Reef Boat Day Trip - Port Douglas - Quicksilver

Description

For your experience of a lifetime, departing from Port Douglas with bus transfers from Cairns, Quicksilver's wavepiercing catamarans and friendly crew will take you to Agincourt Reef at the very edge of Australia's Continental Shelf. Here you will board a floating activity pontoon which is the biggest and most spacious platform on the Great Barrier Reef with an underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour and brilliance.

Here, special reefs known as ‘ribbons’ run parallel to the Continental Shelf. Adjacent to the Coral Sea trench, these ribbon reefs are recognised as the most pristine eco-systems in the reef’s environment. Clear water provides the best possible underwater visibility, encourages rich coral growth and supports spectacular marine life. As the region’s outer reef pioneer, we chose the best location available to show you nature’s finest.

Choose to dive, snorkel, or stay dry and explore the stunning reef from the comfort of a semi-sub, just one metre underwater. Watch the fish feeding from Quicksilver's unique underwater viewing platform and underwater observatory.

Spacious Floating Platform
Floating like an island in a Coral Sea, our spacious and modern, dual level platform provides the ultimate in facilities for reef viewing and relaxation in all weather and wind conditions.

Designed to provide the best experience for both swimmers and non-swimmers to enjoy a day of discovery on the reef, some of the platform features include:

Undercover tables and seating
Snorkelling platforms
Semi-submersibles – cruise as often as you like!
Underwater Observatory
Introductory Dive and Snorkel Pools
Showers (fresh water)
Change rooms
Toilets (onboard catamaran)
Post Office Box
Sundeck
Licenced Bar (onboard catamaran)
Credit Card Facilities

The Boat
Quicksilver's technologically advanced Wavepiercers ensure that your cruise to the Outer Reef and the acitivity platform is pure enjoyment from the moment you step aboard. Relax in the luxury of the spacious air-conditioned cabin areas with fully licensed bar, or sit outside and enjoy the cool sea breezes.

Cruising at high speed to Agincourt Reef, 39 nautical miles [72 kilometres] from Port Douglas these superb vessels give you the smoothest possible ride in all weather conditions as their revolutionary torpedo shaped hulls actually pierce the waves.

Trip Includes

Snorkelling
Semi Subermisble tours
Underwater Observatory
Marine Biologist presentation
Morning and afternoon tea
Hot and cold tropical buffet lunch, containing fresh prawns, pastas, meats, salads and fruit. There are full bar facilities available where you can purchase drinks
High quality snorkel equipment, flotation devices & prescription masks
Hot & cold freshwater showers
3.5 hours on the Outer Great Barrier Reef
Fish feeding conducted by crew
Transport from Cairns accommodation (extra cost)

Optional Extras

In addition to your cruise fare inclusions, a range of exciting optional activities at an extra cost are available for your enjoyment. We recommend optional activities are pre-booked to ensure availability and to avoid disappointment.

Introductory Diving

Introductory diving is suitable for beginners. It’s fun and easy and there is still plenty of time to enjoy all other activities on board with family and friends!
No experience is necessary and the only requirements are that you are over 12 years, pass the on-board medical questionnaire and participate in our 30 minute dive brief.
Unique to Quicksilver’s Agincourt Reef platform, introductory divers can follow Queensland's only underwater ecotrail, a series of explanatory underwater plaques that can help you learn about this amazing environment as you dive.
All equipment, including wetsuits and prescription masks (if required) are included
Multi-lingual diving instructors are available on request. All of our professional dive instructors are PADI qualified.

Certified Diving

Certified Divers can explore an underwater world teeming with exotic marinelife, while non-diving and snorkelling companions participate in platform activities.
Certified divers can enjoy one or two spectacular dives lasting approximately 40 minutes - the ultimate experience at Agincourt Reef where visibility is excellent and the variety of marine life is exceptional.
Our professional instructors accompany all dives at no extra charge, ensuring maximum safety and enjoyment.
Certified divers must posses an internationally recognized SCUBA certificate card.

