Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns
Overview
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8 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Experience one of the wonders of the natural world up close and personal on this snorkeling and diving cruise on the Great Barrier Reef. This 35-metre luxury fast superyacht departs Cairns with 5 hours spent exploring 2 spectacular and exclusive outer Great Barrier Reef locations for an adventure-filled day.
Visit two different outer reef locations on the Great Barrier Reef for the chance to see tropical marine life. Delicious fresh BBQ lunch, tea, coffee, light snack and glass of wine on the return journey is included. Upgrade to include additional water adventures such as introductory or certified scuba dive or a scenic helicopter flight. Top quality equipment and instruction provided by friendly and professional instructors.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Check-in is from 7.15am at Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns. Please make your way to the Down Under Cruise and Dive counter to check-in. Boat departs 8.00am.
All divers are required to complete a Medical Questionnaire. In a commitment to the safety of our guests, divers over 65 years must have a medical clearance with a physician the confirms they are Fit To Dive. Please be aware that certain medical conditions (e.g. asthma, heart disease, diabetes) and ANY prescription medications will require a letter or email from a doctor clearing you to dive. This clearance must state your full name, the doctor's name and practice and the clearance to dive for the specific medications/condition. Please review the operators Medical Questionnaire and Terms & Conditions prior to travel.
Children aged and under 12 years (introductory) and 10 years (certified divers) are not permitted to participate in onboard diving activities as per Queensland Australian Law.
Children under the age of 18 must be in the immediate company of a parent or legal guardian.
For Certified Diving, evidence of dive certification is required from all divers wishing to participate in a certified dive.
Diving within 24 hours before your flight is not permitted.
Due to comfort, weight and balance of the aircraft, the weight limit for helicopters is 130kg. Please contact the supplier directly for further information.
Special dietary requirements must be confirmed at least 24 hours prior to travel directly with the tour operator. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options are available.
If you chose a package with a dive, this includes 1 pre-booked dive only (note: dives are not included with snorkel-only packages). Additional dives can be purchased onboard on the day or direct with the operator prior to travel.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Check-in at Reef Fleet Terminal between 7.15am - 7.45am. Once checked in, you can make your way down to the boat, Evolution. Be greeted by your friendly crew, who will provide you with masks and snorkel, and then enjoy arrival tea, coffee and muffins before departure.
Great Barrier Reef
Evolution departs Cairns at 8 am with a safety briefing on your way to your first reef location. After 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will arrive at the first reef location. This will either be Saxon Reef or Norman Reef based on weather conditions and water clarity, to ensure the best experience for all activities.
What‘s Included
Free lycra/stinger suit hire
5 hours reef time at 2 spectacular outer reef locations
All Fees and Taxes
1 pre-booked dive (if dive package is selected. Additional dives can be added once onboard)
Personal flotation aids - life jackets and noodles
10-minute Scenic Flight (if selected)
Glass of wine and a snack on return journey
Use of snorkelling and scuba equipment
BBQ lunch prepared onboard with fresh fish, prawns, steak, salads (Veg, GF, DF & Vegan options)
Private transportation
Options
One Introductory Dive
5 hrs on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, visiting 2 sites. Includes 1 introductory dive, buffet lunch, snorkel & dive gear.
Snorkeling Only
5 hrs on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, visiting 2 sites. Free time for snorkeling and swimming. Includes buffet lunch, snorkel gear.
One Certified Dive
5 hrs on the Outer Great Barrier Reef, visiting 2 sites. Includes 1 certified dive, buffet lunch, snorkel & dive gear.
Snorkeling and Heli Flight
5 hrs on the Outer Great Barrier Reef including a 10-minute scenic helicopter flight and free time to snorkel
Cruise, Intro Dive and Heli
Cruise, Dive and Heli Flight: Outer Barrier Reef Cruise including 1 introductory, a 10-minute scenic helicopter flight, and buffet lunch.
