snorkeling/diving GBR
 

Can anyone recommend a company to use. I want to take one dive, but spend most of the time snorkeling. I prefer something on the smaller side, less people, but I needa boat stable enough so I don't get sea sick.
Any suggestions are appreciated!
Barbara

One of the problems with mixing diving and snorkelling is that by the time a boat gets out to a reef, smaller ones go slower and probably to nearer in reefs [in Cairns region and less options available in Whitsundays] and then one gets kitted up does the dive, unkitted and has some lunch, there is going to be bugger all time available for snorkelling.

When are you planning to go? and you could be best to just get to Cairns if that is where you're going to go and have a walk along the esplanade and see what's on offer.
http://www.thetourspecialists.com/tours-reef.html and http://ozadventuresailing.com.au/ will give you some idea of what's available.

How small/number of people are you hoping for as against being affected by SS?

This combination of activities is easy on Heron Island (lower end of GBR). Dive and snorkel boats go out for a couple of hours each morning and afternoon, usually not far from the reef edge of the island itself. Plus you can snorkel straight out from the shore.

The boat trip to the island from Gladstone airport takes about 2-3 hours (depending which boat takes you) or you can take a helicopter.

And meant to add too that you might find a liveaboard two or three day boat trip an option that appeals, particularly around the Whitsundays with plenty of sheltered anchorages if needed.

Depends on where you are planning to visit the reef from.
The further north you go the better the reef gets & there are boats that leave from Cairns that would suit your needs. Boats such as those opertaed by www.tusa.com.au
www.silversries.com.au have special roving permits for the GBR & will visit 3 different reef sites during a day trip. It is possible to do 3 dives on these tours so there is obviously ample time to dive, snorkel, eat lunch etc. The Silverseries boats also boast of a smoother ride as they are catamarans that apparently have something called "Ride control".

If you are interested in a liveaboard boat, you might like Spirit of Freedom out of Cairns. The trip we went on was called "Cod Hole and Ribbon Reefs". My husband and I and one other person were snorkelers and the rest were divers. There was only one site that wasnt' good for snorkelers on our trip, it was a small pinnacle and the interest was in the walls, not the top. The other sites were shallow and gorgeous. The staff was great with us just snorkeling. The divers got to feed the cod, but we got to see it all! The GBR is amazing and the snorkeling is fantastic. I can't speak for the diving, but the divers on board were quite happy. They also got to do a night dive. the cabins aboard the SoF were comfortable and each had their own bathroom. Warm towels after each dive--mmmmm. I recommend it.
Sally in Seattle

www.silversries.com.au this link doesn't work

Just a typo, there's an "e" missing - should be www.silverseries.com.au Silverswift out of Cairns and Silversonic out of Port Douglas.

I meant to add, bjs, that I get seasick easily, so I came prepared with the scopolomine patch from my doctor, mine was called TransDerm Scop. I put it on the night before we left. Although I got a bit queasy the first evening when we were travelling north, once we got to the Lizard Island area, there isn't much travel time, and I wasn;t seasick at all. DH, who hadn't had the patch on got sick the first evening, but felt better after I gave him a patch. You fly back from Lizard so there is only one rough part the first day. Also, we had a room where the beds were parallel to the side of the boat (you can look up the cabins on the website). Someone told us that it is less sick-making to have the bed that way when the boat is anchored as opposed to having your head bob up and down if the bed is perpendicular to the side. I hope this makes sense to you!
Sally in Seattle

Have a look at the Synergy II ( www.synergyreef.com.au )which sails out of Port Douglas . Lovely small boat - 12 passengers - excellent staff , equipment and food etc .We used it for a snorkeling trip and highly recommend it.

The boat goes to small reefs and caters to all levels of experience eg never snorkelled to well experienced .They can probably accomodate diving as well .

ok I was perusing this thread and thinking that the silverseries sounds good...I was thinking about Reef magic but it looks like a lot o people and kids....and only the one spot...but mostly I was hoping to not get sick....

the TransDerm Scop ..is that an antihistamine???...I cannot have certain meds and that is on I cant....

contraditions are decreased gastric motility and delayed gastric emptying which I have.... gastroparesis and also some heart arythmias...so I guess it's ginger for me and DH has glaucoma so no for him too....I.always look this stuff up before taking meds

Hypatia, all pontoon trips take a lot of passengers comparatively, Reef Magic about half the amount of others with pontoons. Its pontoon is stable in rougher seas and the boat is smooth and fast, giving 5 hours on a particularly good reef site.

why don't you just wait until you see what the weather is doing, then make a decision when you get here. Right now, reef conditions are ideal for the smallest vessel, with wind at only about 5knots and top underwater visibility now that rain has cleared, but one just never knows with weather at any time of year.

sorry to hijack....but which tour would I like the most? reef magic, with its sub and great site etc.. or the silver series? The thing is I don't care how bad it is if you have on shot in life at the reef (three days) you have to go for it!!..I don't have another time......that being said, I don't want to end up in the hospital either.....I wanted to die in Cabo.