Colorful, relaxing day on the Great Barrier Reef

Passions of Paradise was a fantastic day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. Their vessel is really comfortable, with round table seating inside making for a stress-free way to spend the day with friends and family. I booked on for 2 x certified dives, but travelled with a small group of friends who were certified divers and snorkellers. This was great, because we still had time to snorkel together after each dive.

The coral at both of our reef sites was absolutely amazing, with a mixture of hard corals, soft corals, and heaps of anenomes and giant clams to enjoy.

We were also lucky to see about 4 humpback whales, which looked like a Mom and friends teaching her baby to breach. The captain slowed down and stopped for us, giving us about 10-15 minutes to enjoy the incredible nature show above the surface.

The food on board was also fabulous, chef-prepared with multiple salad options and various protein choices, including excellent vegan options for my friend. The chimmichurri chicken I had was fabulous.

On the ride home, our dive guide and marine biologist Dave did a fantastic job with the marine bio presentation. This really was a fantastic overview of the Great Barrier Reef, and why coral reef eco-systems are so important. On our second dive of the day at 1770 Hastings reef, we got to see one of their successful restoration sites, with diverse coral outcroppings growing well.

I would definitely recommend Passions of Paradise for anyone looking for a comfortable, beautiful, and relaxing day out the Great Barrier Reef.