Here’s a polished Google review:

Had a fantastic scuba diving 🤿 experience with Adam and the team. Adam went above and beyond to accommodate my request after hours when I missed the online booking deadline. The customer service was exceptional, and the team made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free.

The dive itself was amazing, with a great variety of marine life 🐟🐠🦀🐡to see underwater. It was an unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend Adam and the team to anyone looking for a professional, friendly, and memorable scuba diving adventure.

Adam and Monica were amazing. I had never been scuba diving. I was excited to try something new, but was honestly scared. They both were so encouraging and experienced. I went 9.5 metres on my first dive. They gave me confidence, excellent knowledge and rephrased things to help me understand when I didn't understand the first time. I am so grateful for this experience and that they made it possible. I was going to quit but with their perseverance and patience I experienced a new activity that I truly loved. Thanks guys. Highly highly recommend.

Memorable and fascinating It's very recommended for bigginers or younger ones. The area is shallow and safe. The tour is friendly and fun experience. there is shower and changing room available. The masks not in very ideal condition though.

Aqua Adventures is must do when visiting the Gold Coast. Fantastic snorkeling on Wavebreak Island. The dive master and boat crew kept a close eye on us so we felt safe. Awesome fish, clear visibility and beautiful beach to rest up on. Everything supplied including wetsuit. The only thing that could be better was if we were given bait to feed the fish. Luckily we bought some with us so the trip was perfect.

Will be using again. Very enjoyable trip with a good variety of fish to see. Staff were all very friendly and took good care of everyone on the trip including a couple that hadn’t swum in the ocean before. Will be visiting again on our next trip to the GC.

Best dive company on the coast by far Had the most amazing time. Jen, Harry and Harry were so friendly, knowledgeable and really professional, I felt safe the entire time and they really made the trip. We did the Gold Coast Reefs and Wrecks dive. The Scottish Prince wreck was the highlight for me, saw all kinds of sea dwelling creatures. Couldn’t recommend the company enough, can’t wait to book my next dive with them.

Came to scuba dive. Our instructor Adam was very professional and took us on a relaxing dive. Even stopping the boat after seeing some dolphins to let us take some photos. Amazing experience!!

Went on my first dive experience with Aqua Adventures this week and it was nothing short of phenomenal. The instructors Adam and Monica made everything easy to understand and stress free. I was able to see 2 octopuses, a cuttle fish, barracuda, and more rays than I could count. I also appreciated that the boat ride was short to our snorkel/dive spot, which meant more time for the beach with my family afterwords.
I would definitely use this company again on my next trip to the Gold Coast.

SCAMMERS - THIEVES TERRIBLE. They knew the weather wasn't right to go out with the boat. Almost broke our backs, driving like crazy the boat on very high waves. Knowing that, they let us go, in such DANGER, and obviously we couldn't swim with whales, which we paid for, because of the dangerous weather.

Did my open water diving certification through this team. Whilst my dive instructors were great at passing on their knowledge and building my confidence in the water, the overall customer service of the business and how it operates is what brings this review down.
At the time of booking the dates to complete my course, the 1st day of pool diving was advertised as 5-8pm on Friday evening. I work Fridays and normally finish at 5pm, but figured taking 1 hour of leave would be fine. After paying for the course and confirming the booking, I received details for pool diving starting at 1pm on Friday.
I emailed them to clarify, and advised what they had sent was not what was advertised. They didn’t respond/acknowledge the false advertisement and confirmed 1pm start. So my 1 hour of annual leave turned into 5.
I then had to contact them multiple times in regard to gaining access to my eLearning. Which thankfully, I did early. As there was far more than I had anticipated. Upon arrival for day 1 of diving, I was told the other people booked with me hadn’t turned up, and we would have to reschedule. I politely told them I would not be rescheduling due to the a) false advertisement of the session time and b) the hours of leave I had to take to attend. Thankfully, the instructor was lovely and did the pool session with me, but we did post-pone the 2 days of diving, which was fine.
Upon arrival for the first day of ocean diving, I was provided with an expired oxygen tank. They later tried to pass this off as test for learning divers. But the initial shock on the woman’s face when I pointed it out and refused to use it, shows otherwise.
Due to the dive boat being filled to capacity with gear and guests, minimal personal items were allowed on board, which at the time was understandable. However, the boat died on the back in. It was cold and overcast, and the person they contacted to collect us took over an hour to do so (despite the boat trip being 10 minutes to where we were). I was shaking with blue lips, and no way to get warm. And ended up having the flu on and off for 2 weeks afterwards (and prior to this I hadn’t been sick since Xmas 2022).
All their equipment throughout the experience appeared poor. Held together with zip ties, regulators and tanks leaking, to which their solution was to smack them multiple times until they stop. But at that point, my dive experience was minimal. So how was I to know any better.
However, I just completed 6 dives, over multiple days, in a third world country. And this confirmed that none of that experience is normal, nor up to par. If a third world country can do it, I certainly expect better on the Gold Coast.

