Guided Snorkel Tours in Sydney’s Cabbage Tree Bay

About this experience

Explore the vibrant underwater world of Sydney with our Guided Snorkel Tours. Led by expert local PADI guides, these tours take you to stunning locations like Shelly Beach, Fairy Bower, and Fairlight Beach, where you can encounter diverse marine life in crystal-clear waters. Perfect for those comfortable in the ocean, each tour provides all necessary equipment, including a wetsuit and flotation devices, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Whether you’re a snorkeling enthusiast or looking to improve your skills, this tour offers an unforgettable aquatic adventure right on Sydney's doorstep.

- Tour includes equipment hire: mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit
- Explore marine life in Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Reserve or other similar locations
- Suitable for ages 8 and up, swimming proficiency required
- Available year-round on weekends and select weekdays

At a glance

• Duration: 2 hr 30 min

Itinerary and highlights

Meet your guide at Dive Centre Manly, where you'll be introduced to your PADI Guide and get kitted up before heading out to the day’s best snorkelling spot. Your guide will organise all your equipment and transport you to a local site, choosing between Shelly Beach, Fairy Bower, or Fairlight Beach depending on conditions. Shelly Beach and Fairy Bower sit within Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Reserve, Sydney’s oldest marine reserve, which is exactly why the marine life here is so consistently impressive.

Once at the beach, you will receive a full briefing before heading in to explore shallow reefs and sandy patches (generally 2–10 metres deep) that make it easy to spot fish and settle into the rhythm of snorkelling. Your guide helps you find the “good stuff” that most people swim right past.

Keep your eyes out for some of Sydney’s most iconic locals: leatherjackets, stingrays, flatheads, resident turtles, Australian giant cuttlefish, octopus, wobbegongs, and NSW’s state fish, the Eastern Blue Groper — plus plenty of schooling fish moving through.

See the overview, available options and booking details for the experience schedule.

Meeting and pickup information

• Getting to us is easy, as we are only a two-minute walk from the famous Manly Ferry Wharf. We highly recommend coming by public transport. However, if you prefer to drive, we recommend parking at the Gilbert Street Wilsons Carpark and walking across the road to Dive Centre Manly.

Languages and tickets

• English — Guide
• Mobile Only

Tour operator

• Dive Centre Manly

Accessibility and practical details

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.