Snorkelling for Beginners and Non-Swimmers

Yes, you can snorkel the Great Barrier Reef as a beginner or a weak swimmer. Wear a flotation vest, start beside a pontoon or with a guide, and let the buoyancy of a wetsuit do the work.

Snorkelling for Beginners and Non-Swimmers Quick answer

You do not need to be a strong swimmer to snorkel. Snorkelling is floating face-down and breathing through a tube. A flotation vest or noodle keeps you on the surface, and pontoon trips give you stairs, ropes and a platform to rest on. If you would rather not get wet, glass-bottom boats, semi-submarines and underwater observatories show you the reef dry.

Five steps for your first snorkel

Get a mask that fits. Press it to your face without the strap and breathe in gently through your nose: if it stays put, it fits. How to use a mask.
Wear a flotation vest. Ask the crew for one; it lets you relax instead of working to stay up.
Practise on the stairs. Put your face in the water while you hold the rail, and breathe slowly through the snorkel. How to use a snorkel.
Stay close to the boat or pontoon. Snorkel near the platform or join a guided snorkel tour, and always snorkel with a buddy.
Kick gently from your hips. Long, slow kicks with fins save energy. How to use fins.

Questions visitors ask

“I can’t swim at all. Can I still see the reef?”

Yes. On a pontoon trip such as Sunlover you can see the reef from the underwater observatory and the semi-submersible without getting wet. If you would like to try snorkelling, tell the crew you cannot swim before you get in, wear a flotation vest and stay close to the platform.

“I get nervous in deep water.”

That is very common. Start on the pontoon stairs, keep a flotation vest on and stay within reach of the platform or a rope. Many people find that once their face is in the water and they can see the fish, the nerves fade.

“Is snorkelling OK for children?”

Yes, with an adult beside them and a flotation vest. Pontoon days are easiest with kids: the Moore Reef pontoon has an enclosed ocean pool at wading height. Read our Moore Reef guide.

“What if I wear glasses?”

Ask your tour before the day: some reef boats carry prescription masks in a range of strengths. Contact lenses can usually be worn under a well-fitted mask.