Great Barrier Reef: Transformative Eco-Dive & Culture

I joined a Reef Magic reef tour on Saturday, 6 December with two other Chinese friends. We are all certified divers and had planned to dive that day. The food on board was good, and the snorkelling experience was enjoyable. Most of the crew were friendly and helpful. However, the dive briefing led by one guide, Kimia, was uncomfortable. She abruptly asked another Chinese guest to put her phone away and then unnecessarily questioned her by asking, “Do you speak English?” Her tone felt dismissive. Throughout the briefing, her attitude toward Chinese guests was noticeably colder, while she was polite and friendly with white tourists. Although we have extensive diving experience, we were completing dive forms during parts of the briefing that covered very basic skills. The guide addressed us rudely, threatened that we would not be allowed to dive, and repeatedly questioned me about air-level hand signals, all of which I answered correctly, before rolling her eyes and continuing. We later observed her interacting warmly with white guests, which highlighted the contrast in treatment. In the end, we were unable to dive due to capacity issues. Overall, the tour itself was good, but this experience left us feeling uncomfortable and disappointed. I hope Reef Magic will review this matter seriously.

Absolutely awesome place, with a fabulous crew giving me an absolutely fantastic memory I will cherish forever. Not a great swimmer but the snorkel experience was unbelievable and spent almost all my time in the water. Special mention to Anna the snorkel supervisor who was a great help. I would definitely recommend them if you were planning to visit the Reef.

Our best adventure tour in Australia. This is a must do excursion. The staff are super attentive and genuinely caring. We did the snorkeling safari and saw so many cool fish! And we also did the helicopter experience. This was an unforgetable once in a lifetime day!

Book it and experience the reef from above and below. We did helicopter tour and then safari snorkeling tour. Both additional cost options with this day long excursion. Well worth it. Exceptional staff, great service and good lunch buffet. Highly recommend this experience!

Helicopter ride was good. Different way to see the reef. Our pilot kept us out a little longer because he spotted a shark. We were unable to do the glass bottom boat though because the timing didn’t work out so that was disappointing. The semi submersible sub was good and we could see a lot. It started to get really warm in there towards the end.

Fantastic trip to the Great Barrier Reef. The boat trip out to the pontoon & back was smooth & well organised & the pontoon too. Snorkelling equipment & the reef area were excellent. A highlight of our trip to Australia!

Fun and relaxing, friendly and knowledgeable staff! Entertaining all day, great food, well organized, on time schedules.

Amazing experience! Beautiful reef, friendly and professional staff, excellent food, knowledgeable biologists guiding the snorkel. Couldn't fault it. We did the extra "Snorkel Safari" which was added cost but definitely worth the money. We also tried SunLover a few days ago but Reef Magic is better in every aspect (boat, platform, people, entertainment, reef, and food). Make sure you get there on time and read the ticket info. It leaves earlier in the morning than the others, and your boarding pass is emailed to you so you don't need to queue with the million others in Reef Cruise Terminal.

This is by far the best experience I’ve had on the reef. Boat - well equipped, fast, smooth & friendly staff. Treats on the way out & snacks served on the way back were spot on! Didn’t try the toilets. Pontoon - this is the most kid friendly reef experience. They have everything for kids of all ages to experience the reef if they aren’t confident swimmers or snorkelling. Semi sub was mint, knowledgeable tour guide & calling fish/turtles out as we saw them. Fish feeding was amazing to watch with the GTs hitting high speed in & out of the water. Reef - excellent shallow reef to explore with some deeper sections for snorkelling. Food - perfect & something for everyone! Staff - super friendly & approachable. Good laughs had with them. Shout out to Francis the captain, getting amongst the tourists & kids. Making sure we all had a good time! Yes it seemed fully booked but not overcrowded. Overall 5/5 stars.

Reef Magic delivers an exceptional reef experience that combines professionalism, comfort, and genuine care for the environment. From the moment we boarded, the crew set the tone with their friendly service, clear safety briefings, and impressive knowledge of marine life and reef conservation. Every detail of the day was well thought out. The equipment provided was high quality, the facilities were clean and accessible, and the lunch and refreshments exceeded expectations in both quality and variety. Staff were attentive and supportive throughout, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests. The reef was absolutely gorgeous with crystal blue waters and beautiful views of the different reefs. I would highly recommend doing this tour 10/10 it was unforgettable