Reviews
3,694 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
First trip to the reef 10/10
bobbV9205TU,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic trip!! These guys had food, drinks, seasick tablets, you name it. It was a great time. Everyone was super nice and helpful, definitely would highly recommend. First time in a heli, it was great!!!!
Experience of a lifetime!!
Kathy G,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour with a phenomenal crew! I would highly recommend this experience. The crew was plentiful and attentive. We had designated seating to store our bags and shoes plus a locker for our snorkel gear. The food was great too. Probably one of the best snorkeling experienced I’ve had. Thank you!!
Favorite boat experience
Michael N,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00An amazing experience, I’ve never been on a scuba trip this nice and organized. The number of staff, the cleanliness of the boat. Everyone was helpful and organized. Very safe experience. The food was delicious!
Disappointed
Manasa H,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00I was looking forward to diving at the Great barrier reef. And I really wanted to give a 5 star rating for this cruise. Coming to the pros, the staff is very welcoming. The cruise is great and has all the amenities. The food, snacks and coffee were good. I went snorkeling and the Great barrier reef was breathtaking. The corals were beautiful and some of the fishes I saw were mind blowing. I also took an introductory scuba dive package. I have dived at other places before. All the places had separate time reserved for underwater diving preparations- they took us to shallow water to teach basic techniques and then took us to scuba diving. All these places had 1 student per instructor or 2 students per instructor at most. Here, they spend 5 mins inside the ocean (at the scuba diving spot) to teach basic techniques. If you cannot get the techniques right they send you back and you most likely won't get to do scuba diving later. Also, there were 4 students per instructor. By the time they came to me to check my basic skills, I was struggling to breathe under water. The previous equipment I had used on other dives had different ways to flush out water from my mouth. I was still figuring out how to remove water from my mouth with their equipment. The first time I asked for help ( during prep in the sea), I was sent up. The next time I struggled, the instructor took 30 seconds to get to me because he had to attend to 3 more people. I felt like I was drowning before they sent me up. I requested for another dive because I knew that once I got used to the technique, I would be able to dive based on my previous experiences. But, you don't get another chance here! My recommendation, if you really want to do introductory scuba diving, search for a place which takes a small crew and has enough instructors to give you dedicated attention under sea. If you want to snorkel and are looking for a place to relax you can go ahead with Down Under Cruise and Dive.
Fantastic trip with a professional and caring crew
SarahIda N,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Everything was very well organized. Despite the rough weather on the way out, the staff took excellent care of us and brought us to calm, beautiful spots for snorkeling and diving. I would definitely book the same trip again if I return. The vessel (Evolution) was very nice, and there was plenty of staff to look after everyone. They were always alert, actively participating in the water, and easily accessible for reef guidance to help us experience the best spots. Special thanks to Lourie, the Finnish divemaster - a great guy among an outstanding team 👍
The staff was great to...
Kriti K,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The staff was great to work with! The day was such a fun experience for someone who had never been snorkeling before. You could snorkel as much as you wanted. Would highly recommend !
Faultless!
H7275TPpaulh,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My partner and I had a thoroughly enjoyable day with Down Under Dive on their superb vessel, Evolution. We snorkeled at two spectacular reefs, Norman and North Hastings and even though it was overcast and rained, the snorkelling experince was simply amazing. This was the best reef tour I have ever experienced (and I've been on many over the years). From the friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable crew to the seamless safety procedures and head counts, these guys really know their stuff. The food, drinks and service, the pristine facilities, the stinger suits and snorkelling gear, all faultless. Thanks for such a memorable day!
Great Barrier Reef Stunner!
Scenic33757351299,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our start was in gloomy weather but we sailed through the storm to a very nice 1st stop to go snorkeling. Everything was well organized. Safety was superb.
51st Anniversary!
Mark P,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very organized and staff upbeat and careful with instructions. Tasty food, awesome photos, and effective communication!
Great excursion!
Terry T,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great day on the Great Barrier Reef on a great ship with a very friendly and professional and knowledgeable crew. Getting to snorkel at two different locations on this trip was a bonus. Definitely recommend if you are interested in visiting the reef.
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