Cairns Glass Bottom Boat Information

Glass bottom boat tours were invented on Cairns' Great Barrier Reef! First launched back in the early 1900s on Green Island, glass bottom boat tours revolutionised visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Prior to glass bottom boat tours, visitors would take a square glass box and float it on top of the water, looking down at the corals beneath.

With the advent of glass bottom boat tours, visitors could explore the Great Barrier Reef, gliding over the reef and looking down on the corals and marine life. Cairns glass bottom boat tours are available with most reef, pontoon and island experiences. It is always included in the ticket price and accompanied by an informative reef presentation.

Glass Bottom Boat Action

Cairns Glass Bottom Boat

Empty Glass Bottom Boat

Glass bottom boat tours are suitable for people of all ages and nationalities. Kids and non-swimmers will enjoy this unique, completely safe way of seeing the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkellers and divers will benefit from the educational talks, learning more about what they have or will see on their own, unguided reef exploration.

Cairns glass bottom boat tours generally last between 20 and 30 minutes and are available on trips to Green Island, Fitzroy Island, the Frankland Islands Group, all outer reef pontoons and most outer reef boat trips, including Passions of Paradise and Ocean Freedom, to name just a few.

The newest Cairns Glass Bottom Boat belongs to Reef Magic Cruises, who purchased a $150,000 Manta glass bottom boat in mid 2010. Seating up to 40 guests, the Manta glass bottom boat has 16 panoramic viewing windows and is permanently located at the Reef Magic Cruises Marine World pontoon. A 30 minute tour with a marine biologist is included in their day tour price.