Reef Experience Great Barrier Reef Tours: Cairns Snorkelling & Diving Adventure
Reef Experience is Cairns’ premier all-inclusive reef snorkelling and diving tour featuring:
- Convenient daily departures ensure flexibility for your holiday
- Perfect for snorkellers, beginner divers, and certified divers alike
- Two stunning Outer Great Barrier Reef locations
- Best value for money which includes your first Scuba Dive (Beginner OR Certified)
- Warm breakfast, BBQ lunch, and wine & cheese on return
- Complimentary shuttle transfers for guests staying in Cairns city (hotels/motels/hostels)
- A modern catamaran with spacious sun deck, perfect for lounging and capturing scenery
Discover the Beauty of a World Heritage Reef
Embark on a journey to the stunning Great Barrier Reef, visiting sites on Norman, Saxon and Hastings Reefs where the underwater world of vibrant corals and marine life awaits.
- Boarding: 7:30 am
- Departure: 8:00 am from Cairns
- Return: 4:30 pm
- Pricing:
- Adults: $245
- Children (4â11 years): $165
- Family (2A 2C): $655
Whatâs Included in Your Reef Experience?
- Breakfast: Start your day with a hearty breakfast featuring egg and bacon rolls, tea, and coffee.
- Safety and Equipment Briefing: Receive expert guidance and demonstrations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
- Marine Biology Presentation: Learn about the reefâs ecosystem from our onboard marine biologist.
- Diving Options: Enjoy a certified dive or beginner diveâno prior experience needed!
- Snorkelling Gear: High-quality snorkelling equipment is provided for all guests.
- Delicious Lunch: Indulge in a variety of salads and tasty options to refuel during your adventure.
- Optional Second Dive: Enhance your experience with an optional second dive (additional cost).
- Friendly Crew: Our expert team ensures your day is fun, safe, and memorable.
Join us for a day of adventure and discovery on the Great Barrier Reef. Book your tour today and make memories to last a lifetime!
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What is included in the Reef Experience tour?
What time does the Reef Experience tour start and finish?
Can beginners participate in the diving activities?
Are there any health or safety restrictions?
What happens if I need to reschedule my tour?
Is snorkelling equipment provided?
Important Information
- Health & Safety: Certain medical conditions and flying within 24 hours of scuba diving may affect your diving eligibility. Please complete a medical questionnaire before booking.
- Flexible Changes: Date changes are allowed up to 48 hours before departure (subject to availability).
- Holiday Surcharge: Additional charges apply for Queensland public holidays and Christmas Day.
Why Choose Reef Experience?
Whether you’re a snorkelling enthusiast or trying diving for the first time, Reef Experience offers the ultimate Great Barrier Reef tour. Witness the vibrant coral reefs, swim with tropical fish, and create lifelong memories.
About your day at the Great Barrier Reef
- Up to 5 hours at two pristine Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour locations
- Unlimited Snorkeling at morning and afternoon locations. All equipment, including wetsuit hire.
- Scuba Diving (Certified Dive qualified OR Resort Dive no-experience necessary at the first reef location for everyone over age 12 and medically fit scuba) Reef Experience Medical Questionnaire
- Pick up and Return to Cairns City Accommodation
- Marine Biology Presentation
- Breakfast consisting of barbecue bacon and egg rolls and also coffee, tea and fruit platters
- Lunch delicious bbq with an assortment of fresh salads
- Cheese, fruit platter and complimentary wine on the return journey
- All dietary requirements catered for. (Vegetarian/gluten-free etc.: please advise upon booking).
- All food is locally sourced where possible and prepared fresh by the onboard Chef.
- FREE Crew assistance for non-confident snorkelers (flotation aids available). Friendly and professional crew are ready to jump with everyone who requires assistance to have fun and experience the reef’s magic!
- Large Sun Deck with padded loungers and air-conditioned indoor areas
- Reef tax, fuel levy and national park fees. Unlike other operators, mandatory levies for visiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are included in this trip cost, so there wonât be extra charges on the day.
- No hidden costs
- 07:30 â Board Reef Experience boat at the Cairns Marina ‘A-Finger’ for check-in
- 08:00 â Approximate departure and Safety Talk with snorkel briefing
- 08:30 â Marine Biology presentation,
- 09:00Â – Scuba diving briefing
- 09:30 â Arrive at our first spectacular reef site, snorkel and/or scuba diving.
