Description: We were picked up from our hotel in the early morning by a tour bus. We had a lively tour guide on the hour-long trip to Port Douglass. Port Douglass has a variety of restaurants and shops to entertain you while you wait to board the ship. We boarded the ship and had a 1.5-hour voyage to a platform for snorkeling and diving. The ship offered tea and biscuits right from take-off as well as some informational programs about the possibilities at the platform.
We were served a buffet lunch on the ship as we neared the platform. The food was mostly cold picnic-type foods and pleasant enough.
Once at the platform, we put on our snorkel equipment, which included the standard gear and a wetsuit for an optional $5. I highly suggest the wetsuit if you are prone to burning. The snorkeling was set up within a large marked-off area. It was impossible to get lost in the water, but there was enough room to spread out from the many people snorkeling. You can also take a semi-submersible boat around the reef away from the snorkelers. This allows you to see the reef without getting wet. I suggest doing both.
I did not scuba dive but heard from others it was just okay for the price. Unfortunately, these people had never dived before and were with a beginner's class. The road home was very relaxing, especially when tea and biscuits were served again. I actually fell asleep on the boat ride and bus ride home. It is an exhausting day, and I would suggest keeping the schedule for this day simple otherwise. Also, if you are worried about seasickness (I was), the boat is very smooth in the water. I had no problems whatsoever.
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