passions of paradise cairns
Passions Of Paradise
Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruises is Cairns most awarded small reef boat tour operator. This unique comfortable sailing "maxi-catamaran" travels out from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef daily at 8:00 AM to two incredible dive and snorkel sites – Michaelmas Cay and their exclusive Paradise Reef which is ONLY frequented by Passions of Paradise. With a maximum of only 80 passengers onboard you will be in your glory traveling with this small group and will be wowed by the personalized service offered by the boats crew. This Cairns based Great Barrier Reef tour really is for those who have a passion for diving and snorkelling in paradise!
The Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Catamaran
Your day on the reef begins with a 7:30 AM check-in at the Marlin Marina in Cairns inside the Reef Fleet Terminal at the Passions of Paradise check in counter. Medical forms are given to everyone whether you are scuba diving, snorkeling or just spectating so that the baots crew can keep a close eye out for any potential medical problems. Upon boarding Passions of Paradise, coffee, tea and cupcakes are served just in case you did not have time for breakfast. The saloon inside of the catamaran is large enough to fit everyone but the best place to be is out front of the boat on the bow watching the world go by with the fresh salt air flying past. Passions of Paradise is a boat that is designed for lounging around on as you cruise out to the Cairns Great Barrier Reef and the most fun place to seat yourself for the journey is at the bow where you will find two large bow nets that work like trampolines that are ideal to lie on during the cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. After a two hour cruise the boat will arrive at its first snorkel destination of the day, Michaelmas Cay
Michaelmas Cay
Michaelmas Cay is one of the most beautiful sandy coral cays amongst the Great Barrier Reef with the most gorgeous white sandy beach that few reef operators have a permit to access. Passions of Paradise is one of those few. Michaelmas Cay is a rare bird migratory and mating zone and is a protected sanctuary. This is a bird watchers dream as there are so many to see! Half of the Island is roped off for the birds to make a distinction of where the tourists territory is and where the birds territory is. Tourists can still bird watch from their side of the rope. The Catamaran will moor 500 meters from the island and a tender boat is brought forth to transport the passengers back and forth from Michaelmas Cay beach to the dive boat. For the next two hours you can chose to lay on the beach, relax, gander at the thousands of birds in the roped off area of the island or enjoy some of the optional reef extras that are available
Reef Cruise Optional Extras
The Glass Bottom Boat
For those who have already pre-paid and signed up for the glass bottom boat tour, you will be departing on this tour as soon as you arrive at Michaelmas Cay. The glass bottom boat tour takes 30 minutes and explores the mysterious secrets of Michaelmas Reef and the marine life that call the Great Barrier Reef home. The glass bottom boat tour is lead by a marine biologist who can answer any and every question you may have about the reef and its inhabitants.
Scuba Diving The Great Barrier Reef
Scuba Divers can enjoy up to 2 scuba dives while out on the Cairns Great Barrier Reef with Passions of Paradise. No experience is necessary for introductory divers, although they must pass a brief medical questionairre to be able to safely scuba dive. The groups are 2-8 divers and are separated into certified and introductory scuba divers to match the skill levels. Introductory Scuba Divers dive from the back of the boat for comfort and get to enjoy the beautiful Michaelmas Reef for approximately 30 minutes in a depth of anywhere form seven to twn metres. The Cairns Great Barrier Reef is the perfect place to try your first scuba dive as the waters are calm and protected by the surrounding coral reefs. Certified scuba divers get the chance to head off in the tender boat to the Banana Bommie before exploring the Michaelmas Reef on an incredible 45 minute scuba dive with the dive master of Passions.
For those who really enjoyed their first introductory scuba dive, there is another opportunity to try another one at the second sight of the day, Paradise Reef! First off though is lunch and a fish feeding presentation by a marine naturalist!
Lunch On The Great Barrier Reef
Lunch is served onboard the boat before leaving and during the transit between Michaelmas Cay and Paradise Reef. Lunch is a tropical smorgasbord of a variety of salads, breads, cheeses, meats, prawns, vegetarian and meat curry, noodles and rice to suit all likes and dislikes. The boat has a fully stocked bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase throughout the day. The staff will run a tab throughout the day of everything purchased from the bar and this can be settled at the end of the day on the cruise back home to the Cairns Marlin Marina. Fish feeding is also conducted at the end of lunch for about 10 minutes. The fish feeding presentation is lead by a marine interpreter who has all sorts of fun facts and stories about the hungry fish of the Cairns Great Barrier Reef and the kids just love it.
