Port Douglas - Agincourt or Opal Reef?

[YAC]

We're going to be in Port Douglas and want to do a snorkeling or introductory dive with one participant wanting to do scuba diving. There's quite a few outfitters there with itineraries to either Algincort Ribbon Reef or Opal Reef. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which reef is best for first timers? Thanks for your assistance! YAC:rolleyes:

[MrsWaldo]

Who is the operator?

 

I don't have a real location preference over the 2 as the difference is in the carrier?

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Are calling into Port Douglas on a cruise ship where you have to tender ashore and thus limited to time constraints, or are you staying a few days ?

 

 

[cjm66]

The operator is important so I suggest you check them out on Trip Advisor to get a range of reviews looking for issues like crowding on the boat and in the water, support for novices and whether there is equal care taken for the needs of snorkelers. Some boats are organised around the needs of the SCUBA pax and the boat can be crowded out with their equipment. Opal is a smaller reef and it is claimed to offer more sheltered water and therefore more suitable for novices in both categories. It can only be used by smaller boats. Agincourt is a large ribbon reef and is used by larger boats and is where Quicksilver has its pontoons. I have been to both reefs and really enjoyed the small boat experience at Opal - three excellent sites with the first being chosen to suit initial instruction. Calypso and Wavelength both do Opal reef tours with three sites and I enjoyed both, but prefer Wavelength because it specialises in snorkelling and I like being less encumbered. All our reef trips have been on land based holidays.

 

 

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[floridatravelersforlife]

This past March we did the Calypso snorkel only day trip to Opal reef. It was 35 pax. We really enjoyed the day. Good equipment, good guides, great day and saw the fishies. We went to three snorkel sites Be aware there are larger boats that combine scuba and snorkling and we heard there were compromises on those trips. Two points to remember. One, weather will dictate how well the trip progresses. We had excellent sea conditions after a Cyclone passed through the area two weeks earlier. Good water clarity.

 

Second the timing can be tight in the AM. If your ship is on postion as scheduled, no issue if you have an hour to get off the ship and join your excursion. If the ship is coming from a long distance or there is an issue, resulting in an arrival delay, you will have problems. PD tour operators tend to leave on time.

 

The snorkel was the highlight of our cruise.

[Allis154]

We also did a Calypso tour, but on their diving/snorkel boat. Absolutely the best tour of our 49 days 'at sea'!!! We saw no compromises, but there wasn't a lot of people (comparing to ship tours the day before and day after at nearly 400 people each time!)...I would say there was about 80? would have to check my blog to make sure of the numbers.

 

There wasn't any issue getting to the first tender and meeting the tour on time. However, we did have priority tickets, and we made sure that we were going to be one of the first ones off!

[YAC]

thanks - we're actually staying a few days in Port Douglas so we're not on any time constraints. The 2 operators I was looking at was Calpyso (Opal Reef) and Poseident (Algincourt Reef). In our group - we have people wanting to do either snorkel, introductory diving and 1 actual scuba!:rolleyes:

[SamfromOz]

We have a holiday house at Port Douglas and go up there 4 or 5 times each year, I have been out with most of the operators, and honestly, they are all pretty good these days, and very safety conscious (and the lunches always seem to be pretty decent) They are very expensive, though.

 

I would stay away from Quicksilver, though, as they are quite mass market with lots of people. Their offshore platform is a good option, however, if you have people in your party who don't swim well or are afraid in deep water.

 

If you have a few days, I recommend you go out to the marina (or a tour booking office with reliable staff) and check the weather forecasts for the next few days. Book for the day with the lowest wind forecast (calmer days sometimes fill up early)

[DWAliaschief]

thanks - we're actually staying a few days in Port Douglas so we're not on any time constraints. The 2 operators I was looking at was Calpyso (Opal Reef) and Poseident (Algincourt Reef). In our group - we have people wanting to do either snorkel, introductory diving and 1 actual scuba!:rolleyes:

 

And who is the scuba diver in that group???!!

[YAC]

And who is the scuba diver in that group???!!

 

Hey Susan - it's NOT CK, Wanda, Charlie or me! CK & Wanda are not doing the GBR - they've been there before. Charlie & I might do an introductory dive; but one of our other golf friends on the trip is a certified scuba diver & diving in the GBR is one of his bucket list things to do! Glad to hear from you via cc! See you again in SF area when you're in town!:D

[partymarty4878]

both nice destinations, but agincourt is , in my opinion, the best reef accessible from Cairns or Port Douglas.

