• This is a very exciting Great Barrier Reef tour for guests visiting Cairns. Perfect for non-swimmers and guests who wear glasses. Scooting around on a moped like underwater bike.  
• Visitors to Cairns of all ages can Scuba-Doo on the Great Barrier Reef. Just read the Medical Questionaire, see that your age group is applicable and book. 
• Note: Scuba Doo is an optional extra activity that must be booked with either a Green Island Tour or on Outer Great Barrier Reef tour. Just follow the links.

Scuba Doo, what is Scuba doo? Well it’s an underwater scooter basically that you control and drive around under water on the Great Barrier Reef seeing all there is to see at your leisure.

Scuba Doo Cairns Great Barrier Reef Australia 

What to Expect

Scuba Doo offers a unique underwater experience on the Outer Great Barrier Reef on the Great Adventures pontoon, allowing you to explore the vibrant marine life at your own pace while riding an underwater scooter. Scuba Doo is perfect for non-swimmers and those who wear glasses, providing an accessible and exciting way to see the Great Barrier Reef.

Features and Highlights

Scuba Doo Tour

Each Scuba Doo tour lasts approximately 20 minutes, accompanied by a scuba diving instructor to guide you and point out interesting marine life. A photographer will also be underwater to capture your adventure.

• Vision: Wear glasses or contact lenses? No problem! The helmet dome provides a clear view without getting your face wet.
• Air Supply: Air is supplied from a tank on the scooter, ensuring continuous air supply throughout the reef tour.
• Control: Steering the Scuba Doo is easy with an aircraft-style wheel. Simply turn in the direction you want to go and push the button to move forward.

The Scuba Doo Experience

• Depth and Speed: Descend to depths of up to 4 meters and cruise at about 2.5 knots.
• Ease of Use: No swimming skills required. Simply sit on the scooter, enjoy the view, and let the adventure unfold around you.

Seawalker Experience

For another fantastic underwater activity, try Seawalker  on Green Island. This adventure allows you to walk on the ocean floor with a helmet that provides air from the surface, making it easy to see marine life up close without needing to swim or dive.

Booking Details

With only three Scuba Doo tours available each day, it is essential to pre-book your Scuba Doo experience along with your Green Island or Great Adventures Outer Barrier Reef day tour, which departs from the Cairns Marlin Marina. Note that participation in Scuba Doo requires booking the outer Barrier Reef tour ferry boat, which takes you to the floating pontoon where the Scuba Doo tour begins.

Scuba Doo Tour Options

You can choose from:

• Green Island and Great Barrier Reef 2-in-1 deal tour
• Outer Barrier Reef pontoon tour only with Scuba Doo

Requirements

• Age: Participants must be 12 years or older. A consent form must be signed by a parent or guardian for anyone under 18.
• Medical Check: A brief medical check is required before participation. Please review the Medical Questionnaire to ensure you are fit for this Scuba Doo adventure.
• Scuba Doo & non-swimmers:  Yes Scuba doo is a great option for non-swimmers and first time visitors to the reef who want to experience the reef underwater without getting wet!

Instructions

Before starting, you will receive instructions from your Scuba Doo Guide to learn the necessary signals and procedures for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Additional Information

Both Scuba Doo and Seawalker offer unique ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef for non-swimmers and those who prefer not to dive. Whether you choose to scoot along the reef or walk on a submerged platform, you’ll have an unforgettable adventure exploring the vibrant marine life and stunning coral formations.

Scuba Doo Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to know how to swim to do Scuba Doo on the Great Barrier Reef?

No. You do not need to know how to swim to enjoy the Scuba Doo underwater scooter experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Guests sit on an underwater scooter and breathe normally inside a clear helmet, with air supplied throughout the experience. This makes Scuba Doo a popular option for non-swimmers, first-time reef visitors and guests who may not feel confident snorkelling or scuba diving.

Is Scuba Doo suitable for non-swimmers?

Yes. Scuba Doo is designed to be suitable for non-swimmers and guests with little or no underwater experience. No scuba diving licence, swimming ability or previous reef experience is required. Guests receive a safety briefing before entering the water and are guided by professional reef crew during the activity.

How deep does Scuba Doo go?

Scuba Doo descends to depths of up to approximately 4 metres on the Great Barrier Reef. This shallow reef depth allows guests to see coral gardens, tropical fish and marine life while remaining in a controlled underwater environment. The experience is designed to be calm, slow-paced and comfortable for beginners.

