Great Barrier Reef Helicopter & Snorkeling Experience with Reef Magic

Overall, I might have had overly high expectations for the Great Barrier Reef—this trip felt just okay to me. I chose Reef Magic’s boat return + 10-minute helicopter package 🚤✈️. In my opinion, if you come to the Great Barrier Reef and don’t take a helicopter ride, you’re missing the full picture. It’s a must! But adding a helicopter ride significantly increases the cost. My advice: just go for the 10-minute helicopter option—it’s enough. I took motion sickness pills in advance 💊 and slept through both boat rides, so I didn’t feel dizzy at all. Highly recommend bringing those pills! After 1.5 hours on the boat, we arrived at the ocean platform where all activities take place. My first activity was the helicopter tour. Due to strong winds, our flight was delayed by about 30 minutes. I told the crew leader in advance that I wanted to sit in the co-pilot seat next to the pilot 🧑‍✈️. So I was the first to board and got the best view! Solo travelers—definitely request the front seat. You’ll see everything clearly and even watch the pilot in action. The 10-minute helicopter ride was the highlight of the trip 🚁💙. You truly see the vastness and beauty of the reef. Absolutely stunning! After landing, I had lunch—beef curry was okay, but the rest was meh 🍛. Then, straight to snorkeling! I brought my own swimsuit but used their wetsuit (warmer and thicker). I used their mask, but if you’re picky about hygiene, bring your own. Always wear a life vest! It helps you float easily and feel safe. Even though I can swim and have dived before, I still felt a bit scared at first—deep water is intimidating 😅. But I saw so many fish 🐠, coral varieties, and even recorded videos with my waterproof pouch (though it didn’t work well for photos 🤷‍♀️). Snorkeling was fun! I also tried the free semi-submarine tour—highly recommend! 🚤 You see way more fish and coral than while snorkeling, including larger fish and even a sea turtle 🐢! I missed the fish feeding session, but it’s okay—I saw plenty of marine life already. Reef Magic posts activity schedules on the platform and makes announcements. The staff were okay but not super helpful—I mostly figured things out on my own. It felt a bit overpriced for the experience, but since it might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip… still worth it! 💸✨ #GreatBarrierReef #ReefDiving #ReefHelicopter #Australia #Cairns 🇦🇺🌊