Using a Wetsuit

Do I need a wetsuit to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef?

Quick answer: You don’t have to, but most snorkellers are glad they did. A wetsuit or lycra stinger suit helps you float, protects you from sunburn and coral scrapes, and keeps you warm on longer swims.

“I’m not a strong swimmer – will a wetsuit help?”

Yes. A wetsuit adds buoyancy, so you float higher with less effort. Pair it with a flotation vest (most reef boats have them) and you can relax and look down at the reef rather than working to stay up.

“Is the water cold?”

Not by most standards. Reef water sits around 24°C in winter (June to August) and up to 29°C in summer. In winter a 2–3mm wetsuit stops you getting chilly after an hour in the water; in summer a thin lycra suit is plenty.

“What’s a stinger suit?”

A thin, full-length lycra suit. Marine stingers are in North Queensland waters in the warmer months, broadly November to May, and a stinger suit is the simple protection. Many reef trips have them on board – check the inclusions on your tour page.

“How should a wetsuit fit?”

Snug, with no baggy gaps at the neck, wrists or ankles – water trapped in gaps is what makes you cold. Pull it on in stages, feet first, easing it up a little at a time.

“Will a wetsuit harm the coral?”

No, but your fins and knees can. Float flat, keep your fins off the bottom and never stand on coral. A wetsuit actually makes this easier, because the extra buoyancy keeps you up off the reef.

More beginner help: how to use a mask, how to use a snorkel and how to use fins.