Unforgettable Whale Encounters with Aqua Adventures I've been out with Aqua Adventures 3 times in October and each time has been a fantastic experience. Being towards the end of the season I wasn't sure if I would have much luck seeing whales and doing the whale swim, however each time Adam and Monica put in so much effort to try to find whales for us. You could tell they really enjoy their job and are passionate about whales and wanted us to have a great experience. 2 out of 3 times I was able to swim with whales and it was incredible! From start to finish Monica and Adam really looked after us and told us amazing facts about the whales and made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable. We always stayed at a safe and respectful distance from the whales and let them approach us. Being on a smaller boat made the experience even better as you are in a smaller group and always able to get a great view. I can’t recommend Aqua Adventures enough — thank you Adam and Monica for making every trip unforgettable! I’ll definitely be back next season.

The staff are very hospitable and professional. All kinds of requests were be met and We had such a very good experience. What’s a bit pity that there are not many types of fish in Wave Island. But the quantity is okay. Btw Thank u for u all,definitely recommend it for new snorkeler

Unforgettable experience with Aqua Adventures Gold Coast!

What an incredible day! Swimming with whales has always been a dream of mine — and Captain Adam and Monica made it even better than I imagined. From the moment we got on the boat, they were friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do.

Adam knows everything about whales — he shared so many cool facts and explained their behavior in a way that made the whole experience even more special. Monica was amazing too — always helping us get ready, checking on everyone, and making sure we were safe and comfortable the entire time.

We spent plenty of time in the water and had several opportunities to swim close to these gentle giants. You can really tell they care about giving everyone the best experience possible, while also respecting the whales and the ocean.

Honestly, it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you never forget. If you’re thinking about doing it — just go for it! You’ll be in the best hands with Adam and Monica 💙🐋

Best Experience ever Unforgettable experience with Aqua Adventures Gold Coast!

What an incredible day! Swimming with whales has always been a dream of mine — and Captain Adam and Monica made it even better than I imagined. From the moment we got on the boat, they were friendly, professional, and clearly passionate about what they do.

Adam knows everything about whales — he shared so many cool facts and explained their behavior in a way that made the whole experience even more special. Monica was amazing too — always helping us get ready, checking on everyone, and making sure we were safe and comfortable the entire time.

We spent plenty of time in the water and had several opportunities to swim close to these gentle giants. You can really tell they care about giving everyone the best experience possible, while also respecting the whales and the ocean.

Honestly, it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you never forget. If you’re thinking about doing it — just go for it! You’ll be in the best hands with Adam and Monica 💙🐋

Great dive experience Great dive on Wavebreak Island. Very helpful and friendly crew on the trip, with Monica and Adam. Both experienced dive masters. Would thoroughly recommend this dive to anyone looking for a great experience

Danger and Deception I didn't go myself but my my sister-in-law, died on September 6, 2022 on one of Aqua Adventures excursions. She was dragged on the mermaid line in rough seas as Leon du Plessis was chasing whales.

Absolutely unforgettable experience!
I went whale watching this week and was lucky to see a whale family and a pod of dolphins swimming together — such a magical moment! 🐋🐬

The staff were incredibly friendly and took great care of us throughout the trip.
It felt like a private tour because it was just me and my friend on the boat. So personal and peaceful!

Highly recommended for anyone who loves nature and wants a truly special encounter with marine life. 🌊✨

Amazing experience! 🐋 Staff were super friendly and informative, and the captain was great too. The boat was comfy and we saw whales up close unforgettable! 💙
Highly recommend this tour! 🙌

We saw so many whales on this tour that we lost count! They were breaching and interacting above water, and being in such a small boat meant we were at their level to observe them.
My friend and I loved this tour, the guides cared for the animals and were as filled with joy to watch the whales as we were, teaching us interesting facts along the way.
(Tour date: June 28)

Absolutely great experience. We are so luck to see the whales. Adam is very knowledgeable and great spotting the whale location. Thank you very much team.

Unforgettable experience, couldn’t recommend highly enough What an epic way to spend my birthday and celebrate our 5th year anniversary.

The weather was stunning, the tour leaders were exceptional and informative.
We were lucky enough to have found several pods over a few hours, was able to swim with the whales and several dolphins. An unforgettable experience

A very special space. It was one of the most profound experiences in my life.