- 12:30 â Lunch
- 13:00 â Cruise to our second location to explore forests of coral, large sea fans and black coral trees in its shallow lagoons
- 15:00 â Depart the Great Barrier Reef
- 15:30 â Glass of wine, tropical fruits, cheese and biscuits
- 16:30 â Arrive back in Cairns
Shuttle BusFor those staying in the Cairns Business District area, bus transfers to and from your accommodation to the boat are included on your day trip. |
BreakfastBBQ bacon and egg rolls are served. Your dietary requirements will be met; please advise upon booking. All food is locally sourced and prepared fresh by our onboard chef. |
Marine Biology Presentationis a great way to learn about the marine life on the Great Barrier Reef from our resident onboard expert as you journey to your first reef destination. |
Free scuba diveAll scuba dive equipment hire is included in your trip along with one free scuba dive (certified or resort dive)!* |
LunchBuffet style lunch is served with a wide variety of meal options with healthy salads on the side. Your dietary requirements will be met; please advise upon booking. All food is locally sourced and prepared fresh by our onboard chef. |
SnorkellingUnlimited morning and afternoon snorkelling at two reef locations. Non-swimmer snorkel tours are also included throughout the day for those who require assistance in the water. |
Wine, cheese and crackersEnjoy a light snack with wine on the journey back to Cairns. |
RefreshmentsTea and coffee are served throughout the day except when the boat is moving. |
SunscreenA reef-friendly sunscreen is provided onboard free of charge. |
Reef LevyWe include mandatory reef tax and fuel levies for visiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in the trip cost, so there wonât be extra hidden charges on the day. |
- Underwater Digital Camera Hire
- Snack Bar Purchases: Soft drinks, chocolate, chips, alcohol etc.
- Marine Biologist Guided Snorkel Tour of the reef: Snorkel with an experienced Marine Biologist and learn about the marine life you see on an educational and interactive tour
- Great Barrier Reef souvenirs â T-shirts, hats etc
- Dive Guides for already qualified ‘Certified’ scuba divers (dive guides included for beginner divers)
- Prescription Mask Hire if you require stronger lenses to see (contact lenses can be worn in most circumstances)
- Bus transfers from accommodation outside of the Cairns Business Area
- Second Scuba Dive at our beautiful afternoon reef location
- Cash and/or credit card for purchases
- Swimming Clothes
- Towel
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Camera
- Proof of qualification if you’re a Certified Diver
This is a barefoot tour. Once onboard, no one wears shoes.
Reef Experience departs from
Cairns Marina: ‘A-Finger’ View map
Boarding commences at 7:30 am for check-in directly on the vessel ‘Reef Experience.’
Arrive back at Cairns Marina at approximately 4:30 pm
Where Can I Park?
Several parking stations throughout Cairns are within walking distance of the Marina.Â
Click here to see where
Scuba diving Information
We have a passion for showing you Australiaâs Great Barrier Reef, so please make sure you understand the scuba diving laws.
Queensland, Australia, has some of the strictest scuba diving rules globally and the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all regulations, including medical as is the law.
To avoid disappointment on your day of travel, we strongly recommend that all of our passengers complete our dive medical questionnaire before booking as some medical conditions, age and/or medications may prevent you from scuba diving. It is always our mission to provide our passengers with the very best Great Barrier Reef experience.
Reef Experience Medical Questionnaire
We are happy to help you with any questions you may have.
Please get in touch with our office on 07 4037 2700 or email us.
Flying after Scuba Diving
It would be best if you did not fly or go to altitude for at least 18 hours after a scuba dive for a single no decompression scuba dive. For multiple dives, you should not fly for 24 hours after your last dive.
If Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning, you must wait 24 hours after your dive.
We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible.
Nikola
5This was one of the best organised tours I have been to! Starting with hotel pick-ups, the hand out of diving equipement and the diving coordination! The crew was super friendly, informative and helpfull and their marine biologist snorkel tour was probably the best part of the day as it showed me parts of the reef I'd otherwise wouldn't have seen. Thank you guys!
Laurie
5Fabulous day! Will be recommending to others! My first snorkel in the morning - WOW. The crew are excellent! They worked super hard to keep us safe and having fun.