The Whitsundays offers excellent snorkelling all year round with great visibility and warm waters. The average water temperature is 23°C in the winter months and 27°C in the summer months. As part of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it is home to a vast range of marine animals; including whales, turtles, giant clams, clownfish, dugongs, reef sharks and rays.

When you go bareboating with Whitsunday Escape, we provide snorkelling gear free of charge! You will get a mask, fins and snorkel for every person on board. Your order will be pre-packaged, ready for your collection on arrival. Be sure to try on your snorkel gear prior to departure.

Prescription masks can be hired from the dive shop directly below our office for an additional fee.

Wetsuits are useful for extended snorkelling in the winter and are great all year round to protect you from sunburn, coral scratches and marine stingers. These are also available for hire from the dive shop.

Snorkelling Tips:

• The best time to see the coral is when the water is 1m to 2.5m high over the reef as this is the optimal depth for visibility.
• The waters to the north and east of Hook Island and Whitsunday Island have the clearest water.
• It is recommended to choose protected bays where you can snorkel straight from the beach.

Shark Safety Tips:

• Whitsunday Escape provides a Freedom 7 shark deterrent device free of charge with each boat. While no one can guarantee their 100% effectiveness, they are the best device available to date and are used by both the Australian and US Navies, commercial divers and recreational spearfisherman. They have also been endorsed by the WA government.
• It is recommend that in order to reduce the risk of a shark bite incident, you do not:
  • swim or snorkel between dusk and dawn,
  • in murky waters, or
  • where fish are being caught or cleaned.