The whales were giant and were swimming with grace and dignity. I could almost feel that this animal is full of wisdom. They were free from competition or comparison and just doing their own things.
I got too excited and drank water when they swam right under us!

Yet, what made this tour so memorable was the silent appearance of the white sea snake . Among the silence in the water with ray of sun, the sea snake appeared from nowhere, swam with the twist and twirl right under me, and disappeared in silence. The moment of divinity.
Everything was silent from the beginning to the end.
I felt that I encountered something very special.

Adam, Alba, thank you for giving us such a special experience.
Your passion towards your job and hospitality is truly inspiring.
I just wished if there was a waterproof microphone, I could appreciate more of Alba's marine biology talk. I would have loved to listen more to what she could share with us.

This experience let me forget the time and space.
Thank you..!

Memorable adventure!! I had an incredible experience that I will cherish forever. Alba and the captain of the boat were absolutely wonderful. Their dedication to finding the whales so I could swim with those magnificent creatures truly touched my heart. I wholeheartedly recommend them for anyone looking for a memorable adventure!

Simply the best way to see the Whales Absolutely the best trip we have done.!!
Saw so many whales, Dolphins and. Sea Turtle.. our crew were just fantastic. Adam and Alba were just Awesome.!!

It was a truly amazing and unforgettable experience, and having the best team we could ever wished for - Adam and Alba. They were really nice and passionate. At first, my daughter was really scared and nervous due to the waves were really big. The captain try really hard to give us a lot of good chances to swim with the whales. Alba thoughtfully stayed by my daughter’s side the whole time to take care of her.

5 Stars – What a Team!
Adam and Monica – what a team! Honestly couldn’t have asked for a better day. Adam was an awesome captain and guide, went above and beyond to make sure we had the best time. Super friendly, professional, and made everything feel easy and fun. Monica was just as great – they really work so well together. Highly recommend booking a tour with Aqua Adventures, you won’t regret it!

Great experience Amazing experience. Very warm, cordial, funny and helpful staff. We had a last minute change and they were kind enough to accomodate us. A must do in gold coast.

Cut my trip short. Didn’t enjoy. Went here on a windy day. Didn’t get any warning or caution. For some it may be exhausting fighting the wind in the middle of the sea.
Also no reminders about the kayaks being hollow ( water comes in from under) had I known, I could have arranged to place valuables with staff possibly.
Cut my ride short and returned the kayak.

Unfortunately lost some tech in water too. Costly lesson.

Lady who received it the kayak seemed genuine.

My friend and I booked a swimming with whales experience and we had the most amazing experience that we could have asked for!
It was an incredible day, all thanks to Monica, our guide, and Adam, the captain.

Monica was awesome and made sure we were well-prepared and comfortable the whole time. You could tell she is really passionate, and her good energy was contagious! Adam did a great job by getting us to the perfect spots to see the whales up close and swim next to them. He made sure we had a great adventure!

The tour was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we also got some cool photos and videos, and having such an awesome team made it even better for us!!! We will be forever grateful for it. Thank you so much Monica & Adam, keep doing a great job!! Absolutely unforgettable day!

One of the best days of my life! Amazing experience! My friend and I booked a swimming with whales experience and we had the most amazing experience that we could have asked for!
It was an incredible day, all thanks to Monica, our guide, and Adam, the captain.

Monica was awesome and made sure we were well-prepared and comfortable the whole time. You could tell she is really passionate, and her good energy was contagious! Adam did a great job by getting us to the perfect spots to see the whales up close and swim next to them. He made sure we had a great adventure!

The tour was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we also got some cool photos and videos, and having such an awesome team made it even better for us!!! We will be forever grateful for it. Thank you so much Monica & Adam, keep doing a great job!! Absolutely unforgettable day!

Better than chocolate Better than chocolate!
Even though the water visibility was reduced, the crew exceeded our expectations to make sure we had an awesome time seeing and swimming with the whales.