[Cosmic Rays]

We have a holiday house at Port Douglas and go up there 4 or 5 times each year, I have been out with most of the operators, and honestly, they are all pretty good these days, and very safety conscious (and the lunches always seem to be pretty decent) They are very expensive, though.

 

I would stay away from Quicksilver, though, as they are quite mass market with lots of people. Their offshore platform is a good option, however, if you have people in your party who don't swim well or are afraid in deep water.

 

I have been looking at Quicksilver for a day next February (10th) - they appear to be the only ones - are they? We don't want to snorkel or dive, just enjoy a spectacular day. Is there anybody else perhaps, not mass market, that can be suggested please to go far out to the reef?

[cjm66]

I think that Haba is the only smaller boat out of Port Douglas that has a glass bottomed boat which is the best way for non swimmers to see the reef. Haba do two sites so there is some variety. All the others are IMO geared to the snorkelers and/or divers on board. I have been on Quicksilver with a non swimming partner. He enjoyed the day but there was a queue for the glass bottomed boat and it was very crowded. He enjoyed people watching as much if not more than the fish and coral.

 

http://www.habadive.com.au/glass-bottom-boat.832.0.html

 

From Cairns there is Green Island, which is not the outer reef but does offer a range of non immersion activities!

 

 

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[GradUT]

I have been looking at Quicksilver for a day next February (10th) - they appear to be the only ones - are they? We don't want to snorkel or dive, just enjoy a spectacular day. Is there anybody else perhaps, not mass market, that can be suggested please to go far out to the reef?

 

If you are going out of Port Douglas, you have a few options for a non-swimmer's experience on the Reef. First, you can go out on Quicksilver which is a very large boat that offers glass bottom boat rides, semi-submersibles and an underwater viewing platform. Second, you can go out with Haba, which is a much smaller boat and only offers the glass-bottom boat ride. Third, you can take a boat to the Low Isles (e.g. Sailaway) that offers glass-bottom boat rides and time on the beach. The first two options take you to the Outer Reef; the Low Isles have coral, fish and turtles, but it is NOT the Outer Reef.

 

Personally, I think your best options are either Quicksilver or Sailaway (or any boat that goes to the Low Isles). If you go out on Haba, you will be stuck on a small boat with nothing to do once your glass-bottom boat tour is over. You'll just be sitting around waiting for the snorkelers and divers to finish in the water. That's not my idea of a "spectacular day".

[Cassicruiser]

We have just returned from our first visit to Port Douglas, and we did the outer reef with Quicksilver. We had a great time, and it was a spectacular day, but then the weather was perfect, sun was shining and sea was like glass. Quicksilver run a very slick operation, and are very well staffed. There is plenty of space on the pontoon, they provide an excellent buffet lunch, and then is space to move around, or sit and relax when you are not snorkelling. The semi-sub tour was included and was great with a good commentary by a live guide, and the snorkelling excellent with many fish and great visibility (again the weather was perfect so that makes a difference). I am not a big fan of snorkelling but really enjoyed it and felt very safe. I would highly recommend Quicksilver, particularly if you have someone with you who is not snorkelling or diving.

[eel]

I was comparing snorkel trips to the outer reef from Port Douglas versus Cairns and it seems that Cairns departures are generally less expensive. Is this because of more competition or proximity to the reef? Since we will have a rental car while in the area, is one departure point better than the other?

 

We were hoping to do a 2 day/ 1 night or 3 day / 2 night liveaboard trip to the outer reef while in the area (we will be there 5 days between cruises). We are snorkelers, not divers. It seems difficult to find good reviews or options on the internet. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[K4Windy]

I would also be interested in what everyone is doing for nightly accomodations in the area? Are you doing any of the package deals or selecting a hotel based on price? Thanks!

[MrsWaldo]

most of the liveaboards are really geared at Divers.

 

Pro Dive has a good reputation, Mike Ball and Spirit of Freedom are far and away the best locations and you'll pay for that privilege.

 

The differences in prices

 

Cairns is a major area with lots of different businesses not just reliant on the holiday trade (still the main $$ earner though), cheaper to live in for most people than Port Douglas, so yes the greater supply will keep $ down.

 

However, the operators out of Port D are more in keeping with the holiday style, smaller, more intimate and a bit more upmarket, so the tours from their are going to be a bit pricier.

 

IMHO the reef is better from PD (mostly becuase the operators are not going with as many people)

 

I stay in Cairns quite regularly as an independent traveller so I look at price and have a few that i keep to, I suggest as a guideline have a look at reviews on Tripadvisor.