On the Water
6+ hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
AU$490
per adult
Abc Snorkel Charters
Abc Snorkel Charters
5
Scuba & SnorkellingBoat ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
ABC is a very small Australian family business and a SNORKEL ONLY OPERATION. 1st class service as we take just 12 passengers to the best parts of the Great Barrier Reef. Our marine guides actually get in the water with you and take you snorkelling. We take you to low use reef areas which are the best areas for coral condition and fish life.
Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Abc Snorkel Charters
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Travellers talk about
(261 reviews)
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
2,899 reviews
Excellent
2,864
Very good
33
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Papiya S
7 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Family
We chose ABC Snorkel for their small group charter boat and guidance, and we will not regret with our decision. If Great Barrier Reef is in our bucket list, budget is not a constraint and you want to experience the colorful coral reef and fishes at leisure without crowd please go with them. Sam and their team were wonderful. They are very professional and friendly. They make you comfortable in every way. Service is great !! Our family loved it and we ever come back, we will not look anywhere else.
Written 6 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your incredible 5-star TripAdvisor review!
We're thrilled to have provided you with an amazing and unforgettable experience on the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas.
Choosing ABC Snorkel Charters for your small group charter and guidance was a fantastic decision, and we're honoured to be your preferred choice. Sam and our team appreciate your kind words.
We look forward to welcoming your family back for more great adventures in the future!
All the very best from Team ABC
Written 8 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Reginald_Chung
Victoria, Canada100 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Friends
You can tell from all the great reviews, just an excellent operation. If going to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket-list item, and you may only go once in your life, then do yourself a favour and spend the extra 200 or 300 bucks and go with these guys, rather than the 100-300 passenger big boats out of Port Douglas or Cairns. The small group is great. The crew is very friendly, fun, informative and super helpful - personal attention to how the gear fits, answering questions and making sure everyone gets the most that they can out of it. I was a little skeptical of a "guided" snorkel in open water, but it worked! Each guide had a group of only 6 in the water, and these guys were educated so knew what they were talking about. Also did a pre-snorkel presentation onboard while we were en route, and had guide books for all to flip through. On board coffee, pastries, lunch were all really good. Had an excellent time, and the reefs we visited were the best i've seen on the GBR, in beautiful condition.
Really can't say enough about this group - a class operation, and well worth the extra you will spend. If you're at all serious about good snorkeling and learning something, go ABC.
Really can't say enough about this group - a class operation, and well worth the extra you will spend. If you're at all serious about good snorkeling and learning something, go ABC.
Written 5 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your incredible and detailed ABC review on TripAdvisor!
We're truly stunned and grateful for your kind words. It warms our hearts to hear that we've made your Great Barrier Reef snorkelling experience memorable and worthwhile.
Your recognition of our small group, friendly crew, and informative guides means the world to us.
We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to hosting you for more extraordinary adventures with ABC in the future.
Safe travel and all the very best from our small team.
Written 8 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Linda M
1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Friends
Right from the get-go, ABC Snorkel blew me away with their flawless trip! Sam, our guide and marine biologist extraordinaire, not only educated us on the way out but also played underwater tour guide, pointing out incredible species. As a newbie, I was a tad nervous at first, but Sam's watchful eye made those jitters disappear, and soon I found myself lost in the mesmerizing beauty of the underwater world – vibrant colors, exotic fauna, and a touch of magic.
Major kudos to the amazing crew at ABC Snorkel for giving me a jaw-dropping, unforgettable experience of a lifetime! You guys rock! - Linda M, Vancouver, Canada.
Major kudos to the amazing crew at ABC Snorkel for giving me a jaw-dropping, unforgettable experience of a lifetime! You guys rock! - Linda M, Vancouver, Canada.
Written 4 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Linda,
Thank you immensely for your raving 5-star TripAdvisor review!
We're super thrilled to have provided you with a flawless and unforgettable experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Sam and the team are delighted to have made your underwater journey magical.
Your words are truly appreciated, and we look forward to rocking more extraordinary experiences with you in the future!
Best regards,
From all the team at ABC
Written 8 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sandy M
Toronto, Canada9 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
We loved this trip. Friendly and professional team.
We enjoyed everything, the small group, the food provided, the excellent service, the great snorkelling equipment.
Thank you guys, this was one of the highlights of our Australia trip :)
We enjoyed everything, the small group, the food provided, the excellent service, the great snorkelling equipment.
Thank you guys, this was one of the highlights of our Australia trip :)
Written 4 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your glowing 5-star TripAdvisor review!
We're totally thrilled to hear that you loved our tour and that it was one of the highlights of your Australia trip.
How cool!