Broke my Lumbar spine on this boat , be cautious Unfortunately the organisers of this experience care more about getting paid than the safety of their passengers , we had rescheduled as the day we where booked was too rough , so on the day we went even though I had asked because all predictions where that it was still a huge swell and southerly winds they went ahead with the trip. We only had 4 people on the trip which again they should have cancelled as it says they need 9. We got there and they rushed us to get changed and get on the boat before the conditions got worse. The way out was super rough , we saw whales which was nice, but they're where much too active for us to get close , we got in the water once , but no whales. Really rough and tough to get back in the boat. We turned around and it was nice as we surfed the waves so it was smoother, so I decided to sit down , without warning Adam spun the boat around and headed straight into the wind again and over 2 huge waves, the first lifted me out of the seat and slammed me back down, the second came that fast that I was lifted even higher and it took me totally by surprise , slammed me back in the seat which broke my L2 in the lumbar spine. I screamed and played on the floor, they had to take me back to shore and taken off the boat by ambulance. They have not checked in on me once, their only concern was getting their wetsuit back, no apologies no offer of help no reply to my emails asking if they had any insurance that could help me survive financially for the next 3 months while I am in a brace healing from my broken back ! I got a link to their insurance, which is useless to me as I cant claim through that they're represent them ! So I feel very disappointed and sad that they don't seem care at all as to what's happened to me. I am not a boat person, so can not read the ocean or the waves , I feel there was a duty of care on their part to warn us to hang if there is a change in condition on the boat such a shame to have operators like this here on the Gold Coast.

Disappointed in whale swimming price Paid 300 dollars per person directly through their website, the same tour is 170 dollars on tripadvisor. Feeling very disappointed with the whole experience. I had initially written a review giving 3 stars but now that i see the difference in the price points I’m feeling deflated.

Booked the swimming with whales tour but unfortunately didn’t get to swim with any whales. I completely understand that it’s out of anybody’s control however the difference in the price point between the whale watching and the swimming is massive. ( especially when I spent 300 dollars per person). Our tour guides were great and we loved the whale watching element but very disappointed in paying so much more per person for snorkel rental and a wetsuit and paying nearly double when I booked directly through the website. Would take this into consideration when booking.

They offered a 50% off the next trip if you book again if you weren’t successful swimming with them, I would prefer a refund of 150 dollars per person.

We booked as a group of 3 friends, and we all had a whale of a time! (Excuse my pun)
Despite one of us getting a small bought of seasickness due to the slightly choppy water, we still got to see many whales and also dolphins.
The guys were very well informed, had great senses of humour and were also very kind, and took their time to make sure we saw as many whales as possible on our trip.

On our boat we also had some people that booked to go swimming with the whales so that was an also experience.

Was a very very good day…Happy smiling faces all round!
Highly recommend 😎

What a trip - an experience that made my heart sing. From the start to finish, can’t fault this opportunity and think it should be on everyone’s MUST do list. LOVED the smaller boat experience, just a handful of us on board, great crew. I would go again tomorrow… from the fresh sea air, the views of the city, the whales, the sharing of info and personable staff - and totally rate the skipper, handled the ocean like a pro.

Best experience EVER!! We had a whale of a time. Excellent crew. Can not recommend them enough. If you sit in the front be wary you may get wet so have a change of clothes and a towel. It was worth it though.

Whale tale Have previously been on tours in the much bigger boats so definitely enjoyed the smaller crowd, I feel you can see the whales better and the smaller boats are quicker and can get ahead of the whales for better viewing than the larger vessels. We saw whales and were happy with our day. My only problem is that I am seeing my same trip advertised $30 less on a competitor website so I could have saved myself $60 on the 2 tickets. Would I go with Aqua Adventures again? Absolutely- the staff were great.

Recommend highly Amazing tour and we got to swim with dolphins and whales and saw some amazing mammals up close . Adam and Mike who looked after us on the boat were nothing but professional and friendly and informative

One of the best wildlife encounters you’ll have in your life Absolutely recommend if you’re looking for a different experience than just whales watching. Crew is super available and caring of your overall experience (and security of course). Much better than jumping on a bigger boat with lots of people. Grab your best friends and go live the experience!!!

10/10 would go again Organized and efficient trip. Obviously you can’t control nature so what you see/don’t see is completely out of the tour guide’s control and you just have to book your trip at the right time of the year to maximize your chances of seeing whales.

The boat moves much faster than a commercial boat from sea world and it’s much lower to the water so you get a much better view of the whales, and you’re not fighting with a million people to the railings to get a photo

I’ve been on so many trips now it’s really the luck of the draw with what you see. Can’t wait to go again

A magical whale watching experience Absolutely amazing!
We have been on a few of the larger whale watching boats, and you can never really see much due to crowding, being on the smaller boat and up so close with the whales was magical they were just swimming past us putting on a magical show. Incredible! An experience we will never forget.

Amazing experience! It was AMAZING!!!!!! We booked the activity of swimming with the whales and we had such a great day. We were able to swim with 3 different whales in 3 different times. We also saw them breaching and splashing water all around. It was an amazing experience. And apart from that we also got to see lots of dolphins and a turtle!!! Just great. Thank you so much the amazing staff: Adam, Mike and Monica. Super helpful and always trying to make our experience better.