After a ten minute cruise, the maxi cat has arrived at the next snorkel and dive location Paradise Reef.
Paradise Reef
Paradise Reef is a very unique and special reef to visit on the Cairns Great Barrier Reef as it has an exclusive mooring for Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruises only which means there are no crowds and the reef is an incredible amazing place to explore. Join in on the guided snorkel tour or snorkel at your leisure. If you have booked a second scuba dive, now is the time to go. You will do the certified or introductory scuba dive straight off the back of the boat this time. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy an hour and a half of colorful hard and soft corals, heaps of anemone's with fish cleaning stations, Clown Fish and two large Moari Wrasse that swim close to the boat hoping that someone may give them a snack! Paradise Reef really lives up to its name as it really is a wonderful place to dive and snorkel
The Sail Home and Return to Cairns.
Passions of Paradise departs for a two hour sail back to Cairns City at 2:30 PM. Cheese,crackers and salami sausage are served inside at the ships bar if you are feeling pekish. Enjoy the two hours to relax, perhaps enjoy a few drinks and swap stories on your dive and snorkel discoveries on your Cairns Great Barrier Reef adventure. Be sure to be out front of the boat for when the crew hoist the sails and the skipper turns off the engines for part of the trip back to Cairns to enjoy a sail on the Great Barrier Reef with nothing but the sounds of the winds and the boat cutting thru the deep blue ocean of the coral sea. The bow of Passions is a great place to see the dolphins racing with the boats bow wave. The return to Cairns is at approximately at 4:30 PM where you will catch your coach transfer or head back to your Cairns and Cairns Northern Beaches holiday accommodation knowing that you have had a wonderful day having seen one of the most beautiful sandy coral cays on the Cairns outer Great Barrier Reef systems, all in one day
Your Cairns Great Barrier Reef Adventure with Passions of Paradise Includes
- A Stylish fast and modern catamaran taking you to two beautiful reefs
- Air Conditioned saloon
- Free tuition for those new to snorkeling and scuba diving
- A diverse tropical buffet of hot and cold dishes including prawns and fresh tropical fruit
- High quality masks, snorkels fins and diving equipment
- Relax on the beach and Paradise Reef, an exclusive mooring with no crowds
- Free use of flotation vests
- Free guided snorkel tour
- Morning/Afternoon Tea, muffins, cheese platter
- An on-board marine naturalist presentation on coral and bird life
- Free 10 minute in water introduction to SCUBA skills
- High caliber sailing on a unique and friendly boat. Recognized by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as a high standard tour operator and has achieved the highest level of accreditation for environmentally friendly practices.
Optional Extras
- Glass bottom boat tour
- Wetsuits and sun suits
- Prescription snorkel masks
- Souvenirs, underwater cameras, bottled water, soft drinks and an extensively stocked bar
- Air conditioned transfers to and from your Cairns and Cairns Northern Beaches accommodation.
The Tour Specialists tip
FlorenceA beautiful little catamaran that wins award after award for the great service they provide to tourists from all over the world. We highly recommend these guys. A great value for money day tour. Just had new faster engines installed and a total new re-fit in late 2010. A great day out for the whole family. Passions of Paradise is also a great boat to hold wedding receptions and wedding ceremonies. See Register Your Wedding for more information.
Limited passenger numbers make it even more enjoyable. Suitable for all age groups.
Blythe Rallo a Cairns Tour Specialists consultant
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| Mon, 06 Feb | Tue, 07 Feb | Wed, 08 Feb | Thu, 09 Feb | Fri, 10 Feb | Sat, 11 Feb | Sun, 12 Feb | Mon, 13 Feb | ||
| Passions of Paradise | $139.00 | $139.00 | $139.00 | $139.00 | $139.00 | $139.00 | $139.00 | $139.00 | |
