The pros and cons of snorkelling and scuba diving in Queensland
Feature
By Sophia McMeekin
The warm, clear waters of Queensland are an underwater wonderland. Home to the world’s largest reef, the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland’s waters offer a variety of marine life like nowhere else on earth.
But there’s more than one way to experience this magical underwater playground for yourself. If you’re wondering what the difference is between snorkelling and scuba diving, and which is right for you, you’ve come to the right place.
Snorkelling is the easiest and most instantaneous way to explore the ocean. With minimal equipment – all you need is a mask, snorkel and a pair of fins – snorkelling is easy, open to all ages and requires no training. You can set your own pace and go where you like.
Scuba diving, on the other hand, allows you to completely immerse yourself in the marine environment and become one with the community below. You’ll see things you might otherwise miss from the surface.
We’ve weighed up the pros and cons of scuba diving against snorkelling in Queensland so you can work out what’s best for you.
Scuba diving
Pro: you’re a part of the lives of the creatures down below, so you belong.
On the surface you may be nervous to come across larger marine life, but below the surface, while you’re diving, you’re just another part of the close-knit underwater community, and the marine life – including sharks and giant manta rays – will barely pay you notice.
Pro: below the surface, you’ve got 360 degrees of freedom.
Freedom to meet new friends from every angle, to move up, down, and around wrecks, reefs, and sealife, and to dive a bit deeper if you spot something worth exploring. With water on every side of you, you’ll feel that heady sense of weightlessness that you might otherwise only get floating in space.
Photo by @johnny_gaskell
Pro: diving at night is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
By night the predators come out, but because you’re part of their underwater community you’re just one of the crowd. You’ll see sharks on the prowl, and gigantic fish like giant trevally. On the surface you’d miss most of the show.
Con: heading metres below the surface is serious business, and your dive operators will take it seriously.
That means those with certain health concerns aren’t permitted to dive, drinking is not allowed, and children can’t scuba dive. Learning to dive safely requires training, and training takes time. But you’re in good hands. Most dive operators offer beginners courses with no experience needed.
Keen to get started? These are the best spots to get your PADI Dive Certification and start your diving adventure.
Con: you can’t travel light, while travelling to the reef, or in the water.
Dive gear can get heavy – there’s buoyancy control devices, air tanks, air gauges, wetsuits and the list goes on. Most dive operators in Queensland offer gear rental, but that's only half the battle. Getting into the water with your gear on can require some strength. Snorkelling gear weighs a kilogram dripping wet, but divers have to wear over 50kg around their waist and on their back.
Snorkelling
Pro: the whole family can get involved
Unlike scuba diving which comes with age restrictions, when snorkelling everyone can get in on the fun and catch a glimpse of the magic beneath the waves. Snorkelling is a gentle and fun way to introduce kids to the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef for the first time.
Pro: you can explore all day long
Snorkelling gives you the freedom to start when you want, stop when you want, and snorkel all day when you want. Use your fins to go a bit deeper, or stick to the waterline and take your time. You’re the boss.
Pro: it’s cheap
Diving requires more equipment and training, and can come with an additional fee on a reef tour. Snorkelling gear is cheap to buy and often even cheaper to hire.
Cons:
Sunburn is an unfortunate risk when snorkelling. Divers can escape the sun’s harmful rays beneath the waves, so they can dive even at noon and not have to worry about sunburn. But snorkellers bob about on the surface, meaning you can get badly burnt if you’re not practising sun safety. Always time your snorkels, wear sunscreen and sun shirts, and limit your sun exposure in the middle of the day.
If you’re travelling with divers, you may hear about the marine life you missed while you were on the surface. This can be even worse if you’re diving and snorkelling at night, or staying overnight on a liveaboard experience.
Where to scuba dive in Queensland
There are diving options all over Queensland; however, the largest number of operators are based in Cairns, where you can choose between day dive tours to the Great Barrier Reef, or multiple day trips on live-aboard vessels.
You’ll also find a large number of diving options in the Whitsundays (based out of Airlie Beach), Magnetic Island and Townsville, and Port Douglas.
Diving on the Great Barrier Reef for the first time? This scuba diving guide will tell you all you need to know.
Where to snorkel in Queensland
Most diving tours to the best spots on the reef also offer a snorkelling option, so there’s no need to miss out on the action. This first timer’s guide to snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef is a good place to start.
If you’re not on a tour, snorkelling off a beach is a good option to ease yourself in. Explore the reef at your own pace, and practice changing depths as you get comfortable. If you are snorkelling from the beach, heading out one hour before high tide offers better visibility and gives you enough time to snorkel before the currents change.
And there are plenty of beautiful reefs off pristine beaches on the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot Island, Fitzroy Island and Pumpkin Island are all favourites for off-beach snorkelling. Heron Island, and Lady Musgrave Island also offer some of Queensland’s best snorkelling.
Ready to hit the water? Here are some of the best snorkelling sites in Queensland to get you started.