Guided Snorkelling Adventures
You will be part of a small group, guided by our experienced marine biologists who can reveal so much more about the magnificent marine life of this fragile eco-system. We conduct two different snorkel tours designed to enable all groups of passengers, regardless of their snorkelling skill level, to enjoy an amazing in-water experience on the reef.

Ocean Walker - Helmet Diving
A unique and fun experience, see the reef up close during a helmet dive. Breathing fresh air delivered from the surface into your helmet, you will walk underwater on a reef platform - you can even wear your glasses if you wish! Oceanwalker is suitable for non-swimmers and persons aged over 12 years. After a short briefing and subject to medical conditions, you will be walking amongst the reef fish and corals.

Duration

Allow 7 hrs from Port Douglas
Allow 10 hrs from Cairns

Departures

9.30am from Marina Mirage in Port Douglas (returns at 4.30pm)
8am from Cairns accommodation (returns 6pm) There is an extra cost of $18 for adults and $10 for children. Please select 'Cairns transfers' when booking.

Other Information

All inclusive price for basic day of snorkelling, lunch, semi sub and underwater observatory
It is recommended to book any optional extras in advance to ensure availability
Guided snorkelling tours can be booked and paid for while on board from $45 per adult and $22.50 for children
The boat departs from Port Douglas marina (1hr north of Cairns) with bus transfers available from Cairns
Wheelchair friendly - At the Outer Barrier Reef (Agincourt Reef) there are ramp facilities from our vessel to our platform, and a wheelchair access toilet on the vessel. However access to the underwater observatory, snorkel platforms and our semi-submersible vessels is by stairs only. For guests confined to a wheelchair, our specially designed water powered lift allows for easy access into the snorkel pool. This is available only at our Agincourt 3 platform. We recommend guests contact us to discuss arrangements prior to Cairns travel
Please read the important dive information before booking your intro or certified dive
Fully licensed bar on board the boat
Toilets and baby change facilities
Child rates for 4 - 14yrs. Children under 4 years free of charge
Professional photographer and/or camera rental
Disposable underwater cameras available for sale on board
Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years
Environmental Management Fee (EMC) of $5 per person is payable on board as well as any relevant port departure taxes and fuel levies
Please leave at least 24 hours after your last dive before flying

Everything Travel Group Comments

The first thing which has to be noted about Quicksilver, is how amazing this boat is. It’s the biggest boat that goes out to the reef. I took my Mum on this trip and we both had a great day out. You always feel completely safe on Quicksilver the boat is able to handle rougher seas with ease and the crew are very helpful. Quicksilver is also one of a few companies which have a floating pontoon at their snorkel and dive locations so getting in and out of the water is very easy and there is plenty of room to walk around once you get off the boat at the reef. This is a great experience for people that want to check out the reef in a calm and organised fashion. Perfect for families.

Suggestions: Splash out and get some of the professional photos taken by the Quicksilver Crew, the underwater photos are amazing and something you will certainly be glad you have.

Wow Factor: 8/10
Fun Factor: 8/10

Currency Converter Prices & Options

Why book online before you arrive?

Cruise & Snorkel: Adult AUD$205.00
New price: AUD$218.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cruise & Snorkel: Child AUD$102.00
New price: AUD$112.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cruise & Snorkel: Family (2ad + 2ch) AUD$512.00
New price: AUD$554.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cruise, Snorkel & Intro Dive: Adult AUD$347.00
New price: AUD$366.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cruise, Snorkel & 1 Certified Dive: Adult AUD$304.00
New price: AUD$323.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cruise, Snorkel & 2 Certified Dives: Adult AUD$354.00
New price: AUD$368.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cruise, Snorkel & Ocean Walker: Adult AUD$351.00
New price: AUD$368.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cairns transfers: Adult AUD$20.00
New price: AUD$22.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cairns transfers: Child (4 - 14yrs) AUD$10.00
New price: AUD$11.00 (from 1st April 2012)
Cairns transfers: Family (2ad + 2ch) AUD$50.00
New price: AUD$55.00 (from 1st April 2012)

Reef Boat Day Trip - Port Douglas - Quicksilver