Explore Activities
Snorkelling is a fun way to experience the many treasures of the Great Barrier Reef. With easy access from the beach, people of all ages and experience levels can enjoy the reef.
Michaelmas Cay has calm shallow waters, ideal for first-timers and young families who want to experience it together. Most of the reef’s diversity—around 90% of it—is known to be in the top 4 metres of the water.
A mask, snorkel, Lycra suit, and fins are all provided, giving you everything you need for your snorkel adventure. Our qualified crew are available to supervise and teach you the basics. Buoyancy vests are also provided and will help you stay effortlessly afloat as you discover the world below.
For some great snorkelling tips, make sure to watch the crew’s fun snorkelling demonstration during your journey to Michaelmas Cay.
Lycra suits are available for adults and children entering the water. These suits provide sun protection and help reduce the possibility of stings and irritations from marine stingers that can be found in tropical waters during certain seasons. Suits include long sleeves and legs with a hood and mittens for complete coverage.
Our Semi-submarine/glass bottom boat Reef Discovery tour takes around 30 minutes and is included in your day at no extra cost, just hop on board to join us for an up close encounter of a very special kind! You can cruise as often as you like!
Cruising in our air-conditioned semi-sub (or glass-bottom boat), seated just one metre below the waterline, you’ll get a diver’s view of the reef without getting wet! Perfect for non-swimmers or anyone wanting to see the reef in air-conditioned comfort.
With large viewing windows, our expert crew provides informative commentary on the corals and marine life before your eyes as you learn about the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef in this interactive tour.
You’ll be in the midst of beautiful coral formations, observing marine life going about their daily routines. The reefs surrounding Michaelmas Cay are home to spectacular giant clams, sea turtles, giant trevally, hump-headed parrotfish, black tip reef sharks, and a magnificent array of colourful and exotic tropical fish.
The guided snorkel tour is an extra add-on to the day's activities. This tour lasts for approximately 45 minutes and is a great activity for the whole family to enjoy together. It's a great educational experience and most of all, a lot of fun!
If you'd like to learn more about the fascinating marine creatures of the reef, you can join an optional guided snorkel tour with the Reef Biosearch marine biologists. You'll be part of a small group as you get an up close and personal insight into this amazing underwater world.
Michaelmas reef is renowned for an abundance of giant clams and sea turtles amongst a myriad of colourful marine life.
Just some of the commonly seen marine life you may encounter on the guided snorkel tour include all types of hard and soft corals (there are over 400 types of corals on the Great Barrier Reef!), colourful parrotfish (Nemo!), sea cucumbers and giant clams. This tour is conducted directly from the cay's protected waters.
Explore the reef from a fish's point of view! Scuba diving is a close encounter of the most unique kind. Glide past stunning coral formations, swim along with schools of fish and discover what's hiding in the reefs around Michaelmas Cay.
No experience is necessary to take a fully supervised, guided introductory dive and you'll be able to add another dimension to your reef experience delving beyond what a snorkeller can see in this special underwater world.
The only requirements are that you are over 12 years of age, pass the onboard medical questionnaire and participate in our 30 minute dive brief.
Michaelmas Cay is the perfect dive site for first-timers. The island is wind protected and its waters calm and shallow. Once at Michaelmas Cay, you'll gear-up and start your dive experience with a skills practice session with your instructor in the shallows of the cay and soon you will be ready for your dive adventure!
At the completion of your first Scuba Dive, you'll also receive a certificate of recognition and exciting memories to last a lifetime!
- Certain medical conditions (ie diabetes, asthma) and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving. Please see Dive Safety for more information.
- Minimum age for introductory scuba diving is 12 years.
- Flying after scuba diving: A wait of 12 hours is recommended but preferably 24 hours, if doing multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.
Ocean Spirit will moor for 4 hours at Michaelmas Reef. Throughout the day, the beach buggy shuttle will transfer you between Ocean Spirit and the beach to relax or explore this renowned bird sanctuary.
Whether you choose to snorkel and enjoy all the included activities, there will be plenty of time to relax and explore. Michaelmas Cay is a major natural seabird habitat and one of the most important in the Southern Hemisphere, home to at least 23 species of seabirds. Many of these species find the island an ideal nesting habitat, making it one of the most significant bird sanctuaries on the Great Barrier Reef and a bird watcher’s delight.
Access to the cay is limited to the roped beach area to protect the bird sanctuary and preserve this critical habitat.If you prefer a more leisurely day on the Great Barrier Reef, relax on the beach or onboard Ocean Spirit’s spacious decks.
The choice is yours!