An excellent experience! Terrific, small, swift, comfortable boat. Knowledgeable,helpful and friendly crew.(thanks Mike and Adam)They were also respectful and passionate about the whales and dolphins. It was a great morning for those of us who watched the whales and dolphins but even more special for those who swam with the whales.
We will be back !
Sorry, my photos don't show how fab the experience was.

We had the best experience today with Adam and Mike from Aqua adventures! We went swimming with the whales and we saw them under us and in front of us! It was incredible. The whales were very inquisitive and came to us! Just drifting with the boat! It was absolutely amazing!

One of the best experiences I had around Australia! Mike and Adam were really nice and knowledgeable! I'm glad I chose a small boat for whale watching it is the best choice to do (especially with them)!
The conditions were stunning! Whales and their calves came so close to the boat it was unbelievable and as a bonus we even saw dolphins!
I obviously recommend 100% Aqua Adventures! Thanks again to the crew????

The best day in Gold Coast！！！
Small boat is really good for whale watching ！
Michael and Adam are really friendly and experienced.
You can’t miss this trip.

Possibly the best day of my life. I’m so glad I trusted my gut while going ahead with booking aqua adventures. I think the boat is perfect, not too small where you’re scared of toppling over and not too big and overcrowded. I did a double decker in Sydney, but this experience was waaaaay better.
Monica and her partner were so great, keeping us
informed and filling us in with fun facts about whales. It was just brilliant and if I have another day in the coast I will possible go back out with them:)
Oh and these videos do no justice to what I experienced :D

Snorkeling Unreal Unreal underwater colours, fish, dolphins etc. Knowledgeable captain, willing to help. Planning to come back again.

Best snorkelling experience on Gold Coast Absolutely amazing experience! Small but compact boat that took us for an adrenaline ride before going snorkelling.

Fish, corals and even dolphins. We'll definitely come back next time ????????????

My son did his PADI open water course, Dave the Dive Instructor was really patient, he really ensured my boy understood and was aware of all requirements. Dave a massive thank you, LJ was full of compliments and praise for yourself and the team see you soon for some more diving.

Went and done my refresher open waters here. Great team in particular Dave and poppy. Would highly recommend. Good equipment and very informative. Great couple of days ????????

Wave Break snorkeling: waste of time Lots of efforts to see a few tiny dark fishes in cold murky waters. The sea is too rough for kids given the jet ski activity. The staff just drops you off then you're on your own. Japanese-speaking staff is amiable. The rest is grumpy and clearly bothered. Barely a hello and not a goodbye or any interest whether you liked it or not.

Loved the experience, definitely would do it again. Had a great day out snorkelling. Friendly informative qualified divers took us out on a boat to an island, where you can snorkelling with lots of different fish. Even got to see dolphins close up. All equipment was supplied. Value for money. Definitely would do it again.

Amazing, easy to organise, experience The whole experience was faultless. Easy booking, the tour guide Dave was amazing - helpful, experienced, and very knowledgeable. Even for absolute beginners we were soon snorkelling and swimming with the fish. We felt safe and had a fantastic time!!

Great Snorkelling Adventure We had an awesome time snorkeling, so many beautiful varieties of fish. Well worth it! The crew keeps everyone safe too. Thanks Aqua Adventures!

Snorkeling Very friendly staff and kind. We enjoyed alot. Good place for snorkeling. Our group of 3 had never snorkeling before and were all nervous going into this! Thank you to our instructor for making this experience so enjoyable, we had an absolute blast!

AWESOME WHALE ADVENTURE So Awesome Great people! Great experience! Had a blast and so did my buddies. Whales everywhere. WHALES!!!

Great Experience! Whale swimming was fantastic! Amazing guides who got us some amazing views both in and out of water.

Swimming with whales! A fabulous day on the water today with lots of whale spotting and three swims with whales. Thanks for an amazing day Aqua Adventures!

Didn't swim with whales but paid the price. Bought this experience for my partner and I for his birthday and ended up being a frustrated (and expensive) birthday experience.

We saw maybe 2 whales on the day, which was nice, but we did not get to jump in the water with them - however we still paid $249p.p instead of the $79 they charge for a whale "watching" experience.

Afterwards, I tried speaking to the team multiple times (in person, via email and phone calls) but they refused to listen and said they couldn't do anything to help apart from giving me a discount on a future booking (that would only be valid for 2023) - even after I explained to them that we would not be on the GC anymore.

I contacted them multiple times (Fiona was the person I ended up speaking to the most, and she is not very big on customer service) trying to explain that I didn't want a refund, I just wanted to pay the fair price for the experience we had, which was "whale watching" and not "swimming with whales" but had no luck with that.

I feel exploited and 110% do not recommend this company!