The Quicksilver folks are very well organized. They take about 200 people out to their permanent platform on the outer barrier reef. They’re well organized in getting all those people their Lycra suits, masks, snorkels, fins.
The platform has a great way to get people into the water. After getting into your Lycra suit, you go sit on a bench that is already submerged in water, so your legs are submerged. The staff assist you in donning your fins, mask, snorkel and you can then just lean forward and swim off the platform. Very slick.
Ample food and beverages were provided for the passengers. The information and safety briefings were all good. There are lifeguards in the water and on the platform watching all the snorkelers. They seemed to have a genuine interest in keeping everyone safe.
What about the quality of the snorkeling? After all, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? The platform is located near a large outcropping of coral. I’m a very experienced snorkeller, and I found that the further I got from the boat/platform, the better the quality of coral and fish. It was still pretty good on the edges of the coral closest to the boat, but it was exceptional as I got further away. At one point I was gliding along comfortably with 3 feet of water between me and the coral, and one of the staff asked me to move to deeper water. I wasn’t even coming close to touching the coral, so was a bit miffed at that, but nevertheless complied with his request.
The trip out and back is 90-120 minutes each way, so this is an all-day excursion. The boat is a big catamaran and relatively stable, but we had relatively calm seas.
All in all, I was extremely pleased with the day, as were my 2 friends. I would definitely recommend Quicksilver. We also did a 2nd trip with a smaller outfit (Sailaway) that took about 40-50 people out, and that too was an exceptional experience.