Do you need scuba diving experience for Scuba Doo?

No. Scuba Doo does not require any scuba diving experience or certification. It is an introductory underwater reef activity designed for beginners. Guests are shown how to use the underwater scooter, basic hand signals and safety procedures before entering the water.

Can you wear glasses during Scuba Doo?

Yes. Glasses can generally be worn during the Scuba Doo experience because your face remains dry inside the helmet dome. This allows guests who wear prescription glasses or contacts to see the reef clearly without needing a traditional snorkel mask. Guests should advise crew before the activity so they can check comfort and helmet fit.

What is the minimum age for Scuba Doo?

The minimum age for Scuba Doo is 12 years. Guests under 18 years of age require parent or guardian consent before participating. This age requirement applies for safety reasons and is assessed alongside the required medical questionnaire.

See all the best Great Barrier Reef tours in Cairns and Tropical North Queensland. 

View the helicopter and Great Barrier Reef combo tours.

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef on our blog

About Scuba Doo

Each Scuba Doo tour is approximately 20 minutes and you will be accompanied by a scuba diving instructor to ensure you head in the right direction and they can also point out all of the things of interest around you.  

A photographer will also be under the water taking pictures of not only other scuba divers and snorkelers but also of yourself riding your Scuba Doo scooter.

If you wear contact lenses or glasses no problem as you are sitting on the scooter underneath a helmet dome and your eyes and face will not be in the water at all enabling you to see all the corals and marine life around you thru the clear Perspex window.

The air is supplied to the Scuba Doo from the scooters tank that is located on its frame and the battery life of the scooter is around 1.5 hours.

This helmet dome provides you with a 180 degree view of your reef surroundings so you just scoot along and take it all in. No exertion or effort is required on this tour you do not even need to know how to swim to see the Great Barrier Reef from under the water.   

To drive the Scuba Doo all you do is hold the aircraft style steering wheel and turn it in the direction you wish to go. For it to start you push the button on the right hand side and then it will move forwards.

You will be going down to depths of 4 metres and you will be cruising along at around 2.5 knots with the freedom of just you, your cozzies and the water, so no heavy tanks or anything else to think about. 

Try Seawalker - Walk On the Ocean Floor

For another amazing under water activity you should try Seawalker on your next visit on a combo package 2 in 1 deal to Green Island and the outer Barrier Reef pontoon, or with your day tour to only Green Island on the ferry from Cairns.

This is also another activity that does not require you to be a swimmer or scuba diver as you are weighted down to the ocean floor with weight belts and oxygen comes straight into your helmet from above the water’s surface.

Walk along on the bottom of the ocean as the wonderful tropical fish swim all around you. This is where you will meet Gavin the famous Parrot Fish.  

See more optional underwater activities on Great Barrier Reef tours from Cairns and Port Douglas.

Tour Languages Offered

• Chinese
• English
• Japanese

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• 10:30 Departure for outer reef pontoon only
• 08:30 Departure for Green Island & outer reef pontoon

Departure Instructions

Depart from Cairns Marlin Marina, located at 1 Spence Street Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal.

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Norman Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Scuba-Doo Underwater Scooter (25 minutes in water + 10 minute safety brief)

Duration

7 Hours for Outer Reef Pontoon Only
9 Hours for Green Island & Outer Reef Pontoon

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Extra drinks and snacks
• Introductory scuba diving (no experience necessary, subject to medical questionnaire) - minimum age 12
• Certified scuba diving - minimum age 12
• Guided Outer Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour (40 minutes in water + 10 minute safety brief)
• Helicopter flights

Fitness Level Required

Low

Restrictions

Scuba Doo & Scuba Diving – minimum age 12

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving, Scuba Doo and Helmet Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving and helmet diving/scuba doo.
• Participation is subject to medical questionnaires completed on board with the tour operator.
• Minimum age for scuba diving and helmet diving/scuba doo 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

• ****Scuba Doo can only be booked in conjunction with Great Adventures - Outer Barrier Reef Tour (Green Island can also be included - 2 hours Island / 3 hours pontoon including activites and Scuba Doo)***
• Glasses and contact lenses can be worn
• This tour is suitable if you are pregnant

Eco Certifications

• Towel, hat and suncreen.
• Cash or credit card

Children under 18 need a consent signed by their parents