Snorkelling can be enjoyed by people of all ages, even with limited swimming ability.
The crystal clear warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef are exceptional conditions for snorkelling.
Our company offers some outstanding snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities.
Reef Encounter our boutique floating hotel offers an outstanding opportunity for our guests to spend one or several days surrounded by the crystal clear warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Our guests can snorkel from early morning to late afternoon. Staying on the Great Barrier Reef gives our guests the unique opportunity to enjoy snorkelling and diving with no crowds.
Reef Experience offers a wonderful day trip that with one all inclusive price that includes City bus transfers from Cairns accommodation houses, Barbeque breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, our fast catamaran takes our guests to the reef in approximately one hour, 6 hours on the Outer Barrier Reef visiting 2 spectacular Outer Barrier Reef locations, wetsuit, your choice of a guided snorkel, introductory dive or certified dive, glass bottom boat tour and commentary.
Compass Cruises our budget day trip includes 2 spectacular Outer Barrier Reef locations, snorkel equipment, A free introductory dive demonstration, Tropical Buffet lunch and a glass of wine, cheese and biscuits and tropical fruit on the return journey, glass bottom boat tour, boomnetting
 You will need Snorkelling Equipment
The Mask is the piece of equipment used to go over your face to help see clearly underwater.
How to use your mask - Be sure the mask fits your face. Hold the mask up to your face clearing the strap from your face. Breathe in through your nose. The mask should seal perfectly and stay on, without holding it, for as long as you breathe in.
If any air leaks in, water will also leak into the mask. Keep all hair out of the seal, if you have a moustache; use a good amount of Vaseline, below your nose to act as a seal.
Masks should remain reasonably dry on the inside, but they can accidentally fill with water. This usually happens when the strap has slipped down too far or when smiling or laughing underwater. A flooded mask can be easily cleared by looking up, putting two fingers at the top of the front of the mask, and simply blowing out your nose. You can leave a little water in your mask, where it can be swished around for an instant defog. Slide the mask strap over your head while holding the mask against your face. Pull both of the loose ends of the mask strap until the mask seals comfortably against your face. The mask should only be so firm on your face to create a seal. The mask should not be painful on your face. If the mask is too tight the mask will leak. The strap should lay flat against the back of your head. Putting on the mask, adjust straps by using the buttons on the buckle of your mask, while pulling on the center of the mask strap. Repeat process for other side. If you are still experiencing leakage from your mask check to make sure: Your hair is not caught or stuck between the mask skirt and your face. The mask skirt is lying flushing against your face. The mask straps are adjusted properly.
Defogging your mask. There are some products made for defogging but a bit spit usually does the trick. You can also use a small drop of Shampoo, rinsed with ocean water (salt water works better than fresh water).
The snorkel is the piece of equipment you use to breathe through.
A good snorkel is about 30 cm (12 inches) in length and approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter.
A good snorkel will have self draining or splash guards on the top.
All snorkels should have a clip to attach to the mask.
How to use your snorkel - You begin by making sure that your snorkel is attached to your mask with the snorkel keeper (plastic clip) – the mask should be attached half way down the snorkel tube on the outside of the mask strap, on the left hand side of the mask when it is on your face should rest in front of your ear.
put the mouthpiece all the way in your mouth, like a football players mouthpiece and close your lips around it. Resting your teeth on it but not biting.
If water does start seeping in while snorkeling, reach back and see if your mask strap has slipped down. Don't tighten the strap beyond "snug," being too tight causes leaking, as the seal can be broken. The pressure of the water will help seal the mask to your face. Adjust the snorkel on the keeper until the mouthpiece fits comfortably inside your mouth.
Clearing your snorkel – A burst of air similar to a dolphin blow, or saying the word ‘’two’’ should clear a flooded snorkel, but breathe in cautiously afterwards to be sure that you have cleared your snorkel. If you are out of air, then simply take your face out of the water and remove the snorkel from the mouth to breath.
Practice breathing through the snorkel with your head out of the water before the putting your face in the water.
Fins are the piece of equipment that go on your feet like shoes to propel you through the water they work a lot like fish fins.
Fins are not essential for snorkelling but they do allow you much better propulsion through the water.
