• Luxury, reef tour boat with state-of-the-art facilities and offering the longest introductory dives in Cairns
• The huge upper sundeck, with a panorama of the reef behind you, is a fantastic spot for sunning yourself and admiring the view
• With over 17 Outer Barrier Reef dive and snorkel sites for the boat captain to choose from daily, you will be sure to see some of the best coral reef sights off Cairns.  
• Pre-book your dives and explore the thrills of swim throughs, wall and drift dives that will appeal to every level of diver experience.

You will travel to the Outer Great Barrier Reef and the skipper will choose the 2 locations to explore each morning and this choice will be based on the weather, visibility, tides and currents and also marine activity enabling you to see the best of the best.

What to Expect

With a departure from Cairns you can travel to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, with the boats skipper choosing two prime reef locations each morning based on the weather, visibility, tides, currents, and marine activity, ensuring the best snorkelling and diving experience possible. This vessel has permits for 17 spectacular reef sites to choose from daily. This high-quality reef tour offers exceptional value for a luxury day trip from Cairns on a high-speed catamaran which will have you diving and snorkelling on the Outer Great Barrier Reef in around 90 minutes. Whether you’re a snorkeller, first-time diver, or certified diver, you’ll have a magical 5-hour day exploring the underwater marine wonders of the famous Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

Features and Highlights

Great Barrier Reef Tour Itinerary from Cairns

• 8:00am: Check-in at Cairns Marlin Marina
• 8:30am: Depart Cairns
• 10:00am: Arrive at the first snorkelling site
• 12:45pm: Move to the second snorkelling site and enjoy lunch
• 1:30pm: Continue snorkelling
• 3:00pm: Depart reef site
• 4:30pm: Arrive back in Cairns

Small Number of Guests On Board

AquaQuest is our newest vessel in Cairns, designed specifically for diving and snorkelling. With only 80 guests on board, you’ll have plenty of space to relax on the large sun decks, in air-conditioned indoor areas, or enjoy hot freshwater showers.

Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef

If you’re new to snorkelling or not a strong swimmer, our professional snorkel instructors are available to assist you. See our Great Barrier
Reef snorkelling tips. We provide flotation vests to ensure everyone can enjoy the water safely and comfortably. You’ll explore vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful fish, sea turtles, stingrays, and even the curious Maori Wrasse.

Introductory Scuba Diving

First-time divers can experience the thrill of scuba diving with our introductory dives. After a brief instruction and medical questionnaire, you’ll dive beneath the surface to explore the coral bommies and marine life. Minimum age for introductory diving is 12 years old. See out travel tips for scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

Certified Scuba Diving

Certified divers can enjoy up to three dives at different reef locations, experiencing the diverse and rich marine life of the Great Barrier Reef. Don't forget to bring your dive card and logbook for stamping. Note: Children 10 & 11 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or private guide; children 12 to 14 must be with a parent, guardian, or shared guide.

Buffet Lunch on the Great Barrier Reef

Enjoy a tropical buffet lunch featuring a variety of hot and cold foods, salads, rolls, and tropical fruits. Relax on the sundeck or join a guided snorkelling tour with a marine naturalist to learn about the unique underwater ecosystem.

Included in Your Day

• Snorkelling at two Outer Great Barrier Reef locations
• 90-minute travel time to the reef
• Five hours of reef exploration
• Snorkelling equipment and flotation devices
• BBQ lunch with meats, fish, prawns, salads, and vegetarian options
• Lycra sun suits
• Fruit platter, cheese, and a glass of wine on the return journey
• Professional dive instructors
• Air-conditioned lounges and spacious sundecks
• High crew-to-guest ratio

Optional Extra Upgrades

• Introductory Scuba Diving
• Certified Scuba Diving
• Nitrox Fills
• Digital Camera Hire
• Shared Dive Guide

Our Great Barrier Reef Tour Dive Sites

The captain will choose the best two dive and snorkel locations from several exclusive mooring spots at Norman, Saxon, and Hastings reefs. Expect to see a diverse range of marine life, including black tip reef sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and the Maori Wrasse.

Great Barrier Reef Tour Boat

Our state-of-the-art luxury vessel ensures a comfortable and enjoyable day on the reef. All snorkelling equipment, wetsuits, guided snorkel tours, a tropical lunch buffet, morning and afternoon tea, and chilled water are included.

Divers disembark on one side of the vessel and snorkellers disembark the other side so there is no crossover of holdups in and out of the water. After an exciting day exploring the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll return to Cairns at approximately 4:30pm.

See more Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns and helicopter and reef combo tours.

For an exciting diving and snorkelling tour choose an overnight expereince on a Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns. 

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

Check in 8.00am directly on the boat located at Cairns Marina, B Finger - Departs 8.30am - Returns 4.30pm

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Norman Reef, Saxon Reef, Hastings Reef

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

8.5 hours

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Digital camera hire
• Professional photos for purchase
• Soft drinks, alcohol and snacks
• Quality souvenirs

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium, Active

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.

Additional Information

• All introductory scuba participants must meet medical questionnaire requirements and some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving.
• Currently the rules state that for a single no decompression dive, you should not fly/go to altitude for at least 12 hours, or 18 hours after multiple dives. Divers Den recommends waiting a minimum 24 hours whenever possible. These are guidelines only, there is no guarantee that these recommendations will prevent decompression sickness. There are no current guidelines regarding diving after flying.
• Altitude is defined as 300m/1000ft above sea level. This includes going to the Atherton Tablelands (a popular local scenic attraction), so be careful if booking tours to follow your dive trip. Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive at 12pm (midday).
• Minimum age for diving 12.
• All divers must complete dive medical. 
• Please note this ttip is not suitable for those with physical impairments. There are a number of steps to climb as passengers embark and disembark the vessel. There is no wheelchair access.

Eco Certifications

• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Swimsuit and towel
• Reusable water bottle
• Certcard and logbook for certified diving

• Children under the age of 3 travel free of charge
• Child price applies to children 4 to 14.
• All children MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Minimum age for Introductory diving is 12
• Full adult rates apply to any child scuba diver