Cairns Reef Day Trips - any recommendations?

[nickykim]

My daughter (19) and I (older than 19) are off to Cairns for a week of R & R in late June. She is a novice certified diver and I am not. I am happy enough snorkelling. Any recommendations as to which company to go with for a day reef trip? We lived in Cairns when she was a toddler so I do know how long it takes to actually get out to dive sites etc with the larger operators (eg Quicksilver). Don't need a gourmet lunch but wouldn't mind someone who will look after middle aged ladies as well as glamorous 19 year olds...

Nicky

 

[samh004]

I went with my mum a couple years ago on Quicksilver (the silver cats?) for a day trip to snorkel at a few places. They looked after us well, it was really nice, not a hassle.

 

[markis10]

I think we have some locals that can give very good inside advice! Best trip I have done was one which picked me up at Dunk - given Dunk is closed and Mission Beach still recovering I doubt it is still there, apart from the fact its a long drive form Cairns!

 

[dfcatch]

Without wanting to breach posting rules - but I work for part of the Quicksilver group.

If you are interested - PM me and I can probably organize some discounts.

Without knowing your athletic ability it's hard to recommend.

But assuming you are comfortable in the water and your daughter wants to dive - I would recommend one of the Silver Series boats. Either Silverswift from Cairns or Silversonic from Port Douglas.

Both go to the outer reef, but are fast and smaller and more comfortable than the Quicksilver/Great Adventures boats which go to the pontoon. They are also much more professional in terms of the type of crew that you desire (compared to what we call "the dread hair crew") that a lot of the other day boats have.

Tusa is another company that I would rank 2nd to Silverswift - but a good option if you are both certified and want to dive without a guide.

Feel free to PM if you want more details.

 

[Joy6328]

Our au pair (snorkeller only) did a Quicksilver trip last year and loved it

 

[Justinf]

Quiksilver is fine. Crowded but fine.
Take motion sickness tablets with you and take them before you go regardless of whether you have ever been seasick or not.

 

[Mal]

Quiksilver is fine. Crowded but fine.
Take motion sickness tablets with you and take them before you go regardless of whether you have ever been seasick or not.

Oh yeah, Having around 1/3rd of the people around me throwing up into sick bags was a real highlight of that trip!! (I didn't have any issues.)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But assuming you are comfortable in the water and your daughter wants to dive - I would recommend one of the Silver Series boats. Either Silverswift from Cairns or Silversonic from Port Douglas.

Both go to the outer reef, but are fast and smaller and more comfortable than the Quicksilver/Great Adventures boats which go to the pontoon. They are also much more professional in terms of the type of crew that you desire (compared to what we call "the dread hair crew") that a lot of the other day boats have.

Read no further than the advice above as it is spot on..

I have been on almost ten trips in the Region over the decades and these boats are by far the best for the option that you want. ie snorkeller and diver.

They offer an adequate lunch...but maximise time for why you are really there = snorkelling and diving.

They also normally visit THREE locations providing more variety in what you see.

They are FAST....getting you there and back the quickest = more snorkelling time.

The QUICK trip also means less time and risk of getting sea sick (and by the way I 100% recommend taking a sea-sickness medication BEFORE you leave = guaranteed great day vs possible worse day of your life if you get sea sick!!!!!!!!).

Their price is also EXCELLENT for what you get.

I have snorkelled up and down the Qld Coast, The Red Sea , many parts of Thailand, Bail and Fiji..... and I rate this as the best day trip I have been on. I only enjoyed this snorkelling trip more = Diving & snorkeling trips | mvoktavia.com (though this was a week long long liveaboard trip and so hard to top!!!).

Yes indeed.

First time I went on Quicksilver being a long time boatie I initially wondered why they had so many crew.

With a fair swell running I found out later why...they were mainly their to keep up the supply of sick-bags and to stop errant passengers falling overboard while heaving over the side!!!

 

[dfcatch]

Without wanting to advertise too blatantly - but another reason why I would personally rank Silverswift/Sonic way above all the other day boats is that they have electronic stabilisers. This is one of their best features compared to other boats.

What does that mean...

Well if you're coming in June - that's the middle of the windy season. From April to September we get the SE trade winds - which means on any given day you can expect 20-25 knots of wind from the SE.

Personally I find it highly entertaining to watch. Especially when they ignore your advice at the beginning of the day in regards to seasickness...... My personal favourite is "but I was on a sailing boat in the whitsundays last week and I was fine"

These particular boats are the smoothest of the options available That said - JustinF's advice to take tablets is very wise.

Ps. Of course the fun thing about sea sickness is that it's a group participation sport

 

[Taezar]

Hi there.
I did the SilverSonic Boxing Day.
My review is on Trip Advisor here including some photos I took (including one the guide Erin took of me).
I would recommend the SilverSonic above going out to the pontoon for the simple reason that it is smaller - much smaller.
I can't comment on the diving or snorkelling at the pontoon, but the stops we did on the SilverSonic were very enjoyable. None of the dives were complicated/challenging so your daughter as a novice diver will have no issues.
They had a very good ratio of divers to guide/divemaster when I was on board. 1 guide to 6 qualified divers. In our group there were 5 plus the guide. Our guide Erin was excellent, and I suspect similar to the other guides. She was very focused on safety and always aware of the location and situation of her divers. She also made sure we all saw as much as possible on the reef. All my dives hit the max bottom time of 50 minutes.
I did all three dives, and while the first two seemed a little squished together, you are there to dive, not to lounge around on deck... unless that is what you have signed on to do.
They had lots of noodles for the snorkelers and a look out on deck at all times for them.
One thing I noted was that they took people into the water who were not strong swimmers and they kept a snorkel guide in the water with them. Those that got tired, the tender went and got them.
I highly recommend this group and look forward to diving with them again soon (though to be honest my next dive trip out of Cairns is the Osprey Reef trip with Mike Ball).
Taez

 

[Justinf]

Oh yeah, Having around 1/3rd of the people around me throwing up into sick bags was a real highlight of that trip!! (I didn't have any issues.)

Yep,it can happen to anyone at any time. I had never been seasick in my life despite spending half my life on boats, until one day when a few mates and I went out fishing off the coast of Barwon Heads. It hit me the moment we left and didn't subside until the moment my feet hit dry land. There is no worse feeling in the world. I hontesly didn't think I had any insides left in me by the time we docked. And there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. Now, I always take Quells, just to be on the safe side.
I have done the Port Douglas reef trips a few times. I have seen people's holidays completely ruined (an expensive excercise considering it costs a few hundred bucks for an adult). The boat cannot turn around and they are literally stuck there, vomitting and spreadeagled for 10 hours straight. Truly the stuff of nightmares.
Dfcatch is right about the stabilisers. It reduces the chances of seasicknesses drastically, but it still can happen.

 

[markis10]

I always found having a full stomach on departure helped, for some reason, when it comes to sea sickness. Was never sick in my own boat but prior to that was quite subject to it, not fun!

 

[markis10]

Its also worth checking out what your auto club can do when it comes to booking:

Cairns Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise Adventure | Experience Oz

 

[nickykim]

Thank for your help. Will certainly take up the offer and call. I have been out with Quicksilver when the 19 y.o. was about 9 mths old (and they couldn't have been nicer / more accomodating). Don't usually get seasick but did take ginger tablets and they worked well. Am really looking forwards to going back and seeing how Cairns has changed.