Reef Info
Cairns Reef Information, learn how to choose a Great Barrier Reef dive & Snorkel Cruise from Cairns with the detailed explanation below.
If you would like to visit the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns the best reef info tips we can give you is to book onto one of the outer reef dive & snorkel boats. Why? the day boats and pontoons for that matter travel much further offshore to what is known as the outer reef systems. This is where you find the bright colorful soft and hard coral reef systems.
Wally
Outer Reef Pontoon
Dive with Turtles
The other option is if you are not really good at swimming, perhaps you have young children or elderly family members in your group please choose a floating pontoon.
The three floating pontoons from Cairns are Sunlover Reef Cruises, Great Adventures Green Island & Outer Barrier Reef Pontoon, and Reef Magic Cruises.
Pontoons offer fantastic value for money when you look at all the inclusions offered. For example, you get to enjoy all the snorkeling equipment, hot cooked buffet lunch, semi-submarines, glass-bottom boats, and underwater observatories.
All of these activities allow you to get up close and view the reef without getting wet in the water.
A quick side note is the beautiful islands of Green Island, Fitzroy Island, Frankland Islands, and Low Isles but please keep in mind there is not a lot of coral located around the islands.
The Islands do offer a wonderful day at the beach with crystal clear water and sometimes you can find sea turtles but in general, they are not the best location for seeing large coral reefs with bright beautiful colors, for this you really do need to travel much further offshore to the large coral gardens, this is the true Great Barrier Reef experience.
Cairns Reef Info Tours:
Sunlover Cruises
Great day tour for people of all ages. Visit Outer Reef Pontoon at Moore Reef, with lots of inclusions: snorkelling, glass bottom boat and semi-sub tours, underwater observatory and more.
Silverswift Dive & Snorkel
Only Cairns Great Barrier Reef day tour to visit 3 different reef sites in one day! Part of the Quicksilver Cruises fleet. Comfortable, high speed catamaran. Up to 5 hours at the reef.
Silversonic Dive & Snorkel
Silversonic provides daily reef tours departing from Port Douglas and visiting the ribbon reefs at Agincourt Reef. 5 hours at reef and up to 3 dives.
Reef Magic Cruises
Up to 5 hours at the reef. Outer Great Barrier Reef pontoon with fabulous coral gardens. Meet Wally! Lots of inclusions: snorkelling, glass bottom boat, semi-sub, underwater observatory and more.
Do you need help choosing?
Can't decide?
CALL US: 07 4041 1638
Or try the form below, we have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour, to suit your experience and budget.
Swim with Turtles
Damsel Fish
Find Nemo Diving
We have created a video below to try answer the most common questions we receive from travellers wanting to find out how to choose a Great Barrier Reef dive snorkel tour Cairns.
The Great Barrier Reef is home to so many species of soft and hard corals. You can expect to find Nemo (Anemonefish), glassfish, cuttlefish, moray eels, sea turtles, white tip and blacktip reef sharks, and many more.
Visit Nemo at Home
Tusa Dive
Reef Quest
Sail to Green Island
Cairns Reef Boats
Passions of Paradise
Sunlover Cruises
Silverswift Dive & Snorkel
Silversonic Dive & Snorkel
Reef Magic Cruises
Reef Experience
REEF DAYTRIPPPER:
Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruises
Poseidon Snorkel and Dive
Passions Of Paradise
Ocean Spirit Cruises
Ocean Freedom Cruise
Ocean Free Sailing
Great Adventures: Outer Reef Pontoon
Great Adventures: Green Island – Full Day
Great Adventures: Green Island & Great Barrier Reef
Frankland Islands
Fitzroy Island Ferry Includes Snorkel Gear!
Fitzroy Island Adventures – Boat Transfers
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel Cruises
Down Under Dive: Evolution
Deep Sea Divers Den: Aqua Quest
Calypso Dive & Snorkel
Search for Tours:
Cairns liveaboard dive information
Click the links below to find out more.
Do you need help choosing a trip?
Can't decide? We have personally been on every Cairns reef and diving trip. We can help you choose the best tour, to suit your experience and budget.
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.