You do not need to know how to snorkel, but it certainly helps. The more confident you are in the water, the more comfortable you’ll be on the tour. The crew are happy to help show you how to fit a mask and snorkel and are there to answer any questions. You will have the opportunity to practise during our morning snorkel prior to your wildlife interaction.

It depends on the individual animal. Whether it’s a whale shark or humpback whale, each animal will behave differently. Some are quite curious and calm whereas others are moving faster and seem uninterested in being around swimmers. On average the animals are swimming on or near the surface at a slow pace for them, which can be a relatively brisk swim for us humans! Be prepared to do a fair amount of swimming throughout the day.

The water ranges from 25-28°C in summer (December to February); 20-24°C in spring (September to November) and autumn (April to June); and 18-22°C in winter (June to August).

Most of the snorkel sites you'll go to are within the reef and are between 8-12m. Snorkellers are guided around the more exposed areas of coral that can be as shallow as 1 – 2m. During a whale shark or humpback whale interaction, you are most often in the open ocean, outside of the reef….. it’s deep! However, you'll remain safely on the surface, with a spotter plane keeping an eye out and your trusty vessel and crew nearby to look after you.

Conditions on the inside of the reef are typically calmer and more sheltered than the outer reef. Outside of the reef and in open ocean conditions vary widely. Some days are flat whereas other days there can be swell up to a couple metres. The Operator will cancel tours if the skipper decides it is unsafe to take people on the boat. If you think you may get seasick, it’s best to take medication! Kwells or Travacalm are the most common brands in Australia and can be purchased at the local supermarket. Please note The Supplier does not have any at their shop or on the boats.