Read part one here.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world and it is an experience on many travellers’ bucket list! Planning the tour and knowing what to expect are important aspects of your trip. I also had many questions before exploring the reef. Which tour company was I going to choose? Would I be able to snorkel or dive successfully as a basic swimmer? Here is my experience exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
First, I wanted to choose the best travel company for the Great Barrier Reef tour. I believe in getting local opinions before I search online, so I asked my Australian friends and asked hostel staff what they recommended. In the end, I chose Reef Experience because my friends suggested the tour company and they had fair prices and high reviews online. When planning your tour, I recommend to decide the length of time of the tour (one-day, two-day trip, etc.), the location, and what water activities fit your interests. Pay attention to pricing as some companies do not include taxes in the advertised price. They may also make you pay extra for activities such as diving, while other companies already include the main activities in the price. Therefore, read the fine print on all tour packages. You can book tours with your hotel/hostel or any travel agency like Peter Pan; find out which one has a better deal!
In particular, Reef Experience was a good choice as they were professional. I chose the one-day tour for AUD 195 (USD 147) which included two reef destinations, unlimited snorkelling, one dive, and breakfast/lunch. The day started at 7:20AM when you check-in and gather your snorkelling equipment, fill a medical form, and pay for your tour. I ate a few bites of breakfast and took a pill to take care of any possible seasickness. The ride wasn’t as bumpy as I expected and I did not feel extremely nauseous (compared to other crazy boat tours), but I remained calm and chewed on some ginger tablets provided on the boat. It took about 1.5 hours to reach our first reef location and then it was time to explore. 🙂
Getting ready to snorkel and explore the Great Barrier Reef!
At the first reef site, you had the choice to simply snorkel, scuba dive, or do both. The tour staff organized groups of experienced divers and those that would be led on an introductory dive. Unfortunately, they placed many of the inexperienced divers as first on the list to dive, instead of giving them time to snorkel and adjust to the water. Even though the diving instructors claim that anyone can dive (whether you know how to swim or not), it is still quite a shock for someone that has not tried the extreme sport. For example, I am a basic swimmer and it was my first time to try snorkelling and diving, so it was a challenge to try diving so quickly. I think it would have been better to learn how to snorkel first and then try the introductory dive. Either way, it’s worth a try and there’s always next time! 😉
The diving instructor preparing newbies for the introductory dive.
After we spent a few hours at the first reef location, it was time for lunch. The boat crew made an impressive barbecue lunch and there were even vegetarian options as well. It was surprisingly quite tasty! When it was time to head to the second reef location, you could choose to do a second dive or simply continue snorkelling. I used this extra time to snorkel and explore the marvels of the reef and various wildlife. I had an amazing time! I would recommend for you to buy or rent a waterproof camera from your hostel or tour company to capture the adventurous memories. Alternatively, Reef Experience features a professional photographer that follows you for a few snapshots in the water; pictures are for sale at the end of the tour. The hours at the reef go by quickly in the excitement of the moment.
Finally, the day ended in the afternoon and the tour finished around 4:30PM. It was a privilege to see the Great Barrier Reef and admire its beauty. The exotic colors of the reef and the ability to get so close to beautiful sea creatures is a memorable experience. Overall, it was an epic event to see the Great Barrier Reef! My goal is not to make it a once in a lifetime experience. I’ll be back!
An overview of tips for new travellers to the Great Barrier Reef.
Note: Tour prices are from summer 2016 and are subject to change.