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Cairns Snorkelling Tour - Aboriginal Experience

Tour Code: 689

Departing: Cairns

Aboriginal Guided Reef Tour
  • Snorkeling and scuba diving on 2 Outer Great Barrier Reef sites from Cairns
  • Upgrade your Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns: Book an introductory dive or certified dives 
  • This is the onIy Aboriginal Cultural Great Barrier Reef tour in Australia. Enjoy and Indigenous welcome & acknowledgment and learn about how the reef and its resources are vital to life
  • Enjoy listening to the Great Barrier Reef creation story from the Dreamtime told by local indigenous Aborignal rangers as you cruise out to the reef
  • Spend around 5 hours on the outer Great Barrier Reef just off Cairns exploring two very different coral reef sites. Morning and afternoon tea and lunch is also included as is all your snorkel gear

Included In Price

  • 5 hours on the Outer Great Barrier Reef
  • Aborignal Indigenous welcome and acknowledgment 
  • Great Barrier Reef creation story
  • Snorkel two premium outer Great Barrier Reef sites
  • Morning and afternoon tea
  • Marine Biologist presentation
  • Snorkelling equipment
  • Wet and lycra suits
  • Freshly prepared buffet lunch
  • Small Boat Service - Big Boat Comfort
  • Open sun deck lounge area

Welcome to Dreamtime Snorkeling tours, a unique reef educational experience with cultural interpretations from our Dreamtime Indigenous Rangers that integrates the most stunning sites on the Great Barrier Reef just outside Cairns on the outer reef.

Dreamtime snorkelling tour is an indigenous Great Barrier Reef tour  from Cairns that also allows you to spend time at two fantastic reef locations exploring the different types of reef and also enjoy a glass bottom boat tour.

This is a fantastic authentic Indigenous experience and this is the first of its kind on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

The whole experience incorporates a Great Barrier Reef dive and snorkelling tour with Indigenous Culture taught through the interaction with our Dreamtime Indigenous Rangers.

Indigenous rangers recount the Dreamtime stories of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Gunggandji, Mandingalbay and Yirrganydji people to help you gain a deeper understanding of this diverse ecosystem.

The sea country of these four Traditional Owner groups stretches from Port Douglas to the Frankland Islands and includes the two sites you visit.

Your day on our Cairns reef trip will include Dreamtime Indigenous Rangers sharing the creation story on the Glass bottom boat tour, sharing stories about musical instruments, hunting and battle tools. 

The vessel has capacity for over 100 passengers, however Dreamtime Snorkel will be limited to 65 passengers per day. More space, more comfort!

Snorkellers will experience two premium outer reef sites with superb coral and marine diversity: Moore Reef (Dogs Paw) and Milln Reef or Flynn Reef (extremely healthy reef site).

Your Great Barrier Reef tour boat for the day is a 24m catamaran with 3 spacious levels and air-conditioned saloon. There is also plenty of outdoor seating and sunbeds on deck to get that tan going.

You will travel at a comfortable speeed of approx 22 knots with a 90 minute travel time to the reef.

There is also a large dive deck and snorkel platform providing easy access for water activities.

Marine Biologists are on board offering presentations throughout the day. Free snorkelling advice and assistance fish feeding demonstration and the opportunity to get up close and personal on Snorkel Safari (extra charge)

And for lunch we have a delicious hot and cold buffet with a selections of seafood.

Morning and afternoon tea are also provided.

Experience the Magic on our Cairns reef tour!

Itinerary

  • 07:30 Check-in at the Reef Fleet Terminal at the Reef Magic counter
  • 08:00 Depart Cairns Jetty
  • 09:30 Arrive at first site - spend time at two pristine outer reef locations
  • 15:00 Depart outer reef
  • 16:30 Arrive back in Cairns

Included in your day at no extra cost

  • Indigenous welcome and acknowledgement
  • Great Barrier Reef creation story
  • Two premium outer reef sites
  • Morning and afternoon tea
  • Freshly prepared buffet lunch
  • Marine Biologist presentation
  • Snorkelling equipment
  • Wet and lycra suits

 

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land and Sea on which our business operates on throughout Australia.
We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

See more 2 in 1 Great Barrier Reef tours  

Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour

Embark on an extraordinary adventure as you venture to two exclusive premium outer reef destinations, unlike any other experience.

Enjoy a leisurely five-hour journey that promises to immerse you in the richness of this diverse ecosystem while offering a profound cultural insight into our indigenous heritage.

Uniquely, we proudly stand as the sole Great Barrier Reef cruise that grants you the remarkable opportunity to interact with authentic clap sticks and fire poles. Moreover, you'll be enthralled by live demonstrations of traditional dances and the mesmerizing sounds of the didgeridoo. This immersive encounter with our indigenous traditions and the natural beauty of the reef will leave you with unforgettable memories.

