• Personal in-water crew assistance for first-time snorkellers and divers
• Experience the "Wonder Wall" a spectacular dive and snorkel site on the outer edge of Upolu Reef
• When the Cay is slightly submerged (some days the Cay will be above water, other times below the surface), stand in the ankle-to-knee deep water and take a selfie – it will look like you're standing in the middle of the ocean.
• Complimentary adventure drift snorkel tour – no experience required!
• Journey to two magnificent locations and enjoy 6 full hours on the Great Barrier Reef
• Enjoy a delicious seafood smorgasbord lunch including smoked salmon and prawns

Cruise in comfort and style aboard a luxury, air-conditioned catamaran from Cairns to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll spend six hours at two amazing reef locations. Enjoy personalised snorkeling, diving, a glass bottom boat tour or simply lie back and relax.

What to Expect

Our Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns has you cruising in comfort and style aboard a luxury, air-conditioned catamaran to the Outer Great Barrier Reef to spend six hours exploring two stunning coral reef locations. Enjoy personalised snorkelling, diving, a glass bottom boat tour, or simply relax and take in the beautiful surroundings.

Features and Highlights

Upolu Cay Reef

Upolu Cay is a naturally formed coral cay with fine white sand that sparkles in the blue Coral Sea. Located 30km from Cairns, this site offers:

• Shallow, crystal-clear waters: Perfect for snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours.
• Abundant sea life: Ideal for both introductory and certified scuba diving.
• Variable cay size: Depending on tide conditions, the sand cay size and visibility can change, but the surrounding waters are always accessible.

Outer Edge of Upolu Reef

Your second diving and snorkelling site feature the "Wonder Wall" at the outer edge of Upolu Reef. This site includes:

• Wonder Wall: A coral wall rising from the ocean floor to just under 0.5m (1.5ft) below the surface.
• Rich Marine Life: Hard and soft corals, giant clams, turtles, clownfish, and diverse reef fish.
• Drift Snorkel Tour: Join a marine naturalist to explore this amazing ecosystem on a guided snorkelling tour.

Great Barrier Reef Tour Cairns

Journey to Upolu Cay and Outer Edge of Upolu Reef

• Departure: Board the 20-meter catamaran at Cairns Marlin Marina and enjoy tea, coffee, fresh fruit, and pastries before the 8.00am departure.
• Cruise: Relax in air-conditioned comfort or on the sundeck during the one-hour cruise to Upolu Cay Reef and the outer edge of Upolu Reef.
• Safety Briefing: Friendly crew provide an introductory safety briefing enroute.

Upolu Cay Activities

• Snorkelling: The snorkelling is ideal for beginners with a gradual shore entry. Swim to coral outcrops and bommies to see diverse marine life including parrotfish, trevally, and turtles.
• Scuba Diving: Explore underwater coral gardens, shoals of fish, and encounter turtles up close whilst scuba diving. Note the medical conditions.

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Experience the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet. This tour is perfect for non-swimmers, offering:

• Underwater Views: See colourful coral heads, reef fish, sea cucumbers, and turtles through the glass bottom.

Great Barrier Reef Activities for Non-Swimmers

Non-swimmers can still enjoy the reef with:

• Buoyancy Aids: Available for snorkelling with assistance from staff.
• Relaxation: Sunbathe on the pristine white beach of Upolu Cay or relax on the cruiser’s sundeck.

Lunch

While cruising to the second site, enjoy a buffet lunch featuring:

• Tasmanian smoked salmon, Queensland prawns, cold chicken and meats, assorted salads, and fresh breads.

Outer Edge of Upolu Reef

This spectacular diving and snorkelling site includes:

• Wonder Wall: A wall running from 0.5m (1.5ft) from the surface to the depths, filled with coral life and marine species.
• Marine Life: Larger fish, pelagic species, and cruising turtles.
• Drift Snorkel Tour: Join a snorkelling tour to explore with a marine naturalist.

Introduction to Scuba Diving (Optional)

Discover the underwater life of the Great Barrier Reef with an introductory dive:

• No Experience Required: Full briefing by a qualified dive instructor.
• Comfort and Safety: Small groups (2:1 ratio) ensure personal attention and a comfortable experience.
• Underwater Adventure: Explore coral gardens and encounter diverse marine life.

Certified Scuba Diving (Optional)

Certified divers can enjoy:

• Great Visibility and Marine Life: Dive the famous Great Barrier Reef with minimal currents and abundant marine life.
• Complimentary Dive Guide: Knowledgeable dive guides show you the best spots on Upolu Reef.

For an unforgettable Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns, this dive and snorkel tour offers a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and stunning natural beauty. Enjoy top-notch amenities, delicious meals, and a range of activities tailored to all skill levels. Whether snorkelling, scuba diving, or simply soaking in the sun, your journey to Upolu Cay and the outer edge of Upolu Reef will be an experience of a lifetime.

See all Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns.

Find out more information about cays and how they are formed. 

Journey to Upolu Cay and outer edge of Upolu Reef

Board your 20-meter Great Barrier Reef tour boat at Cairns Marlin Marina, and enjoy tea, coffee, fresh fruit and Danish pastries onboard, prior to the 8.00am departure.

Then it's time to sit back and relax in air-conditioned comfort or on the sundeck for the one-hour cruise to Upolu Cay Reef and the outer edge of Upolu Reef.

