Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef is a small, low-lying sandy island surrounded by a spectacular fringing reef. Your tour to this beautiful sandy island from Cairns includes a range of family-friendly and adventure-filled activities: snorkel, dive, take a semi-submarine tour.
Be as active or relaxed as you like, the choice is yours!
Snorkel in the calm waters off Michaelmas Cay
Great for families and first-timers, you can snorkel straight off the beach into the calm, shallow waters of Michaelmas Cay. The fringing reef surrounding the Cay is rich with colourful and varied marine life and is renowned for its abundance of giant clams. Around 90 per cent of the Reef’s diversity is in the top four metres of the water.
View the coral reef from a semi-submarine
Hop on a semi-submersible submarine and get a fish-eye view of the stunning underwater scenery. This is a fabulous way to experience the beauty of the Reef whilst staying dry and is perfect for non-swimmers.
Dive the Reef
Experience what it’s like to breathe underwater on an introductory scuba dive (extra cost) in the shallow, calm waters off Michaelmas Cay. You'll receive a thorough briefing and participate in practice exercises before you commence your dive adventure. No experience is necessary and you’ll have an experienced dive instructor by your side the whole time.
Michaelmas Cay is a small, vegetated sand island surrounded by a spectacular fringing reef. It is located on the western tip of Michaelmas Reef 43km north-east of Cairns.
Heaven for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts
Declared a national park in 1975, Michaelmas Cay is an important bird sanctuary and home to over 23 species of seabirds. At the height of nesting and breeding season (during summer months) up to 20,000 birds have been observed. The Cay is also rich with a myriad of sea life including green sea turtles (which occasionally nest there), molluscs and hundreds of species of tropical reef fish including Humphead Maori Wrasse. The reef surrounding the Cay is known for its abundance of giant clams.
Families and first-timers will love the easy access of snorkelling straight off the beach into the calm, shallow waters of Michaelmas Cay. The reef surrounding the Cay is rich with colourful and varied marine life and coral formations.
All your snorkelling equipment will be provided and a briefing will be given by your guide on how to use your equipment as well as tips on how to snorkel, to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable time in the water.
If you would like to learn more about the Reef, for an extra cost you can join a guided snorkel tour with a marine biologist.
If you prefer to stay dry, you can view the Reef from the comfort of an air-conditioned semi-submersible submarine. On this 30-minute tour, you'll descend approximately one metre below the water's surface and cruise with a fish-eye view of the Reef and its inhabitants. View pristine coral, colourful fish, giant clams and maybe even a sea turtle as you cruise through this amazing underwater world.
The shallow, calm waters off Michaelmas Cay offer a perfect environment for first-time divers. No experience is necessary and you’ll have an experienced dive instructor by your side throughout the dive.
After a briefing and some basic skills practice, you’ll be ready to commence your dive adventure amongst the stunning coral formations and colourful fish. At the completion of your first scuba dive, you’ll receive a certificate of recognition and wonderful memories to last a lifetime.
Cairns
8:30am departure
Michaelmas Cay
January - December
Daily
Does not operate on Christmas Day
8.5 hours experience with 4 hours on the Reef
Low
Scuba Diving – minimum age 12
Scuba Diving Restrictions
Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.
Reviewed on October 27, 2018
Yes, a lot
Reviewed on September 20, 2016
Loved our trip - staff & organisation on the trip, fantastic
Response From Barrier Reef Australia
Hi Shirley, thanks for your feedback. Ocean Spirit is a beautiful vessel and The Tour Specialists are pleased you experienced the fantastic service and experience at Michaelmas Cay this vessel is so well known for.
Reviewed on June 16, 2016
Well organized friendly service
Response From Barrier Reef Australia
The Ocean Spirit Crew are a great team to visit the Great Barrier Reef with and the Tour Specialists are pleased you enjoyed your day on the Great Barrier Reef & Michaelmas Cay.
All cancellations must be in writing. Please note that all cancellations will incur an administration fee. Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.
au$219.00
Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.
Child:
au$115.00
Family: au$570.00
Tour Code: 125