Join our Cairns reef tour boat cruise to explore the Outer Great Barrier Reef onboard our state-of-the-art day trip vessel to Norman, Saxon and Hastings Reef, Meet Wally the famous Maori Wrasse.
Enjoy a Cairns reef tour aboard one of the nicest boats in Cairns to dive and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. Approximately 5 Hours to explore the coral gardens and marine life. This really is a great value Cairns reef tour deal!
Every day the boats crew selects the two best dive and snorkel sites for optimal visibility and variety, so whatever the weather, wind or tide conditions your day trip from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef will be unforgettable.
And with around five hours total of quality reef time, you’ll come face-to-face with many colourful and playful characters including ‘Nemo’, turtles, stingrays and maybe even Wally the resident Maori Wrasse who just loves all the attention.
Our Cairns reef tour is suitable for scuba divers of all levels including complete beginners who want to give diving a go for the very first time on the Great Barrier Reef.
Our new luxury state of the art custom designed Great Barrier Reef tour boat has been outfitted with all the latest dive and snorkel gear to compliment the quality Great Barrier Reef tour experience we are well known for.
After departing from Cairns you’ll have a choice of where to take in views as you head out to the reef.
Our three-level, twin hull catamaran includes two air-conditioned levels if you prefer to keep cool, otherwise catch some rays on one of the three sun decks.
The tropical buffet lunch will provide the fuel needed for the afternoon session with a return to Cairns scheduled for an approximate 4.30pm arrival.
Experience the Great Barrier Reef in comfort onboard a state-of-the-art vessel designed specifically for snorkel and dive trips to the Outer Great Barrier Reef.
Passengers will visit two reef sites during this whole-day trip allowing more than four hours of pristine reef locations with schools of tropical fish.
The experienced Captain will pick the daily dive sites for optimum visibility to ensure you have the best possible experience based on the day's current weather conditions.
You’ll need to be at ‘B’ Finger, Cairns Marlin Marina in Spence Street, for the check-in time of 8.00am with your boarding passes in hand.
Look out for the three-level catamaran featuring a huge octopus-inspired decal on the exterior. The boat will depart at 8.30am sharp.
Once you’ve left the port or Cairns it’s a cruisy 90 minutes to the first coral reef site you will get to explore along with the other 79 passengers.
This dedicated dive and snorkel boat can seat 140 people but the reef operator has chosen to limit the number of passengers to only 80 so everyone has enough space to stretch out and relax when out of the reef.
During this journey to the first reef site, the instructors will provide all divers with the medical questionnaire forms to fill out and a dive safety briefing.
You’ll arrive at the first reef stop at about 10.00am. The scuba divers will be the first in the water, during which the snorkel briefing will take place.
By 10.30am everyone will be in the water with more than two hours’ exploration time to meet the inquisitive underwater locals and discover the wonders of this underwater playground.
Divers,please do not forget to bring your dive certification card and your logbook with you to show to the crew.
Snorkelling is one of the easiest ways you can explore the world’s largest living structure with its vibrant coral gardens and tropical fish.
It’s as easy as just breathing thru your mouth and not your nose.
If you haven’t snorkelled before, or feel like you need a refresher don’t worry, the boats reef crew will provide snorkelling instructions.
Prescription snorkels are available and if it happens to be our warmer season (generally between November and May) there are lycra sun suits for protection available too.
Make sure you take advantage of the free guided snorkel tours. The experienced staff can fill you in on little titbits you wouldn’t otherwise discover on your own and this will be a highlight of your Great Barrier Reef tour.
Introductory diving is available for non-certified divers and we highly recommend pre-booking to avoid missing out as there are only limited dive places available each trip.
Your first dive on the Great Barrier Reef can seem a bit daunting so it’s good to know there are a maximum of four divers per instructor, ensuring you’ll have an expert close by at all times.
Prior to partaking in any activity you will need to be over the age of 12 years, a competent swimmer and need to complete paperwork on board, including a medical declaration.
A 45-minute briefing takes place onboard and covers how to communicate underwater, plus an overview of some of the marine life before allowing you to hit the water.
Each dive lasts around 30 minutes and you’ll dive a maximum depth of 12 metres (40 feet) all dependant on how you use your oxygen and of course based on all saftey requirements.
Certified divers have the option to complete three dives on our reef trip at 45 minutes each or two 60-minutes dives.
Each one of our daily chosen coral reef locations offer a unique experience with drift dives often available at one of the locations.
The varrying topography of the Great Barrier Reef presents a new experience for divers of all levels.
If it’s been more than a year since your last dive you’ll need to complete a set of three basic SCUBA skills underwater with a SCUBA instructor as a witness.
If you can’t remember these or have a bit of difficulty, you can dive with a shared guide (additional cost).
Anyone diving can pay the extra for a guide so if you are not so confident, or would just like to have someone along to show you the secrets of each dive site,just ask the boat crew for assistance.
At around 1.00pm, after a head count to make sure all are aboard, the boat will start moving to the second dive and snorkel site.
This is when you’ll be able to refuel on the tropical buffet in preparatiion for the second snorkel and dive session of the day.
We have exclusive licenses to dive and snorkel across 17 reef sites.
This means the Captain has the luxury of being able to pick from a range of locations to ensure the best possible visibility and comfortable condition for all on the day.
By 3.00pm the afternoon snorkel and dive session would have wrapped up and you’ll be on your way cruising back to Cairns with many a story to tell and tired bodies.
After a hot fresh-water shower you may want a cuppa as you head back to shore and reflect on your day out on the Great Barrier Reef.
See our Cairns liveaboard dive trips.
Our boat has an exclusive licence to swim with Dwarf Minke Whales when they are sighted on the Great Barrier Reef.
This means that the boat will stop and a long line is put in the water and 10 people at a time are allowed to enter the water and wait for the Dwarf Minke Whales to approach and swim around them.
Swimming with whales is one of the most pure animal interactions you will ever experience, as these little 8 meter whales are so inquisitive and friendly and happy to interact and come close to have a good look at you.
Please note: As whales are wild animals this interaction is just a bonus to the Great Barrier Reef tour if whales are sighted.
See more Great Barrier Reef tour options from Cairns
Cairns
Check in 8.00am directly on the boat located at Cairns Marina, B Finger - Departs 8.30am - Returns 4.30pm
January - December
Daily
8.5 hours
Low, Medium, Active
Scuba Diving Restrictions
Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.
Cancellation Policy:
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.
Operator’s Cancellation Policy:
Any amendment made to a travel date will be deemed to be a cancellation, and will be subject to the charges set out in this document.
Cairns Outer Reef Day Trips
More than 24 hours before course/trip commencement date: No Charge
Within 24 hours of course/trip commencement: Full course/trip fee
au$239.00
Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.
Child:
au$169.00
Family: au$647.00
Tour Code: 136