Snorkel Trip from Cairns to Outer Reef - Silverswift or Tusa Dive?
 

We will be in Cairns in early/mid-November and would prefer to go to an outer reef vs. Michaelmas Cay. We don't want to go to a platform/pontoon, and have no need for a glass bottom boat or semi-submersible. We do not dive, but we are experienced snorkelers. We have narrowed it down to Tusa Dive or Silverswift. Do they each take care of snorkelers or primarily cater to divers? What are the pros and cons of each? Please share your experiences to help us decide. Thanks.

It might be better if you stuck to the same post and ask questions there because your questions are getting messy and people will not know whether they have answered or not.

I've be out on Tusa as a snorkeller but not Silverswift, and I think you'd be lucky to find anyone here who's been out on both. Silverswift goes to three reef sites a day, Tusa to two, Tusa has permits to visit 16 sites and the skipper picks the best of the day according to weather and tides.

Both operators are well regarded, Tusa's been operating for over 20 years. Snorkellers are well catered for on both, many certified divers have non-diving partners or friends accompanying them to reef for snorkelling only.