Snorkel Only Tour - Opal & Tongue Reefs

Calypso Snorkel Tour takes approximately 90 minutes to travel to the outer Great Barrier Reef. Our vessel cruises at a very comfortable 18 – 20 knots while travelling to Opal Reef and approximately 22 knots when travelling to Agincourt Reef.

Please bring along swimmers, towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, sea sickness tablets (if required), a change of clothes (there are fresh water showers on board) and credit card (VISA, MasterCard or EFTPOS, sorry no cash) for any on board purchases. We do not provide towels for guests, however please ask your accommodation provider who will supply beach towels for you

For the Outer Great Barrier Reef is in calm seas (0-15 knots), with low tide in the middle of the day and blue skies. Unfortunately we don’t experience weather like this all the time so we do our best to provide information so you can decide the best day to travel. Selecting the day with the least wind and the right tide are the most important factors to consider when choosing a day to travel. Calypso has over 34 different reef sites to choose from and three are selected each day depending on the weather conditions.

For Low Isles, the best time to see the reef is at a higher tide allowing guests to snorkel above the reef. Calypso vessels will not travel if the weather conditions are unsuitable. Constantly referring to the Bureau of Meteorology for up-to-date weather forecasts, you will be given suggestions on which days to travel. Rain will not affect our tour and does not interfere with the visibility of the reef.

Operating in the Wet Tropics, we expect rain mainly during the summer months. However, it can rain all year round. Rain doesn’t affect our day to day operations to the Great Barrier Reef. We do not cancel tours due to rain as it does not affect the quality of the reef.

Stingers are a generalised term for jellyfish. During the summer months (November through to May), marine stingers, Irukandjis and box jellyfish, are present in the waters off the coast of Tropical North Queensland.

All Calypso vessels are equipped with lycra suits (free of charge) during these summer months. As well as a precaution, lycra suits have other benefits such as sun protection and also reducing the amount of sunscreen in the water.

You are not alone if you suffer from sea sickness. All Calypso vessels are wide-bodied catamarans for stability and have the advantage of cutting through the waves instead of riding the swell. Vessels do encounter some form of movement no matter what the conditions so prevention is best.

Two types of medication are offered on board our vessels. Ginger tablets are provided free of charge to passengers who prefer a natural option and are good for pregnant women. The other form of sea sickness medication is called Travacalm and costs $3 for 2 tablets.

Please see the crew on board. If you know you suffer from sea sickness, its best to see a pharmacist prior to your trip to the reef and to take these half hour before boarding.

For Calypso, we are flexible if you want to move your day of travel, subject to availability, as long as you provide us with plenty of notice (24 hours). If you decide to cancel within 24 hours of your tour departing, a cancellation fee will be charged. This could be up to 100%.

Cancelling or rescheduling due to COVID19? Please read more info at our COVID Safe Plan page.

Yes, you can travel to the reef. Snorkelling is low impact and a non strenuous activity great for pregnant women. Flotation devices are perfect for extra buoyancy and gentle kicking will provide enough propulsion for you to get around and explore the reef.

The lunch provided on board is a cold buffet which includes a selection of meats, salads, Mediterranean vegetables, breads and condiments. There is plenty of choice for pregnant women even without eating the cold meats.

Medicated sea sickness tablets cannot be taken but Ginger tablets are safe for pregnant women to take and are free onboard. If in doubt, see a pharmacist.

Most dietary requirements can be catered for, such as: coeliac, vegans, lactose intolerance and other allergies. Please call us to advise at least 24 hours before your departure. Vegetarians have a great selection, just avoid the meat platters. All meats are supplied in separate containers. If in doubt please contact us on +61 7 4099 6999.