How Much Does a Snorkeling Tour Cost?
Price table: all six tours
Here are our six tours with exact pricing. Note: Cozumel is per group of up to 20 people, not per person.
| Cairns: Outer Great Barrier Reef Full-Day Tour with Lunch | Top pickKey West: Reef Snorkeling with Drinks & Sunset Option | Cancún: Isla Mujeres Catamaran Tour with Lunch & Snorkel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour | Cairns Great Barrier Reef | Key West Reef | Cancún Isla Mujeres |
| Price | $139 per person | $35 per person | $89 per person |
| Duration | Full day (~8 hrs) | 3 hours | Full day (~8 hrs) |
| Includes | Lunch, wine, beer | Beer, wine after snorkel | Buffet lunch, open bar |
| Rating | 4.6★ (1,940) | 4.3★ (493) | 4.4★ (1,520) |
| View → | Book this → | View → |
Premium & specialty tours
Silfra, Iceland: $145 per person. Snorkel between two continental plates in 100-metre visibility. Drysuit provided. 4.7 stars from 2,610 reviews. Year-round, but best Jun–Oct.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia: $120 per person. Swim with stingrays, coral garden, shallow-water sharks. 4.9 stars from 380 reviews (highest-rated on the site). Best May–Oct.
Cozumel, Mexico (glass-bottom boat): $350 per group of up to 20. Watch three reefs from a boat without entering the water. 4.6 stars from 310 reviews. Non-swimmers and nervous snorkelers welcome.
What’s included vs extra
Always included: mask, snorkel, fins, guide, safety briefing. Most tours include flotation (life vest or noodle) if you ask. Silfra includes a drysuit and neoprene hood.
Usually included: reef-safe sunscreen (on some tours), underwater photos (on some Caribbean tours). Check with the operator.
Not included: accommodation, transfers to the boat (except Silfra pickup tours), wetsuit or rash guard (though some tours offer them for a small fee).
What to pack; what to wear
Wear or bring: a reef-safe sunscreen (many reefs ban oxybenzone), a rash guard for sun and jellyfish protection, and a defogged mask. Colours don’t meaningfully affect shark risk on a guided reef snorkel, but shiny and bright items can draw curious fish. Don’t wear jewellery.
Tipping on snorkeling tours
US and Caribbean tours: 15–20% of the tour price, or $5–20 per person is customary. This includes Key West ($35 tour, so maybe $5–10 tip), Cozumel, and Cancún. Most crews depend on tips.
Iceland (Silfra): Tipping is not expected. Guides and operators are paid year-round, and the culture doesn’t emphasise tipping.
Australia (Great Barrier Reef): Tipping is not obligatory, but 10–15% is appreciated if you feel the crew went above and beyond.
Booking & cancellation
All six tours book through GetYourGuide with mobile vouchers. Most offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour. Popular reef days (Great Barrier Reef, Bora Bora) can sell out in high season, so book a few days ahead if you can.
Read the best snorkeling tours ranked, whether you can snorkel without swimming ability, or the complete snorkeling guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is snorkeling expensive?
No. $35–$150 per person for a guided tour is reasonable compared to other adventure activities. If you can’t swim, a glass-bottom boat ($350/group) is the best non-water option. Details.
Do I really need to tip on a Caribbean snorkel tour?
Tips are not mandatory, but they’re customary on US and Caribbean boats. Crew members depend on tips as part of their income. $5–20 per person or 15–20% is standard. Tipping is not expected in Iceland.
What if the weather cancels my tour?
Most tours include free cancellation on GetYourGuide if the operator cancels due to weather or low bookings. Check the cancellation policy on the widget for your specific tour. A refund or rebooking is usually offered within a few days.