This unique comfortable sailing "maxi-catamaran" travels out from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef daily to two incredible diving and snorkelling sites that are chosen by the skipper on the day to deliver the best and safest experience for guests.
The most popular small group Great Barrier Reef tour in Cairns. Experience a captivating full day sailing boat tour departing from Cairns to two of the most diverse and pristine diving and snorkelling locations on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Our unique, comfortable "maxi-catamaran" is specifically designed to provide a luxurious and intimate Great Barrier Reef tour experience, ensuring each guest enjoys a memorable day with personalised attention. Setting sail at 8:00 AM, the Cairns reef tour is perfect for both enthusiastic snorkellers and scuba divers (experienced and non-experienced) who wish to explore the underwater marvels of the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.
This Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns is designed to offer an unmatched reef experience, combining the thrill of exploration with the comforts of a luxury tour. Suitable for all ages and skill levels, it provides a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and education, making it a must-do for anyone visiting Cairns. But be aware you must book early to get your seat on this Great Barrier Reef tour as it is one of the most popular in Cairns.
See all the Great Barrier Reef tours in Cairns and Port Douglas.
Read about all the things you need to know before you go to the Great Barrier Reef in our blog.
Scuba Diving The Great Barrier Reef
Scuba Divers can enjoy up to 2 scuba dives while out on the Cairns Great Barrier Reef on this reef trip.
No experience is necessary for introductory divers, although they must pass a 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 underwater world full of life for approximately 30 minutes in a depth of anywhere form seven to ten 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 on an incredible 45 minute scuba dive with the dive master.
For those who really enjoyed their first introductory scuba dive, there is another opportunity to try another one at the second reef site of the day.
First off though is lunch and a fish feeding presentation by a marine naturalist!
Again we recommend you pre-book your scuba dive spots when reserving your seat on the reef trip to ensure you do not miss out!
Lunch is served onboard the boat before leaving and during the day as the catamaran sails between reef sites. 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.
We have the choice of 24 exclusive dive and snorkel locations to choose from each day and each one is very unique and special for this small group reef trip vessel only, which means there are no crowds and the coral reefs and bommies are an incredible amazing place to explore.
Join in on the guided snorkel tour or snorkel at your leisure. 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!
Each reef really lives up to its reputaions and is really is a wonderful place to dive and snorkel.
We depart this little piece of paradise for a two hour relaxing sail back to Cairns City at 2:30 PM to witness a magnificent sunset over the Cairns mountains beyond.
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 the boat 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 natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef.
You will visit two different reef sites on this Great Barrier Reef tour. Each day the highly experienced local crew will assess the weather conditions and choose the two best reef sites on the day to give guests the best possible experience.
The range of reef sites to choose from includes:
Flynn Reef - Little Tracy
Experience a vast array of marine life and stunning coral formations.
Flynn Reef - Point Break
See an amazing range of reef species that are attracted to the unique current and tidal patterns of this reef site.
Milne Reef
This popular reef features a range of hard and soft corals and diverse marine life at shallow depths making it perfect for snorkellers and divers alike.
Milne Reef - Three Sisters
Three Sisters offers a wide range of marine life and excellent visibility, making it one of the most famous reef sites off of Cairns.
Milne Reef - The Whale
See Giant Clams and Sea Turtles at this unique reef site comprised off one large coral formation.
Milne Reef - The Edge
Experience spectacular underwater topography as you dive along the edge of the reef at The Edge.
Milne Reef - The Drop
Look down into the deep dark blue at The Drop, a reef site marked by amazing coral formations.
Thetford Reef - 360
This stunning lagoon is surrounded by large coral gardens making it one of the most popular reef sites off of Cairns.
Thetford Reef - Nolans Bommie
No matter your diving experience level you will love Nolans Bommie as it features some of the most incredible variety of marine life on the reef.
Moore Reef - East Timor
A distinctive dive and snorkel site that offers a wide variety of undersea life to explore.
Moore Reef - West Timor
Encounter Giant Clams, Sea Turtles, and a range of other marine life in the clear waters of this stunning reef site.
Moore Reef - 5 Ways
This reef site offers the perfect enviroment for snorkellers and divers alike featuring a range of hard and soft corals.
Moore Reef - Wildside
Noted for its remarkable coral structures and high quality of coral cover, Wildside is a popular reef site off Cairns.
Pretty Patches
A tranquil lagoon featuring a beautiful coral garden provides pristine conditions for guests to experience the wonder of the Great Barrier Reef.
Breaking Patches - Long Bommie
Certified divers will love the swim-through at Long Bommie and intro divers and snorkellers will marvel at the impressive coral structures.
Breaking Patches - Paradise Reef
A double wall of coral split by a shallow lagoon provides ideal conditions for large schools of small fish to feed - creating a magical reef site full of life.
Hastings Reef - 1770
This ideal reef location features a maze-like formation of stunning coral structures - a picture perfect location for snorkelling and diving.
Hastings Reef - Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones provides an amazing location for snorkelling and diving alike with it's patchy series of coral formatons.
Hastings Reef - Split Bommie
Home to some of the densest coral cover snorkellers and divers will experience on the Great Barrier Reef, Split Bommie is also home to a swim through that certified divers will love.