Your appreciation for our friendly and professional team, small group setting, excellent service, and snorkelling equipment warms our hearts.
We're grateful for your kind words and look forward to hosting you on more memorable adventures in the future.
All the very best from our small and dedicated team at ABC
Written 8 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trip31392629038
1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Friends
The ABC team (Sam, Callum, and Toby) were professional from start to finish. Having marine biologists to guide us added a lot of value to our experience. Most guides will just point you to the snorkel spot and let you go. These guys prepared us for what we would see, told us about the biology of the reef, and then pointed out everything interesting while we were in the water. The small group size was a major benefit, as each guide had six guests in the water - any more than that, and it would have been hard to follow him. The reefs we visited had healthy and intact coral - just beautiful. The food was top-notch - fresh brewed coffee, gourmet sandwiches, and fresh pastries and fruits. It wasn't a cheap trip, but it was worth the splurge if you have never been to the reef before. Or even of you have!
Written 3 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your fantastic 5-star review!
We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience with our professional and knowledgeable guides, Sam, Callum, and Toby. Providing value through marine biologist insights is our aim, and we're delighted it enhanced your journey to the outer Great Barrier Reef.
Your appreciation of the small group size and the pristine reefs warms our hearts.
We're glad you found the trip worth the splurge and hope to welcome you back for more memorable adventures.
All the very best from the small ABC team.
Written 4 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen S
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Family
Fantastic trip. We’ve been on many reef tours and this was one of the best. The guys were very informative and knowledgeable and caring. Being able to go to Rudder and Chinaman’s reef because of our small group and boat was amazing. The coral was vibrant and massive like you see in promotional photos. We loved following the biologists and guides in the water with us at all times and following them around we felt very safe.
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your glowing 5-star review!
We're thrilled to be among your best reef tours. Knowing the ABC team's informativeness, knowledge, and care made an impact warms our hearts. Exploring Rudder and Chinaman’s reefs with a small group was indeed amazing, and we're delighted the coral lived up to the promotional photos.
Your safety is our priority, and we're glad you felt secure following the ABC biologists and guides.
We look forward to welcoming you back for more fantastic trips.
All the very best from team ABC.
Written 4 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ayan
San Jose, CA5 contributions
Dec. 2023 • Family
Absolutely amazingly phenomenal. Every penny’s worth and more. We had a guide with is for 6 people. We saw coral reef like never before compared to our prior snorkeling at Hawaii and Galapagos. Great Barrier Reef is unique. Highly recommend if you can afford the extra cost compared to bigger outfits which take hundreds of clients.
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WOW! Your enthusiastic 5-star review truly made our day!
We're thrilled to hear our experience was totally worth the extra cost and provided a lifetime experience. Your comparison to other snorkelling adventures highlights the uniqueness of the Great Barrier Reef.
Having a guide for a small group is indeed special, and we're grateful for your recommendation. Thank you for choosing us and for your kind words.
We can't wait to welcome you back for more phenomenal experiences.
All the very best from the ABC team.
Written 4 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Annika
Finland1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Couples
What an Amazing Day on the outer reef with very friendly and professional ABC-team. Everythining was made easy for the guests and very nicely and well organized. Kiitos!
Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your incredible 5-star review!
We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing day on the outer reef with our friendly and professional ABC team. Making things easy and well-organized for our guests is our priority, and we're delighted you noticed.
Kiitos for your kind words!
We appreciate your support and look forward to creating more fantastic memories with you.
See you next time and all the best from ABC.
Written 4 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
clare l
1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Couples
An absolutely amazing day! A big thank you to the tour guides whom provided an in depth wealth of knowledge in regard to all things about the Great Barrier Reef.
We’re very appreciative for an incredible experience. Thank you!
We’re very appreciative for an incredible experience. Thank you!
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thats a fantastic review with a great review title!
Its what life is all about - Thank you.
Compliments from our small team at ABC and we hope to see you or your friends again in the near future .
Travel safe.
Written 30 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Heather C
1 contribution
Nov. 2023 • Couples
The reef is breathtaking. Incredible views and up to 2 hours of swimming.
This review is more about the tour guides (Sam, Toby and Callum). These guys were incredible. They were knowledgeable, fun and engaging the entire time. Frankly, we’d book another tour just to hangout with them for another 7 hours and learn about the reef!
Thank you all for an incredible day. We had an absolute blast.
This review is more about the tour guides (Sam, Toby and Callum). These guys were incredible. They were knowledgeable, fun and engaging the entire time. Frankly, we’d book another tour just to hangout with them for another 7 hours and learn about the reef!
Thank you all for an incredible day. We had an absolute blast.
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you wholeheartedly for your fantastic 5-star review!
