Water Sports on Magnetic Island

Paddling, Surfing and Jet Skis for Groups

Weigh up your options for water sports, then enquire – free.

Category: Water SportsLocation: Magnetic IslandListings: 3

Compare Magnetic Island Water Sports Operators

Magnetic Island Time Cruises - water sports in Townsville

Magnetic Island Time Cruises (Horseshoe Bay)4.9 (261)

From $79pp

Small-boat snorkel, fishing and sunset cruises around Magnetic Island's bays, with private trips for groups of up to 12.

Pleasure Divers - water sports in Townsville

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Pleasure Divers (Arcadia)4.8 (303)

From $85pp

First-timers can try scuba in a purpose-built pool, then head across the road for a supervised ocean dive to a maximum of 12 metres.

Magnetic Island Jet Skis - water sports in Townsville

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Magnetic Island Jet Skis (Horseshoe Bay)5.0 (379)

Families and mates can share one ski on an hour-long hire, swapping riders at the beach so everyone gets a turn at the handlebars.

Choosing a Day Out on the Water

Birthday groups after time on the water around Magnetic Island have two bases to choose from. Horseshoe Bay on the north side has a jet ski operator and a small cruise boat working from the same bay, while Arcadia has a dive shop with a fringing reef across the road in Geoffrey Bay.

The right pick depends on the group: how many are coming, how confident they are in the water, and whether the birthday person wants speed, a slow day on a boat or a first look underwater.

How the three operators split for a party:

Magnetic Island Jet Skis at Horseshoe Bay runs guided tours of 90 minutes, two hours or three hours, with up to 10 riders a departure and a swim stop at a quiet beach.
For a looser format, the same crew supervises 30 or 60-minute hire in a sheltered zone of the bay, with riders swapping over on the beach.
Magnetic Island Time Cruises takes up to eight on its scheduled snorkel and fishing trips, from $79 per person, or the whole boat for 10 or 12.
Pleasure Divers in Arcadia walks guests from its shop straight into the reef for a guided snorkel, from $85 per person, with no boat involved.
First-time divers can try scuba at Pleasure Divers, starting in the on-site pool before a 30-minute ocean dive with an instructor.

Horseshoe Bay suits a group wanting a bigger outing: a jet ski lap of the bays, or a private boat that can drop everyone on a secluded beach for a picnic or barbecue.
Arcadia suits a smaller, quieter group: the Pleasure Divers snorkel tour runs about two hours, with around 45 minutes in the water and a species chat afterwards.
Magnetic Island Time Cruises adds a two-hour sunset trip past White Lady, Balding and Radical Bays, with a glass of champagne for each guest, for an adults' birthday evening.
Kids are welcome with all three, and Pleasure Divers discounts children on its snorkel tour, but swimming requirements differ, so check each one for the youngest guests.

Before booking a water birthday on Maggie

Jet ski riders must be confident swimmers with a zero blood alcohol reading, so keep birthday drinks for after the ride.
Each jet ski needs one photo ID and a matching credit card at check-in, which is worth telling guests ahead of the day.
Snorkellers with Pleasure Divers need to manage 50 to 100 metres, and ocean sessions depend on in-water conditions on the day.
In the warmer months ask about stingers: Magnetic Island Time Cruises supplies stinger suits, and for the other two it is worth asking the operator.

Common Questions Before You Paddle Out

Can a birthday group without licences ride jet skis on Magnetic Island?

Yes. Magnetic Island Jet Skis needs no licence or experience; every booking starts with a safety briefing and an on-water demonstration.

What if our island birthday group is bigger than eight?

Magnetic Island Time Cruises caps scheduled trips at eight, but the whole boat can be hired: 10 on the pontoon boat or 12 on the rib, quoted on request.

Is there a snorkel option at Arcadia that doesn't need a boat?

Pleasure Divers runs private guided snorkel tours that start on foot from its Marine Parade shop into the fringing reef of Geoffrey Bay.

Can birthday guests try scuba for the first time?

Pleasure Divers offers an introductory dive for beginners, with pool practice first, one instructor for every four guests and extra instructors for larger groups.