Snorkelling
Snorkelling Great Barrier Reef
You want to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, you have heard so many things about the Reef, so you want to find the best, most pristine part of the Great Barrier Reef to Snorkel, well look no further
Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef with Lady Musgrave Experience, the Best Experience on the Great Barrier Reef and we promise to provide memories and experiences that you’ll be telling your friends about for years to come, literally years.
Departing out of Bundaberg, the hottest new Great Barrier Reef destination we will host you to an exquisite collection of abundant marine wildlife and coral scenery, as beautiful as you would imagine.
There is no need to travel all the way up to Cairns on an expensive plane flight or lengthy train, bus or car ride – You will see the Best Great Barrier Reef Experience you could imagine right here with Lady Musgrave Experience straight out of Bundaberg.
Join us on the modern, roomy new Reef Empress, our 35 metre catamaran that takes you directly to the only navigable lagoon on the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Musgrave Lagoon. Situated just 22 nautical miles north of Lady Elliot Island.
Once there you will see exactly what we mean by the Best Snorkel Tour Experience on the Great Barrier Reef.
Snorkelling and equipment included in the Lady Musgrave Island full day tour experience
Snorkelling with Lady Musgrave Experience
An Abundance Of Marine Life Everywhere
- The Giant Queensland Groper
- Moray Eels
- Resident Green, SW Pacific Loggerhead and Hawksbill Turtles
- Large Pelagics
- Black Tip Reef Sharks
- Anemones and Anemone Fish
- Lion Fish
- Manta Rays
- Eagle Rays, Sting Rays
- Thousands of species of reef fish just abundant in numbers likely rarely seen before
- White Tip Reef Sharks
- Tiger Sharks
- Hammerhead Sharks
- Tawny Sharks
- Lemon sharks
They are all genuine regulars at our private unexplored dive sites that are waiting for your experience.
Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Tours
Learn more about what you might see.
You can go snorkelling around the large bommies adjacent to the Reef Empress, but you’ll really get the most out of your snorkelling experience by following the edge of the reef. It’s on the Great Barrier Reef edge and around the bommies where you will encounter the greatest diversity of marine life and pristine corals.
While approaching the reef edge and coral bommies you will see large sea cucumbers laying on the lagoon floors. A part of the starfish family, sea cucumbers are known as the vacuum cleaners of the roof because of the way they clean the sand of fish waste and bacteria. The lagoon has large formations of staghorn coral. These are normally very brightly coloured however some only have colouration only on the tips. The blue blanket coral is commonly found growing up the reef edges.
Mushroom corals are the only corals that will move with the tide or current looking like a grooved frisbee. When the feeding tentacles are extended they resemble small anemones. Close to the boat on the reef edge there are some giant clams. The clam’s hard shell is open when they are in feeding mode and will gently close as its primitive eye detects any changes in light.
Another type of clam can also be seen amongst the coral, the burrowing clam which buries itself in the coral.
In strategic positions around the lagoon are ‘cleaning stations’, managed by the cleaner wrasse, a small blue and white fish. The cleaner wrasse waits for the other fish to pass through this area, when they do they will pause while the cleaner wrasse passes over their body eating ectoparasites and mucus off of the fish. The cleaner wrasse will actually enter the mouse and gill cavities of some of the larger fish to complete a more thorough job.
Our snorkelling experience is like no other – all year round it’s safe, no stinger suits are needed and only pristine corals and abundant marine life to see. You can organise your time to spend as much as you want snorkelling in the lagoon and reef. There are exciting outer reef snorkelling options for a handful of experienced and fit snorkelers….hand selected opportunities that will leave you speechless.
Snorkelling Lady Musgrave Island
Our day tour is something that needs to be experienced to be believed, there is a very good reason why it’s called The Best Snorkelling Experience on the Great Barrier Reef – because it is!!
Beyond our amazing reef snorkelling experience we can open your senses to some of the most amazing taste experiences on the Great Barrier Reef in our local region.
With the award winning Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, Kalki Moon Gin Distillery and a host of our award winning restaurants in the Windmill Café, Indulge restaurant, Water Street Kitchen, Grunske’s Seafood restaurant, just to name a few you can make a real holiday of it.
Other brilliant local visit options include the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, Hinkler Hall of Aviation and our local beachside communities of Bargara & Elliot Heads.
Explore Bundaberg Region
Equally, the beauty of our location is that we are very close to another natural wonder of the world – the world’s biggest sand Island – Fraser Island. Less than two hours apart, you can join us on the Great Barrier Reef and then continue on to another UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site in Fraser Island.
See dingoes in their natural habitat or visit the amazing perched freshwater lake for a majestic swim, Lake MacKenzie – you will be amazed at what you discover when you combine the Reef & Fraser.
Come and discover the Best Snorkelling Experience on the Great Barrier Reef and be the envy of all of your friends.
Lady Musgrave Experience – The Best Snorkelling Tour Experience on the Great Barrier Reef.
FAQ’s – Snorkelling
Do You Provide Snorkelling Gear?
We provide high quality Mares masks, snorkel and fins. We also have optical masks and wetsuits for hire.
Do you have childrens snorkelling equipment?
On board we have plenty of high quality Mares sharky jr masks and snorkels suited for children aged 4-7 and junior fins.
Can I still snorkel if i don’t know how to swim?
Regardless of swimming ability we recommend guests to swim in buddy pairs. However if you are not a confident swimmer our in water snorkel guide will be able to assist by providing additional floatation and reassurance in the water. Life vests, pool noodles and wetsuits are available.
How long do we get to snorkel?
To ensure guests experience the most from their trip to Lady Musgrave the day is divided into activities. Grouping will coordinate snorkelling times for guests and designate time to partake in the island activities including the glass bottom boat and guided island tour. However if guests do not want to participate in the island activities an all day snorkel option is available.
Guests will enjoy up to 2 hours of snorkelling if choosing to participate in all activities, and if snorkelling all day, up to 4 hours.
Are there jellyfish?
In an open ocean environment, we cannot guarantee there will be no jellyfish, however we have never had any harmful stingers, and do not experience a “stinger season” (as is the case further north). The sheltered lagoon prevents large jellyfish blooms in the snorkel area. For guest comfort, wetsuits are available for hire.
Is there any age limit for snorkelling?
No, anyone can snorkel! The entry and exit points to the water are very easy and we make every effort to ensure the safety of all guests. Swim jackets, noodles and in-water assistance from our wonderful, fully qualified and experienced staff is provided. We recommend that children be supervised by an adult at all times. Please note that it is Queensland regulations that any medical conditions which may affect your ability to snorkel safely must be disclosed to our staff. By informing us, we will be able to ensure your safety and make sure you have the best experience possible!
Is snorkelling possible all year round? Is it cold?
Yes, it is possible to snorkel all year round! The water temperature varies from 21 in winter (July/August) to 29 degrees in summer (December/January). Wetsuits are available for hire on board all year round.
Can I touch the reef coral or wildlife?
We are in a UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site and a dedicated Marine Park Green Zone. Under no circumstances must we touch the coral, wildlife or any other naturally occurring part of the Great Barrier Reef. This protects the Great Barrier Reef for the enjoyment of today’s and future generations as well as protecting yourself from potential infection or damage from the coral and wildlife.