Is it safe to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef?

Snorkeling is an extremely safe activity, especially if you take all of the correct precautions and listen to your own body whilst swimming. Below are some basic Great Barrier Reef snorkeling safety tips. Fitness. Make sure you only snorkel / swim to your fitness levels.



Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is generally very safe, provided you follow standard safety protocols and use a reputable tour operator. Operators provide life jackets or "noodles" for buoyancy, and professional lookouts monitor the water at all times. The biggest risks are actually environmental, such as sunburn or dehydration, and biological, such as "stinger" (jellyfish) season from November to May, during which time guests are required to wear full-body Lycra suits. While reef sharks are common, they are typically harmless to humans. The most important safety rule is to never snorkel alone and to be honest about your swimming ability; most incidents occur due to pre-existing medical conditions or exhaustion rather than marine life. As long as you stay within the designated areas and listen to the safety briefings, it is a world-class, low-risk experience.

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Snorkelling. The sites in the Great Barrier Reef are shallow enough so that you can easily explore everything below the water's surface. The water in these parts is pleasantly warm and ideal for novices. There are plenty snorkelling expeditions from the main towns along the coasts.

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The good news is ?No? you don't have to be an expert swimmer or an Olympic athlete to enjoy snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. In this blog, we will answer some questions and give some basic tips that will make planning your day on the Great Barrier Reef a lot easier.

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Swim with manta rays on the Southern Great Barrier Reef So much so, Lady Elliot Island is referred to as the home of the manta ray. You'll see them throughout the year, but mantas are particularly prevalent in large numbers during the cooler months of May - August.

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Australia's Great Barrier Reef stays off UNESCO danger list, still under 'serious threat' | Reuters.

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Reef depth ranges anywhere from five to 30 metres, as the reefs are known to drop away suddenly in certain places. How deep you can go will depend on your diver certification (if you have one).

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Take care when diving and snorkelling Be aware of where your fins are and avoid touching anything with them. Don't rest or stand on coral. If you must stand up, make sure it is on sand or use rest stations. Observe animals rather than handling them directly, and avoid blocking the path of free swimming animals.

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Avoiding stinger season When you snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef during May to October you will avoid the peak stinger season. This is where box jellyfish and irukandji jellyfish are around. These jellyfish are around all year, they are more common during the warmer months.

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The Great Barrier Reef is also prone to thunderstorms and the occasional cyclone. If you want reliably good underwater visibility, summer might not be the best time as rain and storms can cause the water to become murky. It's not all bad though.

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Reef Shark & Snorkeler In general, snorkeling and scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef you will have no problem at all with these reef-dwelling sharks. They can, in fact, be a highlight of any snorkeling or scuba diving trip, often being the hot topic of conversation if you manage to spot one.

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