• Departing from Cairns our catamaran charter boat sails to 2 stunning coral reef moorings on the very edge of the outer Great Barrier Reef.
• Our Cairns charter boat caters for small group private charters with a maximum of 20 guests for special events and celebrations 
• Charter our small group boat for your family and friends to dive & snorkel the Great Barrier Reef on your time and in your way. The skipper will show you the best places to explore so you have a memorable day on the reef off Cairns 
• When you charter our boat in Cairns we include a crew of 3-4, delicious meals, snorkel & dive gear, free guided snorkel tour, spa on deck, trampoline net on deck and more.  

Cairns dive & snorkel tour, only 20 guests, 42 foot (13 metres) catamaran. Dive & snorkel 2 reef locations on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

Catering for the smaller private boat charter groups with a maximum of 20 guests this 42 foot (13 metres) catamaran sails out to 2 mooring locations on the very edge of the outer Great Barrier Reef providing guests with 2 hours of peaceful sailing weather.

We choose to depart the Cairns Marina at around 8.00am to ensure we reach our dive and snorkel destination in good time to begin our day of adventure exploring the depths of the Great Barrier Reef.

Your private charter boat group will be welcomed by our attentive boat crew and they will a discuss your boat cruise itinerary for the day.

A nice hot tea or coffee will be served and then we will assist all of your private charter group guests to settle in and find a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy the 2 hour sailing and motoring journey out to the 2 Upolu Reef mooring locations that are just near the very edge of Australia’s amazing Great Barrier Reef.

One of the most popular locations guests choose to sit is on the boats bow net on the forward deck where they can take in the surrounding views and salty sea air whilst laying in the sunshine enjoying the lovely cooling breezes.

We also have a cute little spa tub up on the bow for the guests to enjoy. 

This is also a great spot to be if we come acrosss a pod of dolphins that just love to ride our bow waves. 

Other guests like to hide from the sun and sit in the shade of the catamarans saloon whilst others join the skipper and crew at the helm for a chat about the what they are going to experience on this Great Barrier Reef private charter tour.

We are specialists in small group boat charters for intimate sailing tours for 20 guests and we offer our guests a 5 star service on our spacious 42 foot catamaran at really great value for money.

Talk to us about your private charter boat cruise and we can tailor a reef trip to suit your group but please do book early as we are a very popular Cairns charter boat. 

Dive and Snorkel Upolu Reef

Our sail boats destination for our day of snorkelling and scuba diving is the Upolu Reef which is approximately 32.3 kilometres from the Cairns Marlin Marina and forms a continuation of the Arlington Reef.

This outer Barrier Reef system offers guests a wide variety of hard and soft corals, giant bommies, staghorn, plate, brain and boulder corals along with large and small clam shells.

Some of the marine life you will see are the ever so shy black tip and white tip reef sharks, small stingrays hiding under the sand, sea cucumbers, turtles, starfish and lots of colourful pelagic fishes.

Due to the size of the Upolu Reef snorkelers and scuba divers are blessed with a wide variety of marine life gin clear water which normally offers underwater visibility up to 15 metres and water depths of up 8-15 metres 

When entering the water we advise our private charter groups to be prepared to be greeted by the friendly fish duo Emily & Max, the resident Bat Fish that just love coming up to the scuba divers and snorkelers to say hello.

Emily and Max know the exact time to be at the Upolu Reef mooring in the hope they may have a free feed and get a bit of loving attention from our guests.

There are quite a number of fish on the Great Barrier Reef who are tuned into the times the Great Barrier Reef tour boats arrive at their little patch on the reef and to the guests delight, they are always there to meet the them as they enter the water.

Each of these fish have names and they are as playful as little puppies and certainly love to dominate in underwater photographs so ensure you bring your waterproof camera along.

Read about Wally the famous Maori Wrasse    

Your private charter boat will take you to 2 mooring locations on Upolu Reef ensuring you get to see and experience the different varieties of corals and marine life that inhabit those areas and you will have a total of four hours of leisure time on the Great Barrier Reef.

Snorkelling The Great Barrier Reef

When you book a private charter boat trip from Cairns the choice of activities can be yours to choose for the day.

You and your group of guests may wish to just go snorkelling all day.

We will provide a marine interpreter to give you a private guided snorkelling tour around the coral reefs and point out all the names of the coral varieties and the colourful marine life that inhabit these complex eco systems.

If some of your charter guests are non-swimmers or not so confident in the water we can provide flotation equipment so they too can enjoy all there is to see on the Great Barrier Reef.

Scuba Dive The Great Barrier Reef

We cater for both certified and non-certified scuba divers on board our small boutique style sailing boat to experience the fabulous underwater world of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

On this private charter reef tour, we have plenty of time to offer our guests with 2 dives, one in each different reef location to ensure you see as much as you can in the one day.

All equipment is included and the price varies for certified and non-certified scuba divers.

Please read the medical requirements here for scuba divers prior to booking your private boat charter and ensure all of your group are aware that they need to sign a form saying they are medically fit to dive and have no medical issues. 

Take a look at more Great Barrier Reef private charter boat options 

See more luxury private charter tour options.

Catering

The following menu items are provided for the guests:

Morning (check in):

coffee, tea and danish/pastry

Lunch (tropical style buffet):

•  pasta salad
•  potato salad
•  garden salad
•  cold cut deli meat selection,
•  cold roast chicken legs and,
•  bread & butter

Afternoon (return journey):

•  tropical fruit platter
•  cheese & crackers
•  1 complimentary wine 
•  1 complementary soft drink

Tour Languages Offered

• English
• German
• Japanese

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

Variable - on request for private charters

Departure Instructions

• We can organise return transfers from accommodation or please board on boat at Marlin Marina, Cairns, D Finger
• Check in 7:30am, departs 7:45am, returns 4:30pm

Pickup Locations

• Cairns
• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Palm Cove

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• 2 sites at Upolu Reef, the edge of the Outer Barrier Reef (Weather permitting)

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

Approx 4 hours at Upolu Reef
1.5 - 2 hours boat cruise each way

Available for Purchase / Hire

Certified and Introductory Scuba Diving

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Swimming Costume, Towel, Hat, Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Camera, Dry Clothes, Money for Reef taxes and marine levy (approx $15.00) and any extras purchased on board. Certification card & log book (cert. divers only)