We're thrilled to hear you had an incredible day exploring the breathtaking reef with our guides Sam, Toby, and Callum.
Their knowledge and engaging personalities truly make a difference. We'd love to have you back for another amazing adventure, filled with more learning and fun.
Your kind words mean the world to us, and we appreciate your enthusiasm for our team.
All the very best from our small dedicated ABC team
Written 27 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Flyer593954
Mount Gambier, Australia
Why would you send a bill for $2.50 for a picnic bar when we have just paid $578.00 for 2 people with no food supplied only 1 cup of tea or coffee? Terrible customer service and leaves a poor taste in our mouths after a day out snorkelling!
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
We are really pleased you still enjoyed your snorkelling day.
Many apologies about our miss communication on the day which caused this silly $2.50 charge, which has now been refunded.
Look forward to meeting you next time around for your FREE trip for our mess up.
Once again sincere apologies.
Kathleen O
Gold Coast, Australia33 contributions
What reefs do you go to and how much Time do you get snorkling?
Thank you
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
Like most operators the daily site are chosen after studying the weather forecast. The actual reefs and the daily timings can vary. Depending on distance travelled. Some days we visit 3 different reefs other days 2. The actual in water time can vary between 45minutes to over an hour at each site.
Martina
1 contribution
Hello :) sorry for the special question but is there a toilet on board? :)
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
Happy New Year!
We now have 2 boats.
Our boat pictured on Trip Advisor 'Just 12 passengers'
Yes 2 toilets, we also have Air Conditioned main cabin area, and a covered rear area on the back deck of boat with two tables of 6 passengers plus bench seating behind or lay down area.
+ OUR NEW BOAT
Yes 1 toilet, we also have Air Conditioned main cabin area, and a covered rear area on the back deck of the boat with seating for 10 passengers with further seating for 4 passengers on the flybridge.
Hope that helps and look forward to taking you out soon.
Joanne Weller
Ayr, Australia27 contributions
Hi,
23rd September 2019 is my 50th and looking to do a snorkel trip 7 adults and 2 infants. What do you have available? Is there an all day trip? How much per head?
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards
Jo
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
Thank you for your email.
We have a live on-line calendar and booking system which is available 24/7.
As the schedule changes frequently always best to look here first.
Many thanks I hope that helps.
Happy holiday planning.
Emma
Valencia, Spain6 contributions
Hi, I am interested in your diving tours, whilst my friend is more concerned with underwater photos. However, we both agree that the private photography option is not what we want... For us, one or two good photos would be sufficient. Do you offer photos on demand (like...pay per photo or package?) Thanks.
Michelle B
Charlotte, NC36 contributions
We are looking to book something end of August.. would you recommend booking now or waiting until closer to the date? Does weather cause cancellations often this time of year? I understand it’s a busy time and we’re trying to do our research. Thank you!
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
August is one of our busiest months so we always recommend booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. You can check out our live availability on our website.
The weather can be variable in August with slightly stronger winds than other months of the year. Please take a look at our terms and conditions on our website regarding cancellations.
All the best from the ABC Team
Scott D
Tadworth, UK31 contributions
What snorkeling tour would you recommend for a family with a 9yr old boy but also my 70yr old mum? Thanks
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
With an extended family group like this it is very dependant on individual ability levels. It is also best to keep an eye on the weather close to the day you wish to join us on the reef.
Please check our website for further information on what we offer.
AhamSA
Queenstown, New Zealand16 contributions
Hello, I wanted to check availability for two people on 24th, 25th, or 26th December in your group dive &/ snorkel tour.
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
We do not run on Christmas Day. Best to check availability through our website for the other dates, as peoples dates often change.
Tanya A
Orpington, UK40 contributions
Hi,
We are planning to visit Australia in April and wish to do scuba diving. Please let me know if its advisable to do scuba in April and if there are tours available in April as some websites say that many tour companies dont do dives in April.
Thank you
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
Thanks for your question to ABC.
We dive virtually every day of the year from Port Douglas. Some months are better than others. But there is good diving the whole year around including April. You will see in our FAQ section on our website that we have a more comprehensive reply to weather and water temperatures for the entire year.
All the best the ABC Team.
b0bbiett
Buenos Aires, Argentina
We are going to be in Port Douglas late July this year and are wondering if it is better to book in advance with you or can we book after we land?
Abc Scuba Divin... P
Port Douglas, Australia4 contributions
July, August & September are very busy months here in Port Douglas so it always best to book in advance. There is much more comprehensive information available on our website with a excellent FAQ section also extensively covering temperatures and conditions throughout the different months of the year. Happy holiday planning and we hope to see you soon. The ABC Team.