I need help planning my trip to the Great Barrier Reef. My husband and I love to snorkel, but he gets seasick very easily. We would love to snorkel right off the beach without having to spend $$$$ to stay at Lizard or Heron Island. Does anyone have suggestions since a boat ride is out of the question? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

http://www.ladyelliot.com.au/

You don't have to stay at Lizard Island for a great day's snorkelling - do a search here for Daintree Air with a low level reef flight from Cairns.

Well, bay7, there aren't snorkeling places off the beach since the GBR is about 90 minutes (at the closest) from the shore. I also get seasick, but I love to snorkel, so I got the scopolomine patch from my doctor and the boats we went on also gave us these wonderful ginger tablets. You could choose to go to the Frankland Islands out of Cairns where the boat ride is only 30 minutes and then you get off onto solid ground. The snorkeling is good there, but not as lovely as out on the reef. Also, if DH can stand helicopter rides, there is an operation that will fly you to a boat from Cairns. Otherwise, the Daintree air (www.daintreeair.com) is a great alternative. I wasn't sick at all in the plane (a 10 seater) and the snorkeling at Lizard is amazing. It also depends on the time of year you plan to go--some months have the tradewinds blowing which make for rougher waves, others don't which make for smoother boat rides. We are banking on Oct. this year, usually calm but rough in 2006 we hear. Good luck!
Sally in Seattle

bay7 , Check out our posting under the heading great barrier reef tour.

We spent a full day with daintree air at Lizard. No boats involved, you will have a wonderful adventure, not only was the flying amazing but the reef quality is the best we have ever seen.
They are a small company with loads of experience. We ventured into the out back with them as well.
Jacko.

Thanks for all your advice. I'll look into Lady Elliott and Daintree Air.

I'm now considering staying at Green Island (3 nights) or taking a day trip out to Lizard Island (Daintree) from Cairns. I heard different reviews about snorkeling at Green Island. Which one do you recommend? Thanks.

I'll be going to Australia in April.

Utterly no comparison with Green Island and Lizard. Green is heavily touristed with day trippers, although rather lovely when they leave, its only 27km from Cairns city; whilst its definitely improved in last 5 years as far as snorkelling its not a patch on Lizard which is several hundred kms north of Cairns.

Hi, I can sympathize with your husband. I get sick on anything that moves. Last june we took the 5 day captain cook cruise on the GBR. It visited Lizard Island and was great value. I only felt queasy once on the boat, took 1/2 a gravol and was fine. Because it is a larger boat you hardly feel the movement. We snorkled every day and the best place was the ribbon reefs. I even have to take meds when snorkling because just floating on the water makes me sick. I would highly recommend this option

We went on the Fantasea Cruise to Hardy Reef for our first trip out to the GBR. It was 2 and half hours and about an hour was the open sea. I don't easily get sea sick but the last 15 minutes were making me feel alittle quesy. On the way back we took the seasickness pills they supply and we were all fine, and the sea was rougher.

For our second snorkel trip, we went to Green Island. I do agree it is busy, but the snorkelling was great. Nice calm, clear water and only a smooth 45 minute boat ride. I highly recommend Green Island!