fab day - the crew were fantastic - did a first class job in every aspect

would recommend wavelength to anybody

Recommend highly a small snorkellng only tour operator out of Port Douglas called Wavelength. If you cannot dive and want to avoid the crowds and avoid playing second fiddle to divers and if you want to snorkel around with a marine biologist, turtles and sharks and nemo's amoungst spectacular coral beds, then Wavelength tours are the greatest. Only 30 people were on the boat. We spent just about all day in the water on what seemed to be private spots on the outer reef. No large tour boats in site of us. There was more food and beverages all day than everybody could eat and it was fresh and delicous. You get the experience of a marine biologist (Fluffy) to talk to you and show you things you wouldn't normally know to look for. He also takes wonderfull photos for you as he seems to have gills and can stay underwater forever. If you are inexperienced snorkeller there is also big dude called "G" who snorkels around with you and makes you feel very comfortable. Very child friendly too. The 3 crew got around to meet and talk to all 30 of us so it felt very very personlised. Wonderfull experience for any one wanting a small operator, locally owned and wanting to spend there time in the water rather than waiting for divers!!

I am an extremely advanced scuba and freediver and have been on dive boats all over the world. That being said. The best experience I have had as far as diving off of a boat (scuba included) was just a few days on the Wavelength boat. I am also an underwater filmmaker/photographer, so my criteria is even more stringent than most. I was holidaying with my family in Port Douglas and my 9 year old daughter does not SCUBA so after going out on hybrid boats, I wanted to find a snorkel only boat and asked my hotel to recommend the best based on my needs (small groups, personal service and guys who were passionate about the ocean). So I gave Wavelength a shot.

What are the criteria for a great dive boat experience?
1. Great sites - okay, the Great Barrier Reef is...well...great. BUT there are great sites and good sites. I experienced three Great Barrier Reef boats out of Port Douglas/Carins and Wavelength took us to the absolute best sites. YES they are snorkel only, but SCUBA divers DO NOT be snobs. Besides the wrecks (Pandora or Yongla) or Cod Hole, the best parts of the reef are within 10 meters. And if you are a freediver, you can go pretty deep with these guys. So for dive sites, Wavelength is by far, the best.

2. Great boat - the tidiest, most well run boat I have been on BAR NONE. Lots of room, places to store your dry gear, large roomy bathrooms (for a boat). Lots of great places to sit before and after dives. Captain Mick did a great job AND we saw a mother and baby Humpback within the first hour!

3. Great crew - okay, you've got two extremely knowledgeable marine biologists on board: Fluffy and Dan. Fluffy is a fantastic photographer and unlike other dive boats they don't push the photos on you, but trust me, you'll want them. Fluffy's got a great eye and a breathold that puts me to shame! By the way, once Captain Mick found out I was a freediver who neglected to bring longfins, he let me borrow his! Make sure you here Fluffy's lecture on coral reefs, fascinating!

I wish I had some criticisms so this review might sound more legit, but in truth, I do not (and I am hard to please when it comes to dive boats). So even if you are a diver, swallow your pride and take Wavelength. You'll have the best possible Great Barrier Reef experience!

J. Nathaniel Berke
www.theblueedgemovie.com
jnberke@pacificcinemedia.com

I opted to do my reef snorkelling with Wavelength as they take only snorkellers so don't spend all their time assisting novice divers. The team on the boat were awesome, so friendly, helpful and patient with all the beginners. With a much smaller group than some of the more well-known tours, we were able to have a small diversion on the way out to the reef to do some whale watching, and the day is a little more flexible than others. Everyone on board was rapt with their day, particularly those who had been a little nervous about snorkelling for the first time.
Although we had a marine biologist with us who took us for a tour, I think I would have got more out of the day if I had done some study of the reef inhabitants beforehand.
The food provided was attractively presented, tasty and plentiful.
I opted not to buy an underwater camera to take with me as the crew take their own photos and you can buy a CD afterwards with the day's photos plus a set of standard pictures, but I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a picture of myself actually snorkelling.