The Fins
There are two basic types of fins
Full foot fins are like shoes coming in a range of sizes
Open heel fins are sized from small to extra-large with an adjustable strap on the heel to secure the fin to the foot the adjustable strap allows for change in the foot shape and size at depth
Choose fins that are snug but not too tight. If they hurt or curl your toes especially, you may develop cramps while snorkelling. If they slip off your heels, they're too big. Better a little big than too small. They will slip on easier when your feet are wet.
How to use your fins - Laying flat down in the water, you should do a scissor kick with the whole of your leg from your hips keeping your legs straight with your knees slightly bent and toes pointed. Keep your knees and ankles relaxed to avoid leg muscles cramping.
Fins should remain below the water line. Your toes should be pointed in the opposite direction from where you wish to get too.
You will notice that your fins propel you through the water. You will hardly need to use your arms and can let them rest easily at your side, or fold your hands over your lower back. Loosen heel strap by pulling out on the buckle and pulling on the middle of the heel strap at the same time.
Snorkelling
The key to successful snorkeling is relaxation in the water. Practice will improve your skills and comfort in the water.
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a mask and a short tube called a snorkel.
Snorkeling requires no special training, only the ability to swim and to breathe through the snorkel. The crew on all of our vessels will be very happy to assist you with a quick easy lesson in basic safety and how best protect our fragile wonderful Great Barrier Reef even if you can’t swim our crew can help you to learn how to snorkel while they tow you around on the top of the water.
From one of our large boats step off the side with a giant step or sitting on the edge of the platform, roll face first into the water.
To remove excess water when you are at the surface, use the “blast” method by exhaling forcefully into the mouthpiece. Place your arms at your sides or out in front of you and remain as streamlined as possible. Propel yourself with a smooth kick motion and avoid continuing the upstrokes of your kick cycle to the point that your fins break the surface.
How to equalize: Squeeze your nose, seal off your nostrils, and gently blow without allowing any air to escape through your nose or mouth. You should hear a slight popping sound.
You should equalize every few feet as you descend, however, do not force equalization. Do not descend any deeper than you can clear your ears. Always snorkel with a buddy.
In the event that you become tired, your buddy can assist you back to the boat. There is a look out on all of our boats to make sure that all of our guests are safe in the water prior to getting to the reef the crew will do a snorkel brief and demonstrate hand signals to use should you get in any trouble. We have a rescue vessel ready if the need arises that any of our guests do require assistance.
Do not hold your breath for long dives underwater. Extended breath holding can cause blackouts that can lead to drowning.
Do not dive deeper than the maximum depth in which you can the pressure in your ears.
Never dive head first into the water, as the lens is not designed equalize to withstand this kind of impact.
Snorkeling with your head at a 45-degree angle helps to eliminate water entering into the top of your snorkel by keeping your snorkel safely above the water.
Always exit the water when you are cold or tired.
Do not dive below the water surface if you have a head cold. Congestion makes equalizing your ears very difficult.
Do not use snorkeling equipment as a tool to learn how to swim. Snorkeling is designed for those who can maintain a basic level of swimming.
Crew members onboard our vessels are well trained and will be happy to give snorkel guides to people who have difficulty or no swimming ability.
We recommend the use of a wetsuit they provide some buoyancy and protect you from the sun and coral scratches
In Australia a blue and white dive flag is always displayed to show other vessels that there are people in the water.
We have good flotation noodles onboard for all of guests to use which help you float and will make snorkeling on top of the water much easier.
Never wear earplugs underwater. The pressure can drive the plugs into your eardrums and cause injury.
While snorkelling you may decide to duck dive under the water to explore a bit deeper down, you will feel the mask begin to push harder against your face and your ears begin to feel uncomfortable pressure. Both are uncomfortable and can be avoided by using good snorkelling techniques
By either gently exhaling a small amount of air into the mask via your nose, this will stop the mask squeeze as it is known. It is an important thing to remember as you can have very uncomfortable side effects such as bruising around your eyes or worse. To equalise your ears, simply blocking one nostril totally and the other partially by pinching your nose with your thumb and forefinger and gently blowing against the blockage. This should then make your ears pop with a sensation similar to that which you get on an aeroplane when taking off. At the same time the discomfort in your ears should relieved immediately.
If for any reason you cannot equalise your ears do not continue to snorkel if you have pain anywhere.
Looking after your snorkel equipment
Always rinse your snorkel equipment thoroughly in fresh water and then air dry and store in a cool place away from the sun.
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The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea off the Coast of Tropical North Queensland Australia.
