What a great way to check off a bucket list item: snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. - What a great way to check off a bucket list item: snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. The ABC staff was professional, safe, and fun. They let us know the day before to expect some rough seas so we could pre-medicate but they also provided seasick meds on board. All the dive masters were very informed on the different coral, and fish and broke us into small groups. Camille did a great job keeping our little group together and showing us so many different fish and plants. She even provided extra “towing” to one of the gentlemen in our group who wasn’t as strong a swimmer as he thought. They had big posters of the different fish on the tables so we could figure out what we saw. The fed us all day with great food and lots of variety. We had fantastic weather too. Could not have asked for a better tour group to see the Great Barrier Reef. Highly recommend ABC Reef Safaris.

Brilliant day and highly recommended. - This was an excellent reef tour provided by a great small company with a very friendly crew on the day. We got to snorkel in two different outer reef locations and saw some amazing parts of the Great Barrier Reef and the incredible sea life found there as well. The food provided was very nice and we were provided with plenty of drinks, or you could purchase alcoholic ones if you wanted to. On the day we went it was quite choppy on the way to/from the reef so would definitely recommend taking a sickness tablet even if you don’t normally get seasick, as we felt a bit unwell on the day - to be fair the company did recommend this and we foolishly didn’t listen as never been seasick before. This quickly settled once we arrived at the reef however, and did not affect our experience overall. The crew gave lots of informative information and all were very knowledgeable on the local area. Felt very safe going into the reef with this expert knowledge on hand. There were people doing snorkelling as well as scuba diving which was a separate trip even if we were on the same boat. But the amount of people on the trip was very small which we especially wanted rather than a big reef tour with lots of people. Would highly recommend this company and tour!

Well-run outer reef tour — calm, capable crew even in choppy conditions - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I would highly recommend this reef tour, particularly for anyone who values safety, professionalism and a more personal, small-group approach. We went out to the outer reef (Opal Reef) on a day that was quite choppy, with strengthening currents. Conditions were clearly more challenging than the ‘brochure version’ of the reef, and a number of people on board struggled. Several guests became seasick and others needed assistance back to the boat. What stood out was how well the crew handled this. Alex, Zoe, Nico, and the First Mate (apologies for not remembering your name). Worked hard both in and out the water and were generous with their knowledge and time, as well as their stamina in such choppy conditions. The skipper made sensible decisions about sites and did not push the itinerary unnecessarily (thank you Skipper). The guides were calm, attentive and highly capable in the water. I personally saw a dive leader assist multiple guests safely and without fuss. At no point did I feel rushed or pressured to do more than I was comfortable with. This mattered to me. I have a medical history (including DVT and pulmonary emboli) and am on blood thinners, so I need to manage risk carefully and avoid situations where I might feel pushed beyond my limits. The team respected that completely. I chose the beginner snorkel group and felt supported, not judged. Despite the conditions, I saw plenty of coral and reef fish. The light was subdued due to cloud cover, so colours weren’t as vivid as you sometimes see in photos, but the reef was still impressive and absolutely worth experiencing. A few practical observations for future guests: - Conditions can be variable and the outer reef is not always calm. - Take seasickness medication seriously (don’t assume you’ll be fine) . I started taking mine the night before! - Be honest about your swimming ability and choose the appropriate group. I am a good swimmer and have snorkelled in the Mediterranean many times however this is much more challenging. - Pace yourself in the water rather than trying to do too much. I came away feeling pleased, fulfilled and very well looked after. Highly recommend

Intimate Diving Experience on the Great Barrier Reef - Dive trip to Great Barrier Reef with ABC Reef Safaris was fantastic. Boat is about 3 months new and spacious. Lunch was delicious. Stinger suits were plentiful and comfortable. Boat is well stocked with solid equipment - even has limited number of prescription face masks onboard. We were the only us divers at both dive sites - 4 of us and the dive master. We had less than 10 snorkelers on board with us with their own private guide. Each of our two dives were around 45 minutes. The divemaster was good about keeping us all within his sights (save the long swim back to the boat after the second dive). The reefs that we visited were very much alive - simply gorgeous! We didn’t see many, if any, big fish, however the snorkelers saw 2 sharks a couple of times. I paid the extra money for this company because I didn’t want to be crowded with others. The experience with ABC Reef Safaris was well worth the price. It was very private with no other/divers or snorkelers or even boats anywhere within sight of our dive sites. . I recommend ABC Safaris and would dive with them again!

