Green Island Swim School

Saturday 18 July 2026 |

Arriving on the Ferry

Getting to Green Island is easy, and expensive. It is only 28 Km offshore, but access is very restricted. Therefore monopoly, therefore $122 each return, but the complimentary cup of tepid coffee provided some redress.

We departed at 10:30am. The crossing took about 45 minutes and moderately bumpy. They had warned that the forecast was for rough seas, but we survived unscathed.

Walking along the lengthy pier we were to get an early glimpse of the marine life. A reef shark was just casually swimming underneath the pier, and later a guide pointed out a turtle in the water nearby.

A walk around the Island

We arrived at about 11:30 and decided to get our bearings before embarking on the aquatic activities planned for the day.

Green Island is quite small. It has a perimeter of about 1.6km and can be circumnavigated in a short walk. There were boardwalks through the middle, one leading to a crocodile reserve (we didn’t go) and other memorabilia.

Glass Bottom Boats

Our ticket included the choice of snorkeling gear or a boat trip. I had already packed two snorkels and two bathers, so we decided to spy on the fish, departing 12:30pm. We didn’t need to venture far from the pier or beach to see a range of larger fish. They feed these fish, so they come to the boats to ensure a show. The trip lasted 30 minutes and was a good introduction.

Now for Swim School

We chose Green Island rather than an outer reef because you can snorkel and see fish in the shallows. This meant that I had half a chance of getting Debbie in the water, and then under it!

I did manage to film her floating, swimming and snorkeling. What I wasn’t able to capture was the range of fish we saw underneath the surface. Multiple schools swam in and around us and all within standing height.

Visibility wasn’t great, perhaps too many people in that part of the beach churning up the sand, but good enough to feel special. This is one of those islands you can’t help imagining that you alone found and what it would be like to be marooned here, swimming with the fish every day. I already decided on the location on my water collection, campsite and fishing spot.

The water was 24C and although this sounds warm after 40 minutes my fingers were blue. We retreated to the sand for half an hour before venturing in for a final dip.

We had access to the resort toilets and outdoor showers, so cleaned up before soaking up the final rays of sun. We had brought two beers, with socks for stubby holders, and wandered up the beach for somewhere quiet to enjoy them. The beach is big with lots of places for people to spread out.

With one log to sit on and one to hang out our washing life couldn’t be better. That is until a pair of young influencers asked if they could borrow our log to take a photo. After 5 minutes of them prancing and preening, tucking and pulling clothes, testing out arm waves and pouts, I had had enough.

Enough of standing with an arm load of wet washing. Enough of watching this girl in high heel white boots balance in the sand. Enough of our peace being invaded for no real purpose. A quick burst of teacher voice and they packed up. At 4:30pm we rejoined the ferry and headed for home. Tired, sun-kissed and very happy.

The 30-minute walk back to the apartments at dusk gave us the chance to properly see the rainbow lorikeets that congregate in the trees in our street. We had seen them flying past in growing murmurations on previous nights, but their final beds were just out of sight. Tonight we saw them.