Silversonic is the fast, comfortable way to dive or snorkel the Outer Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas — three reef sites in one day, intro-divers welcome, marine biologists onboard.

About Silversonic

Silversonic is a 29-metre wave-piercing catamaran operated by the Quicksilver Group, which has been running reef trips out of Port Douglas since 1979. The vessel was custom-built to reach the Agincourt Reef ribbon system on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, where the water is deeper, visibility is consistently above 15 metres, and the coral cover is some of the densest on the entire reef.

Unlike many day boats that anchor at one or two stops, Silversonic visits three different reef sites on every trip — typically Agincourt Reef numbers 2, 3 and 4 — giving you a real sense of how varied the outer reef can be. One site might be a sheltered coral bommie ideal for first-time snorkellers; the next might be a steep coral wall full of reef sharks and trevally.

What to expect

Every Silversonic trip includes guided snorkel tours led by marine biologists, all snorkel gear, a buffet lunch (cold meats, salads, fresh fruit, hot pasta) and morning and afternoon tea. There’s no extra cost for these — they’re bundled into the fare.

If you’ve never dived before, you can do an introductory dive after a short briefing — no certification needed, just a basic medical declaration. Certified divers can choose unguided buddy dives or guided dives with one of the dive instructors, and there are scuba refresher dives for anyone who hasn’t been in the water for a while. Cameras and underwater photo packages are available for hire onboard.

The vessel itself is set up for comfort — air-conditioned interior cabin, large open back deck with bench seating, separate change rooms with hot showers, two underwater viewing windows for those who’d rather stay dry. There’s a fully licensed bar for the trip home.

Getting there & practical info

Silversonic departs from the Marina Mirage in Port Douglas at 8:30am and returns around 4:30pm. Check-in is from 7:45am. Port Douglas is about 70km north of Cairns, roughly an hour by car along the Captain Cook Highway. Most Port Douglas accommodation is within a few minutes’ walk or a short shuttle ride from the marina.

If you’re staying in Cairns or the northern beaches, Silversonic offers paid coach transfers from most major hotels — bookings need to be made at least 24 hours ahead. Allow a full day; you won’t be back in Cairns until around 6:30pm.

Quick tips from our team

  • Wear reef-safe sunscreen (zinc-based) — Silversonic enforces this
  • Take seasickness medication 30 minutes before departure if you're prone
  • Bring a towel — the boat provides one but a spare is handy
  • Underwater cameras hire out fast in peak season; pre-book if you want one
  • Ask the marine biologists questions on the trip out, not at the reef — they're busy then

When to visit

The Outer Barrier Reef is divable year-round, but conditions vary. June through October is the peak winter season — calm seas, warm but not hot air temperatures, water around 23°C, and excellent visibility. This is also dwarf minke whale season (typically late May to early August), and minkes occasionally appear at Agincourt.

November through April is warmer (water around 28°C, balmy air) but stinger suits are required because of marine stingers. Coral spawning happens in late spring after the November full moon — an extraordinary sight if you can time it. Visibility can drop briefly after summer rain events but generally bounces back within days.

Why our team rates Silversonic

Our team has done a lot of reef day trips over the years and Silversonic consistently ranks at the top for value. Three sites instead of one, marine biologists who actually know what they’re pointing at, an honest buffet lunch instead of a sandwich and an apple, and a vessel quick enough to spend more of the day in the water and less of it travelling. The Agincourt Ribbon Reefs are also genuinely better than the inner reefs closer to Cairns — clearer water, healthier coral, bigger fish.

If you only have one day for the reef and you’re willing to travel up to Port Douglas, this is the trip we’d book.