have floatation noodles readily available on the boats and island, and Life Jackets available upon request in the Reef Sprinter Shop. If you give up on snorkeling, you can still see the reef on the glass-bottom boat. Please note there is no glass-bottom boat on the Outer Reef tour.

In summer, we supply stinger suits (free of charge) to protect you from any jellyfish, and in winter, we supply shortie wetsuits (free of charge) to keep you warmer in the water. Crocodiles and large Sharks are extremely unlikely to call Low Isles and the Outer Reef home. These are very safe snorkeling site.

We definitely recommend pre-booking. Our trip times vary every day according to weather, tides, and numbers, so it’s best to book in advance so you don’t miss out!

Our boats have the wrong type of motion, are open cabins and goes so fast you won’t have time to get seasick. Once we are there, the boat sits in sheltered waters behind the reef (little to no movement). We have had hundreds of people who usually get seasick go on our boats and don’t feel any bit of seasickness on our trip.

Yes, you will be exhausted after snorkeling for an hour and a half. It’s long enough in the water to see everything, and you will still have half a day to do something else.

No, the cost includes the EMC (Environmental Management Charge), snorkel gear, wetsuit or stinger suit and bottle of water.

No, we don’t have a photographer on board. You can hire a GoPro from the shop before you board. You get to keep the SD with your memories to take home.

Yes, each boat is fitted with a marine toilet. For the Option B: Lagoon & Low Isles snorkeling Tour, the island also has toilet facilities.

Each boat has a platform on the back of the boat that lowers into the water. Just a few steps and you are in the water!

If we deem it torrential, heavy rain that does not look like it is going to stop or if it is very windy, we will cancel the trip, and you will receive a full refund. On days with high tides and with minimal trips running, we may alter the departure times, so the trip coincides with low tides. This will provide a more sheltered and comfortable snorkel experience.