Cairns Outer Reef Cruises

Cairns’ Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruises are an excellent choice for singles, couples, families with older children and adventurous travellers.

The Great Barrier Reef system is comprised of more than 2,900 individual coral reefs. Each day more than 30 trips depart Cairns: you can choose between sail boats and fast, comfortable catamarans. Activities available include snorkelling, introductory diving (no experience necessary) and certified scuba diving.

VIEW SELECTED TOURS BELOW:

Lady enjoying the water-slide at Moore Reef.

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 At The Reef

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.
Evolution Dive Boat Cairns

Down Under Dive: Evolution

Well priced Great Barrier Reef day tour, including BBQ lunch. 5 hours on the reef at 2 reef sites. Introductory and certified diving are available at extra cost. Brand new boat.
Aqua Quest Dive Boat Cairns

Deep Sea Divers Den: Aqua Quest

Value for money Great Barrier Reef dive tour. Visits 2 reef sites. Perfect for snorkellers, certified divers and those wanting to try an introductory dive. Buffet lunch included.

Do you need help choosing?

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.

The boat size varies, pending the operator, so you can escape the crowds and tailor your day to suit your interests.

Although each of these Great Barrier Reef tours offer different destinations and experiences, there is one main choice to make when selecting an outer reef cruise. Do you want to take a cruise that visits a pontoon or not? What’s the difference? A pontoon trip allows you to leave the boat and enjoy shaded seating and meals on a permanently anchored pontoon. Non-swimmers will enjoy a pontoon trip, thanks to the range of above-water activities.

A boat trip takes you to and from and the reef, visiting between two and three different reef sites (pending the operator) with water entry directly from the boat itself. These trips are not recommended for non-swimmers.

Pontoon trips are generally more expensive, but have more inclusions: boat trips are cheaper and allow you to visit more reef sites. More on this as follows.

Cairns' Outer Great Barrier Reef Boat Trips

Cairns Outer Great Barrier Reef boat trips are generally cheaper than the outer reef pontoon trips. Travel time is generally between 90-minutes and 2-hours and you visit at least two different reef sites during the day. Each operator has different moorings; some of the reefs you may visit include Saxon, Hastings, Paradise, Milln, Moore, Flynn, Thetford, Sudbury, Channel and more. All are within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area.

Inclusions on these trips vary. Some boats have glass bottom boat tours, some offer guided snorkelling and some do not. All trips include lunch and complimentary tea and coffee on arrival. These trips are suitable for snorkelers and divers and allow you to explore the Great Barrier Reef in the open water. These trips are not suitable for non-swimmers.

Maximum water depth is generally around 30m and coral gardens come to within metres of the surface. You can expect to see colourful corals and many different types, shapes and sizes of Great Barrier Reef fish.

Cairns’ Outer Reef Pontoons

Cairns’ Outer Reef Pontoons provide the perfect day tour for families, non-swimmers, motion sickness sufferers, the elderly, mobility impaired visitors and people wanting a variety of reef activities in the one tour. Why?

All three of Cairns’ outer reef pontoons have child friendly swimming enclosures and provide child-sized wetsuits and snorkelling equipment. The boats and pontoons are pram friendly and some even have change tables.

Non-swimmers can partake in a range of Great Barrier Reef experiences thanks to glass bottom boat tours, underwater observatories, marine biologist presentations and semi-submersible vessels.

Pontoons are more ‘stable’ than boats. Their larger size and sheltered anchor positions make them more like being back on land, giving motion sickness sufferers a chance to get off the boats. Swimming, snorkelling and diving are all easily enjoyed from platforms, with access to calm waters. When not exploring the Great Barrier Reef, relax on sundecks with comfortable lounges.

The Outer Reef Pontoons offer a variety of activities. Guests can swim, snorkel, scuba dive, partake in glass bottom boat and semi-submersible tours, visit underwater observatories and marine touch tanks, relax on sun decks, get changed and have a freshwater shower before returning home.

Three Cairns Great Barrier Reef day tour operators have permanently moored outer reef pontoons, Reef Magic Cruises, Great Adventures and Sunlover Cruises.

Cairns Dive Adventures has been on every Cairns outer reef cruise and pontoon. We are happy to provide unbiased advice and trip reviews, to help you select the best day tour to suit your budget and experience. All of these trips are full day tours. Contact us for more info on +61 7 4041 1638 | reservations@cairnsdiveadventures.com

Lady enjoying the water-slide at Moore Reef.

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 At The Reef

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.
Evolution Dive Boat Cairns

Down Under Dive: Evolution

Well priced Great Barrier Reef day tour, including BBQ lunch. 5 hours on the reef at 2 reef sites. Introductory and certified diving are available at extra cost. Brand new boat.
Aqua Quest Dive Boat Cairns

Deep Sea Divers Den: Aqua Quest

Value for money Great Barrier Reef dive tour. Visits 2 reef sites. Perfect for snorkellers, certified divers and those wanting to try an introductory dive. Buffet lunch included.
Reef Magic Outer Reef Scuba Diving

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.
Great Adventures Outer Reef Pontoon Cairns Australia

Great Adventures: Green Island & Great Barrier Reef

This is the only Cairns day tour to combine time on Green Island with a visit to a Great Barrier Reef pontoon. Best of both worlds. Suitable for snorkellers and divers.
The Passions of Paradise boat Cairns Australia

Passions Of Paradise

Australian Tourism Award Winner. Daily dive/snorkel trips to Paradise Reef, Hastings reef, and more on 25m sailing catamaran. Free scuba demonstration & guided snorkel tour. Hot / cold buffet lunch.
Fully inclusive Great Barrier Reef day tours with Reef Experience

Reef Experience

Cairns' only fully inclusive day tour, including: city hotel transfers, trip to Great Barrier Reef, 6 hours on reef, 2 reef locations, meals, free scuba dive, marine biologist presentation & equipment.
Ocean Freedom the quickest Great Barrier Reef day tour dive in Cairns

Ocean Freedom Cruise

Locally owned & operated. 5 star service. Up to 6 hours snorkel / dive time at 2 Great Barrier Reef locations. Best reef tour lunch in town. Friendly crew, glass bottom boat tour & much more.
Great Adventures Day Boat

Great Adventures: Outer Reef Pontoon

Leaves later than most (10am) and provides up to 3 hours at their outer reef pontoon. Enjoy the sun deck, underwater observatory, semi-submersible and many optional extras.

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.

Ocean Spirit Cruises

Ocean Spirit Cruises provide a luxury sailing catamaran to Michaelmas Cay. This trip is suited to swimmers, snorkelers and families. Often Sea Turtles are seen from the beach. All meals included.
Poseidon Dive Boat with Divers

Poseidon Snorkel and Dive

Poseidon provides daily tours from Port Douglas to the Agincourt Ribbon Reefs, visiting three (3) separate reef sites. Suitable for scuba divers and snorkelers. Great passenger to crew ratio.
Quicksilver Cruises Boat from Port Douglas

Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruises

The Ultimate Great Barrier Reef Cruise - Quicksilver Cruises provides the only Port Douglas Great Barrier Reef pontoon tour, departing Marina Mirage daily. Can snorkel and dive, Semi-Submarines & Underwater Observatory.
Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel Reef Boat

Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel Cruises

Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel offers a great value for money option that spends 5 hours at a beautiful reef location. Free guided snorkel tour, glass bottom boat tour and marine presentation.

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Cairns Reef 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*

Cairns Underwater Camera Hire Service

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.