Sail from Port Douglas to snorkel on Low Isles
Low Isles was discovered by Captain Cook in 1770 and was scribed in his log as a ‘small low island’.
This idyllic tropical island is situated approximately 11 kilometres from Port Douglas. Low Isles is home to spectacular coral gardens and marine life anda plethora of spectacular migratory bird life including mangrove kingfishers, sea eagles and ospreys.
Surrounded by 55 acres of coral reef, much of it close to the shore, snorkelling from the boat allows guests to enjoy the many different coral species with minimal effort.
Guests enjoy swimming and snorkelling amongst spectacular marine life including green turtles, parrotfish and fusiliers in the tranquil waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
The lighthouse on Low Isles was built in 1878 and has long become a base for scientific research and weather data collection.
Low and Woody Islands make up Low Isles and form a protected lagoon area between the two islands. Low Isles is approximately four acres in size. It is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
As there is a limited number of vessels permitted to transport guests to Low Isles, we are committed to the protection and conservation of this fragile marine park.
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is 2300km in length and over 18 million years old. It can be viewed from space and continues to create lifetime memories for thousands of visitors each year.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse and remarkable ecosystems in the world and was inscribed on the World Heritage list in October 1981.
Low Isles:
• Approximately 4 acres in size
• Surrounded by 55 acres of reef
• Walk around the island
in less than an hour
• First lighthouse established 1878
• First study of coral here in 1928
• First cruises to Low Isles in 1979
• Last lighthouse keeper left in 1994
Great Barrier Reef:
• 2900 coral reefs
• 600 continental islands
• 300 coral cays
• 1,500 species of fish
• 400 species of corals
• 4,000 species of molluscs
• 500 species of seaweed
• 215 species of birds
• 30 species of marine mammals
• 6 species of marine turtles