Snorkeling Bay of Islands: Two sites, no ladder entry

Enter the water from a platform, not a ladder, and rinse off warm.

Snorkel two sites in the Bay of Islands' protected Deep Water Cove area on a small, personalized trip with a live English-speaking guide. The boat is modified so you step onto a platform to enter and exit the water instead of climbing a ladder. Wetsuits, masks, snorkels and fins are all provided, and you get a hot fresh water rinse and packet soup afterward. Morning or full-day options available, with an optional island drop-off on the way home.

The experience

What makes this snorkeling different from the usual? The boat itself. Most snorkeling trips make you climb down a ladder into the water, which is awkward when you're wearing a wetsuit and fins. This one has a modified platform that lets you step straight in and out, which changes how comfortable the whole experience feels. You'll head out past the islands toward the Cape Brett Peninsula to reach the clear waters of Deep Water Cove, a protected area that started in 2010. The scenery on the way out is part of the trip (the guide shares local knowledge of what you're passing), and then you get two completely different snorkeling sites to explore.

The gear is serious. Full wetsuits in a large range of sizes keep you warm in the water for as long as you want to stay in. Masks, snorkels and fins are all included. The fish are super friendly and the water is clear enough to see them properly. After you're done snorkeling, you get a hot fresh water rinse off (which sounds small until you've been in a wetsuit in cool water), and a hot packet soup to warm you up. The whole trip runs four to five hours, and you can book it as a morning session or stretch it into a full day with an optional drop-off on the largest island on the way home.

The guide is live and speaks English, and the group stays small and personalized. Kids from age three are welcome. If you want to bring your own snorkel gear or swimwear, you can. The operator just asks that you bring water to drink.

What’s included

• Full wetsuits, masks, snorkels and fins in a wide range of sizes.
• hot fresh water rinse after snorkeling.
• hot packet soup to warm up afterward.
• live English-speaking guide.
• small, personalized group experience.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (15 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Bay of Islands Snorkelling Ltd

Is this one for you?Book the morning session if you want snorkeling without committing the whole day. Add the island stop if you're staying longer and want to explore one of the Bay's largest islands on the way back.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I snorkel in the Bay of Islands if I've never done it before?

Yes. The trip caters for all snorkeling abilities, from complete beginners to experienced snorkelers. The guide is there the whole time, and the two sites give you a chance to build confidence in clear, protected water.

Why does the boat's platform make such a difference?

Entering and exiting the water from a ladder while wearing a wetsuit and fins is clumsy and tiring. The modified platform lets you step straight in and out, so you spend more energy actually snorkeling and less on the logistics of getting in and out of the water.

What's Deep Water Cove and why does it matter?

Deep Water Cove is a protected "no-take" area in the Bay of Islands that started in 2010. The protection means the fish are abundant and super friendly, and the water stays clear. It's the reason this operator can promise good visibility and a huge variety of fish in one trip.

Is the hot soup and rinse really included, or is that an extra?

Both are included. After you snorkel, you get a hot fresh water rinse to wash off the salt water, and then a hot packet soup to warm you up before heading back.

Can I book this as a half-day or full-day trip?

Yes. The morning snorkeling option is the shorter session. If you want to add an island drop-off on the way home, you can extend it into a full-day trip. You choose at checkout.