The selected reef sites, including Milln, Flynn, Hastings, Saxon, Norman, or Thetford Reef, promise awe-inspiring underwater adventures and a deep connection to the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

Optional Extras

Guided Snorkel Tour

Join our enriching snorkel tour led by our team of experienced marine biologists. This highly regarded excursion offers a chance to witness the stunning and distinctive coral formations as well as observe schools of fish in their natural habitat, all up close and personal. Whether you're a novice or an experienced snorkeler, this tour caters to individuals of all skill levels, ensuring a perfect experience for everyone.

Introductory Diving 

No prior experience is required to embark on this adventure. We provide all the necessary equipment, including wetsuits, and even offer a souvenir dive certificate for you to proudly display on your wall as a testament to your achievement. Our purpose-built vessel offers a secure and controlled environment, making it ideal for those new to diving.

For easy access, we have convenient stairs leading directly into the water, allowing you to practice basic scuba skills before your dive. Safety is our top priority; therefore, we maintain small group sizes, with a maximum of 4 divers per instructor (even fewer if divers feel apprehensive). 

Your inaugural dive takes place in our vibrant coral lagoon, a shallow and sheltered area adorned with dense coral formations and teeming with diverse fish species. The first dive lasts approximately 20-30 minutes and reaches a maximum depth of 10 meters, with most of the exploration conducted around 4-5 meters. On your second dive, having already mastered the necessary skills, you'll have more time to revel in the actual dive experience.

Introductory diving with us is one of the most popular and cherished activities among Cairns Reef tours, ensuring you a memorable and enjoyable underwater adventure.

Certified Diving 

Our seasoned guides will lead you to a selection of captivating dives, including drifts, walls, and channels featuring swim-throughs, small caves, ledges, and drop-offs. 

With 5 hours of actual reef time, we offer the opportunity for up to 3 completely distinct dives in a single day. Each dive is expertly guided to ensure your safety and enhance your enjoyment. We whisk you directly to the best dive spots, allowing you ample time to immerse yourself in the beauty of your surroundings without the hassle of navigation.

Our dive sites are thoughtfully selected to match the day's weather conditions and cater to the divers' varying levels of experience. Don't forget to bring your logbook; we'll record your Great Barrier Reef journey, preserving the memories of your exceptional underwater exploration.

Your Itinerary

08:15 - Boarding commences at 8.15am with final boarding at 8.45am from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal

09:00 - Depart Marlin Jetty Cairns and grab your complimentary snorkel & fins

  • Safety Briefing
  • Indigenous welcome and acknowledgment
  • Great Barrier Reef creation story
  • Enjoy morning tea

10:30

Our in water activities commence at the Outer Great Barrier Reef where you’ll enjoy our pristine coral reef site before lunch and the next reef site after lunch.

Approx 12:30

Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch freshly prepared by the highly awarded & renowned Ochre Restaurant & Tropic Spirit Catering.

15:30

Return snorkel, fins, life jacket and lycra suits
Depart the Reef and enjoy afternoon tea whilst interacting with the Cultural guides on board

17:00 - Arrive back in Cairns

Tour Languages Offered
  • Chinese
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Japanese
Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

Boarding commences at 8.15am with final boarding at 8.45am from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal. Our vessel departs Cairns Marlin Jetty at 09:00 arriving at the first reef by 10:30, leaving the reef at 15:30 and arriving back in Cairns by 17:00.

Destinations
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • 2 premium Outer Barrier Reef sites: Moore & Milln Reefs
Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

8 hours (approx) 5 Hours Reef Time

Available for Purchase / Hire

Guided snorkel safari

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.

Advanced Dive Medical Intro Dive Medical

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Swimwear
  • Towel
  • Sun protection
  • Hat & Sunglasses
  • Camera
  • Cash ($AUD) or credit card (Visa, MasterCard) for snacks and drinks and any additional onboard purchases.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating

Alexander P

Reviewed on May 24, 2019

Absolutely Amazing! Highly recommend doing the intro Scuba Diving as well!

Response From The Tour Specialists

Alexander thank you very much for your kind review of you Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns. Trying a scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef for the first time is certainly very exciting.

  • Child price applies to children 4 to 14
  • Minimum age for introductory scuba diving is 12

All cancellations must be in writing.

Please note that all cancellations will incur an administration fee.

Please see our terms and conditions  for details prior to booking.

Operator's Cancellation Policy:

A cancellation fee of 100% will apply if less than 24 hours notice is given prior to departure.

Some services may be cancelled or modified as a result of weather/tidal conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.

In the rare event that Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel needs to cancel, the guest will be provided with an alternate day of travel, offered another Reef Unlimited product, or a full refund.

Cairns Snorkelling Tour - Aboriginal Experience

Tour Code: 689

Departing: Cairns

Aboriginal Guided Reef Tour

From

au$219.00

Prices are AUD, per adult and include all levies fees and taxes.

Child: au$169.00
Family: au$577.00

Tour Code: 689

From

au$219.00

15 yrs & over

4 - 14 yrs

0 - 3 yrs

Ages of Children
(Discounts May Apply)
Phone
1300 761 612
WhatsApp
+61 427 074 745
Phone
1300 761 612
WhatsApp
+61 427 074 745

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