Awesome trip!!! - What a fantastic day. Great boat and very helpful and friendly crew. Lots of info on the reef and what we would see when we got there. Very comfortable you could alternate between the air con cabin and the deck above as we cruised out. One guide for 6 folks, Alex pointed out so many items for us. Visit 2 sites, then a nice lunch, then a stop near a lighthouse to see sharks. Back in port by roughly 3. They had a prescription mask for me (asked in advance) which was awesome, and also called to follow up later that day and make sure we had a great day. Well worth the money

Swimming with turtles and SHARKS - Stunning! Awe inspiring! Swift, comfortable, brand new catamaran with plenty of deck and cabin space. Knowledgeable skipper and crew took us to two different pristine reefs with colorful coral, diverse fish, TURTLES, and SHARKS. ABC Safari controls/leases the only moorings at these reefs so no other boats or noisy neighbors. Worth driving/arranging transportation to Port Douglas. Of course, the expedition is much more costly than sharing with 36 or more fellow passengers. Mabel, our keen-eyed snorkel guide handled only 6 guests. The 3 divers had their own attentive guide. The divers discovered a moray eel. They missed seeing the 6 turtles and 3 sharks we swam with in the shallow reef waters.

ABC Reef Safaris for Outer Reef snorkeling and Scuba Diving. - What a great experience with ABC Reef Safaris snorkeling the Outer Reef. The trip from start to finish was a 5 star trip. The staff was very knowledgeable about what we were going to see and then guiding us on the water. The vessel was first class and plenty of room to move around before and after being in the water. Very impressed with the staff’s hospitality and friendliness. I recommend ABC Reef Safaris very highly.

Exceptional dive and snorkel trip to the reef! - This was a fabulous trip out to the reef. It greatly suited our family, with several of us diving while others snorkeled. We really appreciated the crew and their attentiveness and friendliness. Our divemaster Matt was a great dive guide. We also thought the layout, design and effectiveness of the boat was exceptional. We’ve done a number of trips out to the reef (including a live aboard) and ABC was by far the best run and most enjoyable — we will be back again! One other thing: the reef is absolutely beautiful and in great shape. Ignore any media reports to the contrary — coral cover is at among the highest levels since scientists started measuring it.

Excellent experience, small group - The new boat is spacious and beautiful. The staff is friendly and attentive. Mabel, our guide is very knowledgeable. She was great at finding and pointing to things..like making a clam close! And she knew how much I wanted to see a turtle...she made she got my attention when one came by.

Amazing Great Barrier Reef snorkel experience! - The Great Barrier Reef was a long time bucket list item for me and my husband. The team at ABC brought that dream to life with their exceptional service, attentiveness, and overall hospitality. We were able to add a hotel pic up/ drop off which allowed for us to travel there worry free with our exceptional driver and guide from the boat crew. What truly made this trip stand out was the staff: guest ratio- it was almost 1:1! In addition, our snorkels were lead by a marine biologist who took care throughout the time in the water to point out things to see down below and explain the sea life we were seeing. My husband had recently had surgery and every staff member on the boat knew to keep an extra eye on him in the water. Instead of just giving us gear, staff made sure we were all meticulously outfitted and comfortable before entering the water. The boat was only 4 months old - large and spotless- with plenty of room for all. Bottom line, if I could give ABC a 6 out of 5 stars I would and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone I know seeking to fulfill a bucket list snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. It was a perfect day because of the ABC crew!