We offer the best value diving and snorkelling on one-day trips to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The diving includes steep drop-offs and sheltered coral gardens, reef sharks, turtles, schools of barracuda, and Maori wrasse. Day tours are available from Port Douglas, all year around as follows:
Agincourt Reef
3 dives USD302 (for certified divers)
Introductory: 1 / 2 dives - USD281 / USD343 per person
Snorkelling only - USD212 per person
Day trip prices normally include: dives, dive guide, use of scuba equipment (incl. prescription masks), lunch, coffee/tea, drinking water, and sales tax. Prices exclude (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Park fee (USD6 per day), fuel surcharge (USD7 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Optional extras: Dive insurance, drinks from the bar. Note: prices of items purchased on site are subject to change.
How your day unfolds:
Your Port Douglas dive day trip begins with a 7:30 am check-in at the Quicksilver reservations counter inside the Reef Marina. Boarding follows at 8:30 am, with complimentary morning tea served as you settle in. The vessel departs at 8:30 am sharp, heading for the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The journey takes roughly an hour, morning tea is served, crossing clear blue water to the Agincourt ribbon reefs. Arrival at the first dive site is around 10:15 am. You will have time for a full dive briefing before entry. The second site opens at approximately 11:30 am. A hot tropical buffet lunch is served at 12 noon, giving you a chance to refuel between dives. The third dive starts at 1:40 pm, followed by afternoon tea. Departure from the reef is at 3 pm, with the boat arriving back at Port Douglas marina by 4:30 pm. Throughout the day, the crew manages tank changes, offers guided options, and keeps the dive deck organised. Snorkellers follow a similar schedule, with dedicated briefings and access to the same 3 sites.
What makes this day trip unique?
This Port Douglas diving day trip runs aboard Silversonic, a 29-metre catamaran built specifically for outer reef access. The vessel carries no more than 85 guests, which keeps the dive deck uncrowded and the experience personal. An active ride control system smooths the journey even at speeds up to 32 knots. Hot fresh water showers, an air conditioned indoor lounge, and large sun decks provide comfort between dives.
The real difference is site selection. Silversonic draws from more than 35 exclusive moorings across the Agincourt system. The crew picks 3 sites on the morning of your trip based on tide, current, and visibility. That flexibility means you avoid the standard tourist circuit. One day you might drift past the giant porites boulders of Triggerfish City. Another day you could explore Barracuda Bommie, a deep pinnacle where schools of barracuda hold station in the current and grey reef sharks circle the edge. Sites like Nursery Bommie and The Gardens offer shallow coral gardens for macro lovers, while The Chapel and The Point put you on walls where trevallies and mackerel hunt.
The Silversonic team are selected for local knowledge. They know where the titan triggerfish nest, which bommie hides the squat lobsters, and when to swim the outer edge of Gary's Gut for a shot at hammerheads. Briefings are thorough and current-aware. For certified divers, 3 dives are standard. Introductory divers can complete up to 2 dives with an instructor, no previous experience required.
Why Dive at Port Douglas?
Port Douglas dive day trips target the Outer Barrier Reef, specifically the Agincourt ribbon reefs. These sites sit roughly 40 nautical miles offshore, in deeper, cooler water than the inner reefs. The result is healthier coral coverage with staghorn, brain, and plate corals in dense formations, and less bleaching impact. Visibility averages 15 to 30 metres, far clearer than inshore options. Marine life here runs larger and more active. Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks patrol the walls. Grey reef sharks work the current at sites like Barracuda Bommie and The Point. Schools of barracuda, bigeye trevally, and red bass hold over pinnacles. Turtle, both green and hawksbill, graze on the shallow bommies. Maori wrasse turn up unannounced. On the sandy patches, garden eels and blue-spotted rays rest between feeding forays.
The diving suits a range of experience levels. Shallow lagoon sites like The Gardens max out at 10 metres, calm and forgiving for beginners or those shaking off rust. Wall and pinnacle dives reach 20 to 25 metres, with occasional deeper options like Gary's Gut (40 metres) for advanced divers. Water temperatures range from 24 to 30°C, making year-round diving comfortable. A 3 mm wetsuit suffices most months. Fewer boats visit the outer Agincourt reefs compared to Cairns departure points. That means less competition at moorings and more time in the water. For divers who want the Great Barrier Reef at its most robust, Port Douglas offers a quieter, more reliable window into the real thing. Read more about diving at the Agincourt Outer Barrier Reef.
Easy and quick arrangements that took the hassle out of trying to arrange it all myself. Had a great time, saw schooling hammerheads on the last dive of the trip which was epic! Thanks for helping me organise it all!