The friendly crew will provide an introductory safety briefing en route to the Great Barrier Reef. 

Please note the order of the two dive and snorkel destinations will be determined on the day depending on the reef and weather conditions.

Upolu Cay - Great Barrier Reef

Snorkelling at Upolu Cay is ideal for beginners with a gradually sloping shore entry into the water. After a snorkelling brief, it's time to take the short swim to reach the coral outcrops and bommies where diverse marine life live. 

Marvel at the amazing diversity of marine life, from the shoals of small colourful fish to the larger, brightly coloured parrot fish or silver pelagic fish like barracuda and trevally. You might even snorkel over a grazing turtle. 

Diving off this pristine cay will unravel an underwater world of coral gardens, munching parrotfish, shoals of colourful reef fish, stingrays and nonchalant turtles. 

By not touching the turtles, divers can get quite close to them and share their journey. 

Please note snorkelling off Upolu Cay is only possible if the conditions on the day allow access to the Cay but on any other day you will still get to snorkel the reef in the beautiful crystal clear, shallow waters surrounding the Cay under the guidance of your experienced Great Barrier Reef boat crew.

Glass bottom boat tour

Experience the magic of the Great Barrier Reef on a glass bottom boat tour – perfect if you want to stay dry or for non-swimmers.

As you head through the crystal clear waters surrounding Upolu Cay, look down and you will see the underwater world unfold beneath your feet.

You'll cruise over the top of colourful coral heads and shoals of reef fish, sea cucumbers, sea stars and you might just spot some turtles.  

Great Barrier Reef Activities for Non-Swimmers

If you don’t swim it won’t affect your enjoyment of this amazing day on the Great Barrier Reef.

In addition to the glass bottom boat tour, there are buoyancy aids available for you to snorkel as well as in-water assistance from staff to help put you at ease.

If you prefer to relax, the pristine white beach at Upolu Cay is the perfect place to soak up the sun or relax back on the sundeck of your cruiser. (Subject to tide conditions)

If you do not wish to enter the water at anytime please see these non-swimmer Great Barrier Reef tours. 

Lunch

Lunch is served while your vessel cruises slowly to the second site. Enjoy a buffet of Tasmanian smoked salmon, Queensland prawns, cold chicken and meats, and an assortment of healthy salads and fresh breads.

Outer edge of Upolu Reef

The outer edge of Upolu reef is a spectacular snorkel and dive site. You'll be amazed by the “wonder wall” that runs from 0.5m (1.5ft) from the surface to the depths of the ocean.

This wall is home to an array of colourful coral life and under its waving tendrils shelter a wide diversity of marine life. Along the top of the wall, you’ll find larger fish and more pelagic species, and you might even see a turtle cruising by. 

Experience the abundant corals and sea life with an adventure drift snorkel with a marine naturalist. 

Introduction to scuba diving (optional activity)

This is the perfect opportunity for you to discover what it’s like to experience scuba diving.

With no experience required you have an opportunity to discover the amazing underwater life of the Great Barrier Reef.

You will be fully briefed by an experienced and qualified dive instructor before your dive. Everything is explained clearly and slowly and you are encouraged to ask questions as part of your learning experience.

All areas of diving, safety, equipment and theory of diving are explained.

By the time you are ready to dive your nerves will be fine and you will be raring to go! 

Your instructor will take you slowly under the water helping you all the time and holding your hand.

At the beginning, it will feel strange but by the end of the first dive, after 30 minutes, you will start to feel comfortable.

So much so, that you will be asking to do a second dive at the next site!

The normal divers to instructor ratio is usually 4 to 1 but to ensure you get the best experience and for your comfort we offer a 2 to 1 ratio.

Certified scuba diving (optional activity)

As a certified scuba diver, you will no doubt have heard about the magnificence of the Great Barrier Reef.

High up on the list of any diver’s wish list, the Great Barrier Reef is indeed ‘Great’.

Whether a beginner or advanced the conditions on the Great Barrier Reef are ideal for all divers.

With great visibility, minimal currents and scores of marine life this is total five-star diving.

This company includes a complimentary dive guide when you book a certified dive optional extra - great value!

Your dive guides know the dive sites well on Upolu Reef and can show you all the amazing marine life and secret places to be found.

All groups are a maximum of four people, so you will be in small, intimate numbers.

Your tour will take you to two contrasting sites with different marine life and topography:  Upolu Cay and Upolu Reef – Wonder Wall.

See more Great Barrier Reef tours

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• Check in at Reef Fleet Terminal from 7.15am at Ocean Free + Ocean Freedom desk. Board from 7.30am A Finger No. 5 at the Marlin Marina, Cairns for an 8am departure – coffee, tea and Danish pastries and fresh fruit served on boarding.
• Return approx 4.30pm

Pickup Locations

• Cairns
• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Palm Cove

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Upolu Cay
• Wonder Wall

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Tour does not operate on Christmas Day or New Years Day

Duration

Approx 1 hour return boat cruises
6 hours at 2 reef sites

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Introductory Scuba Diving
• Certifed Scuba Diving
• Soft drinks
• Alcohol (after snorkelling/scuba diving)

Fitness Level Required

Low

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.

Eco Certifications

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Towel
• Camera
• Money for additional snacks and beverages

Children 4 -14 years