Cairns Diving Packages – A list of all Cairns Dive Tours to the Great Barrier Reef
Sunlover Reef Cruises
Spirit of Cairns – Buffet Dinner Cruise
Silverswift Dive & Snorkel
Silversonic Dive & Snorkel – Port Douglas
Reef Magic Cruises
Reef Experience
REEF DAYTRIPPPER:
Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruises
Poseidon Snorkel and Dive
Passions Of Paradise
Ocean Spirit Cruises – Michaelmas Cay
Ocean Freedom Cruise
Ocean Free Sailing
Moore Reef & Fitzroy Island Full Day Reef Tour
Green Island – Cairns Cheapest Reef Tour Snorkelling – $122.00
Great Adventures: Outer Reef Pontoon
Great Adventures: Green Island & Great Barrier Reef
Frankland Islands
Fitzroy Island Ferry Includes Snorkel Gear or Glass Bottom Boat!
Fitzroy Island Adventures – Boat Transfers
Evolution Dive & Snorkel Cruise
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel Cruises
Divers Den: Aqua Quest
Calypso Dive & Snorkel – Port Douglas
If you would like to visit the Great Barrier Reef in Australia from the mainland, there really are only two locations: the city of Cairns or the Whitsundays. There is a reason that Cairns is a standout destination for visiting the Great Barrier Reef from the mainland of Australia. Do you know what it is? It's how close the Great Barrier Reef is to the city of Cairns. Have a look at our Cairns dive sites map to really see how close the outer edge wall of the reef is to the city of Cairns.
The inside edge of the reef is only located 26 km offshore from Cairns. The outside edge of the reef is located only 65 km offshore from Cairns. Because it is so close, this allows Cairns reef tour operators the chance to take you out to the reef in a short amount of time; most dive & snorkel boats take 1 hour 15 minutes to arrive at an outer reef site.
You can then spend a good part of your day at the reef, and many boats will move two or three times throughout the day, allowing you to see multiple reef sites. Generally, all reef tour operators provide lunch with all snorkelling gear like snorkel, fins, mask, lycra suit, pool noodle, and life jackets.
Scuba Diving:
Many day trip operators also provide scuba diving services for those with a certified dive license, such as the PADI open water certification. The Great Barrier Reef really lends itself to both snorkeling and scuba diving. How is that, you may ask? Well, the average depth of the Great Barrier Reef is only around 20 meters. In the scheme of things, this is relatively shallow, and because of this, a lot of sunlight can reach down and touch the bottom, allowing coral polyps and photosynthetic organisms to thrive.
So, generally, the reefs start growing and build up from 20 meters deep to the surface. It is on top of the reef in the shallow coral gardens that snorkeling is very easy. Located along the edge of the reef, the outer reef walls drop away to around 20 meters. This is where scuba divers have fun diving along the edge of the reefs.
So, nearly all Cairns reef tour operators will take scuba divers and snorkelers, as the divers can enjoy the deeper outer reef walls while the snorkelers can soak up the beauty of the shallow coral gardens.
Special
FREE UNDERWATER CAMERA HIRE*
Spend over $550.00 AUD on your Great Barrier Reef tour with us and receive the latest Digital Underwater Camera Hire. Take amazing High-Resolution images and 1080 HD Video. Only when you book online thru our website.
Not available for any tours to the Islands as fine white sand damages the seals on the cameras and makes them leak!
You need to come into our shop located on the Cairns Esplanade the day before departure to pick up the camera before 5:30 pm. You also need to supply your own SD Camera Card and drop the camera off back at our shop before 5:30pm.
Please Remember there is no other way to collect our cameras! All passengers must come into our shop the day before departure day before 5:30 pm.