glass bottom boat tour great barrier reef

Things to do

Glass Bottom Boats

Enjoy the view without diving in

Seen from under the water, the Great Barrier Reef is dazzling. Apart from the corals that come in all colours and shapes – purples and pinks, blues and yellows, spiky staghorns and delicate fan corals, brain corals and table corals – there is an endless array of marine life to marvel at, from tiny damselfish to imposing Maori wrasse, darting rays to curious turtles.

The good news is, you don’t need to dive in to enjoy the view. If you would rather stay dry, glass-bottom boat tours are a great way to open a window onto this enchanting world. Perfect for the less mobile or families with young children, these tours give crystal-clear views of what is happening beneath the surface, often with an expert commentator on hand.

Or consider a semi-submersible … sitting about a metre underwater and surrounded by glass, you’ll get a fish-eye view of the reef wonderland from these air-conditioned vessels. Divers and snorkellers don’t need to miss out on these boating adventures either: there are plenty of tours that incorporate both glass-bottom boats and semi-submersibles along with underwater exploration.

View beautiful coral from a glass bottom boat on the Great Barrier Reef

Through the looking glass

Discover what lies beneath the reef – and stay dry – on a glass-bottom boat.

Quicksilver Pontoon Agincourt
Great Barrier Reef
This is what a day on the reef looks like

Ready to dive in? Pack your swimmers, hat and sunscreen. Quicksilver Cruises has you covered with all the rest.

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Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef with Tusa
Great Barrier Reef
Snorkel vs intro vs certified dive

Check out this handy guide to find your reef style – from donning a mask and snorkel or taking your very first dive, to unique diving experiences reserved for certified divers.

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scuba diver nautilus shell
Great Barrier Reef
25 Fun facts about the Great Barrier Reef

As you’d expect from one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef is home to some weird, wonderful and just plain loveable creatures. Here’s 25 fun Great Barrier Reef facts about a marine world larger than Italy.

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snorkelling with maori wrasse turtle and fish
Great Barrier Reef
12 Famous residents of the Great Barrier Reef

Only 12 residents? There’s probably a gazillion of them, but let’s start things slowly shall we. It’s not easy to keep track of every single one of the Great Barrier Reef’s inhabitants but here are some of the most famous ones in Tropical North Queensland.

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Gareth Phillips snorkelling on the reef
Great Barrier Reef
Reef Talk – A chat with marine biologist Gareth Phillips

The Great Barrier Reef is a thriving, living marine environment. It inspires all who visit, even those who see it every day, like marine biologist and owner of Marine Discoveries, Gareth Phillips.

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Sailaway Mackay Cay
Great Barrier Reef
Dreamy sand cays you must visit on the Great Barrier Reef

We’ve all seen those gorgeous wisps of whiteness poking out from an azure sea on Great Barrier Reef. But what are they? More importantly, where are they? And how can we get a piece of sand cay action? We’re here to reveal all.

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Explore Glass Bottom Boats

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