Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling & Diving Cruise from Cairns
Two Outer Reef Stops, Five Hours in the Water, Back by 4:30pm
You board at Reef Fleet Terminal by 7:45am, spend five hours across two outer reef locations with snorkel and dive options, eat a BBQ lunch onboard, and return to Cairns by 4:30pm. All gear, lunch, wine and stinger suits are included. Intro dives need no experience, and a scenic helicopter flight is available as an add-on. Book the dive package if you want to go under, or stick with snorkeling if you prefer to stay at the surface.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Great Barrier Reef snorkeling and diving
- Check-in at Reef Fleet Terminal
- Board Evolution and enjoy tea and muffins
- Depart Cairns with safety briefing
- Snorkel at first reef location
- Enjoy BBQ lunch onboard
- Snorkel or dive at second reef location
- Relax or take scenic helicopter flight
- Return to Cairns with afternoon tea and wine
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup (check-in at Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns), snorkel and scuba equipment hire, a free lycra stinger suit, five hours across two outer Great Barrier Reef locations, one pre-booked dive if you select a dive package, a full BBQ lunch onboard with fresh fish, prawns, steak and salads (vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options available), tea and coffee on arrival, a glass of wine and snacks on the return journey, and personal flotation aids. A ten-minute scenic helicopter flight is available as an optional upgrade.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Down Under Cruise and Dive
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
The Evolution is already loaded and waiting at Reef Fleet Terminal when you arrive between 7:15 and 7:45am. Your crew hands you a mask and snorkel, pours tea and coffee, and by 8 o'clock the 35-metre superyacht is moving out of Cairns toward the first reef location. The safety briefing happens on the way: ninety minutes of open water before Saxon Reef or Norman Reef comes into view, depending on the day's conditions. That's when the actual snorkeling begins, and the reason most people book this: two completely different outer Great Barrier Reef sites in a single day, which means you're not seeing the same coral twice or the same fish twice.
Around midday, you're back on the boat for a proper BBQ lunch (fresh fish, prawns, steak, salads, bread) cooked onboard and served with options for vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets if you've flagged it ahead of time. There's a glass of wine included, and three deck spaces if you want to dry off and just sit. If you've booked a dive package, your one pre-booked dive happens at the first location, and you can add more dives once you're on the water if you want them. No experience needed for an intro dive. Certified divers just need to bring their card. The crew handles all the equipment (tanks, weights, regulators), so you're not managing your own gear.
The second reef location is where you get another few hours in the water, or you can stay topside and watch from the deck. If you've paid for the helicopter upgrade, that's a ten-minute scenic flight that leaves from the boat and circles back. You see the reef from above, which changes how you understand the scale of what you've been swimming through. By 4:30pm, Evolution is heading back to Cairns. Cheese, biscuits and another glass of wine appear as you cross back, and you're off the boat by late afternoon. The whole day is five hours of actual reef time split across two locations, which is the structure that lets you see more than you'd get from a single-site tour.
Lycra stinger suits are included, Queensland waters need them, and so is all snorkel and scuba equipment. If you're not diving, you're still in the water the whole time. If you're diving, your instructor does a risk assessment on the day and has the authority to pull you if anything doesn't sit right. Medical clearance is required for divers over 65, and certain conditions (asthma, heart disease, diabetes) need a doctor's letter. Children under 10 can't dive onboard by law, but they can snorkel. The boat takes groups of mixed sizes, so you're not in a huge crowd, and the crew knows the reef well enough to position you where the marine life actually is.
Is this one for you?Right for snorkelers and divers who want two different reef sites in one day without arranging their own transport or equipment. Plan to be out from 7:15am to 4:30pm. That full day is what makes visiting two outer locations possible instead of staying at one.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, German, Chinese and Japanese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 16 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What time does the boat leave Cairns?
The Evolution departs at 8am from Reef Fleet Terminal. Check-in opens at 7:15am.
How long do you spend in the water?
Five hours total, split across two outer reef locations. You visit Saxon Reef or Norman Reef first, then a second location after lunch.
Is lunch included?
Yes. A BBQ lunch with fresh fish, prawns, steak and salads is cooked onboard. Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options are available with 24 hours notice.
Can I dive if I've never dived before?
Yes. Intro dives require no experience and are included in the dive package. Certified divers need to bring their certification card.
What's included in the price?
Snorkel and scuba equipment, stinger suit, one pre-booked dive (if you book a dive package), BBQ lunch, tea, coffee, wine, and snacks on the return journey.
Is the scenic helicopter flight worth it?
It's a ten-minute flight that gives you an aerial view of the reef. It's optional and costs extra. Weight limit is 130kg.
What time do you return to Cairns?
The boat arrives back at approximately 4:30pm.
Do I need medical clearance to dive?
All divers complete a medical questionnaire. Divers over 65 need a doctor's letter confirming they are fit to dive. Certain conditions (asthma, heart disease, diabetes) and prescription medications require doctor's clearance.
Can I do more than one dive?
The dive package includes one pre-booked dive. Additional dives can be purchased onboard on the day or arranged with the operator before travel.
Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling & Diving Cruise from Cairns
8h 30m · EN · DE +2
from AU$ 275 per person
≈ US$ 196 in your currency
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