Ocean Safari

Ocean Safari is a small-group snorkelling operator at Cape Tribulation, taking visitors from the beach to the Great Barrier Reef aboard a rigid inflatable boat. The ride takes about 25 minutes; expect roughly two hours in the water across two reef sites. Gear, instruction, guided snorkelling and fruit are included. Tides, wind and weather can change the itinerary, so two sites aren't guaranteed.

The fast, open-water crossing is part of the outing, but wind and current can make it rough and make snorkelling harder. Guides provide instruction and support for first-time snorkellers; if you're not confident in open water, think about how you'll feel if conditions turn choppy.

The check-in pin is at Turtle Rock Café on 3903 Cape Tribulation Road. The boat boards at Cape Tribulation Beach, so the café pin isn't the place to step aboard. Courtesy pickups are offered from Cape Tribulation accommodation. Turtle Rock Café is a separate business on the same campus and serves breakfast and lunch, including locally caught fish and chips. Fruit is included on the boat; drinks and underwater photos are optional extras.

Sea turtles are often spotted, with tropical fish, eagle rays, giant clams and starfish among the other possible encounters. From the reef, Cape Tribulation's forested coast can be visible beyond the coral water, bringing the rainforest and reef into the same view. Sightings depend on conditions, so treat the wildlife list as possibilities rather than a checklist.