So as you just read you will be diving and snorkelling a different reef location each day you are on the Great Barrier Reef. We do this for our repeat guests and to ensure each reef location is not over visited.
It also shows our visitors that no two reef systems are the same. Each coral outcrop supports a different varierty of corals and marine life so that makes it exciting for our divers and snorkellers.
Participate in our distinctive and thrilling conservation and education programs, where you can engage in a day of hands-on scientific activities. By joining us, you contribute to the vital task of monitoring our sites, providing essential data for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. This opportunity allows you to actively participate in real-world science and make a meaningful impact on marine conservation efforts
This is private touring option on board Passions of Paradise regular day trip for individual travelers joining a small group of 6 other participants.
A family of two adults and two children age 4 to 14 get a private guide for the day - with no other participant
Inclusions:
•Meet & Greet with your personalized Master Reef Guide at check in
•Reserved seating for the day
•Morning and afternoon tea
•Visit to two Outer Great Barrier Reef locations.
•Personalized training in marine conservation
•All research materials & data collection tools
•Fully supervised in-water activity at both locations assisting our team in data collection
•Chef prepared lunch (allergies catered for on request)
•Winter wetsuits or sunsuits in summer months
•Prescription masks
•Afternoon debrief and data entry on the way home with your host
Embark on a fully guided educational adventure tailored for enthusiastic snorkelers eager to elevate their Great Barrier Reef experience. Gain a profound appreciation for this incredible ecosystem and be motivated to make a difference.
Immerse yourself in a full day of exploration alongside a dedicated expert, actively contributing to the continuous conservation efforts of this globally celebrated natural marvel. This experience goes beyond mere observation – it invites you to actively shape the Reef's sustainable future with Passions of Paradise.
Designed for small groups and independent travelers, this exclusive opportunity accommodates a maximum of 8 participants. Please note that pre-booking is essential to secure your spot.
Due to the sometimes-technical nature of this product this option is only suitable for experienced and confident snorkelers. Children are welcome to book once their parents or guardians are participating too.
Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns
January - December
Daily
Does not operate 25/12 and 01/01
9 hours (approx)
Low, Medium
Scuba Diving Restrictions
Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.
Hat & Sunscreen, Swim suit, Sunglasses, Towel and Cash or Credit Card for onboard purchases
Reviewed on February 18, 2018
Really good day, but this was too long to go to the Reef and to come back to Cairns. Good staff, good information given about the day, etc Not enough to eat for everyone...
Response From The Tour Specialists
Thanks for your response Laura. The Tour Specialists are always happy to help with the best reef bookings to suit and that Free Dive offer was certainly great value. The Outer Reef is a lot further from Cairns than people realise and it can sometimes catch our guests by surprise. We are pleased you enjoyed your day.
Reviewed on November 23, 2017
The Passions of Paradise reef tour was a fantastic adventure. The catamaran was almost new, with lots of room. The crew could not have been more friendly and accommodating. The lunch was first rate fare. All in all a great way to experience the Great Barrier Reef.
Response From The Tour Specialists
Thank you Charles! We are glad you enjoyed your day out with us and can't wait to get you back on the Great Barrier Reef soon!
Reviewed on September 30, 2017
Amazing tour, the best boat, friendly crew!
Response From The Tour Specialists
Wow Nick! It is always great to hear to hear we exceed expectations and hopefully provided a little bit of reef education on your Amazing tour too! We look forward to having you back on the best boat in Cairns & the Great Barrier reef soon.
Reviewed on May 18, 2017
Taken to two beautiful reefs with wonderful staff
Response From The Tour Specialists
Thanks for your feedback Ashlea. The Tour Specialists are pleased you enjoyed your time on the Great Barrier Reef with this fantastic small group reef tour.
Reviewed on September 18, 2016
The crew keep us informed during the whole journey to the reef and it was nice and relax, worth the amount of money spent on the day trip. The dives were amazing, if you took the second dive you didn't have the opportunity to see the island which was unfortunate.
Response From The Tour Specialists
Thanks for your feedback Olivia. We are pleased you enjoyed your day on the Great Barrier Reef and took the opportunity to enjoy an Introductory Scuba Dive. This small group tour is ideal for first time divers. Hopefully we will see you back again soon to spend some more time exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and more.
Reviewed on June 05, 2016
Fantastic! Had a beautiful calm day snorkelling on both Paradise Reef and Michaelmas Cay. The variety and colours of the many fish species was amazing. Ended up being quite an expensive day out with all the extra add-on expenses (bus transfers, ECM, underwater camera hire, stinger suit) but it's not something you do every day.
Response From The Tour Specialists
Wow Ann, we are thrilled you enjoyed your Great Barrier Reef cruise and had great weather too! Michaelmas Cay & Paradise Reef do offer a great variety of hard & soft corals and the amazing marine life is easily visible via the Glass Bottom Boat tours offered. I does get a little expensive with the additional activities but they do enhance your overall experience
All cancellations must be in writing.
We understand things may change, so we have made cancellations very easy.
In every instance we always recommend you purchase travel insurance for life’s last-minute hiccups.
Please see our terms and conditions for details prior to booking.
Operators policy:
Notes:
au$260.00
Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.
Child:
au$160.00
Family: au$740.00
Tour Code: 88