Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran
Overview
Available languages
9 hours
Mobile ticket
Dive, snorkel and sail the Great Barrier Reef with an award-winning company with 30 years’ experience operating personalized day tours to the Great Barrier Reef. The 80-foot catamaran sails from Cairns to two unique locations where you can choose to dive or snorkel with colorful fish, turtles and an amazing array of coral. With a choice of 27 outer Great Barrier Reef destinations your friendly crew can select the location best suited to the weather offering you the best possible Great Barrier Reef experience on a luxury purpose built catamaran!
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Please bring swim wear, towels, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat!
Check in will commence at 7.00am at the Reef Fleet Terminal and closes at 7:45am for an 8am departure
Please note: prescription medication and certain medical conditions, both past and present, will preclude you from scuba diving in Queensland without a Queensland Dive Medical. These conditions include, but are not limited to, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart problems, lung problems, ear problems, high or low blood pressure, current cough, cold or flu, chronic sinus conditions, fainting or seizures, plus the use of prescription medication including those used for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Please contact us directly to discuss your suitability for diving.
The minimum age for scuba diving in Queensland is 12 years
Scuba Diving in Queensland; prescription medication and certain medical conditions, both past and present, will preclude you from scuba diving in Queensland without a Queensland Dive Medical. These conditions include, but are not limited to, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, heart problems, lung problems, ear problems, high or low blood pressure, current cough, cold or flu, chronic sinus conditions, fainting or seizures, plus the use of prescription medication including those used for the treatment of anxiety and depression.
Scuba divers must allow 18 hours between their last dive and a flight. You cannot participate in scuba diving if you plan to travel by air within 24 hours of your trip. This includes participating in sky diving activities.
What To Expect
Great Barrier Reef
Passions of Paradise have access to over 26 destinations on the outer Great Barrier Reef. Each day you will visit 2* of these locations chosen for their suitability to the weather conditions. Snorkel or dive with our experienced crew and view an underwater world teeming with marine life and spectacular coral reefs.
Options
One Certified Dive
One Certified Dive: Includes one certified dive Certification Required : Proof of scuba diving certification is required prior to undertaking the experience
One Introductory Dive
One Introductory Dive (12yrs+): One introductory dive - minimum age 12. MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS: Prescription medication & certain medical conditions will preclude you from scuba diving without a Queensland Dive Medical.
Cruise and Snorkel
Snorkel: Includes all snorkeling equipment and guided snorkel tour. No experience Required!
What‘s Included
Complimentary Snorkel tour, tuition, and marine naturalist presentation
Winter Wet Suits/Summer Sun Suits/Prescription Masks/Snorkeling Equipment Available
Visit two exclusive Outer Reef locations for snorkeling and exploration
Cruise aboard a stylish, modern high-speed catamaran
All marine park fees and levies
Indulge in a hot and cold chef-prepared buffet lunch onboard
Enjoy tea/coffee on arrival, plus light snacks served during the day
Soft drinks and alcohol available at the bar (cash and credit cards accepted)
Cairns City Transfers
Northern Beaches Transfers
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,633 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Perfect choice for a snorkelling tour!
ohhyunk2026,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I joined Passion of Paradise after trying snorkelling a few days earlier, and it turned out to be the perfect choice. The snorkelling site was beautiful. The coral looked colourful, and the whole experience was very enjoyable. The food was also great, with fruit, snacks, tea, coffee, and a warm lunch provided on board. I was especially impressed by the service and safety management. They provided a well-fitting wetsuit that made snorkelling much more comfortable, and even though I joined the tour by myself, the staff made sure I had a buddy and that everyone stayed within a safe area. The return journey also included interesting commentary about the reef and marine life. Most of all, every staff member was incredibly kind, from the staff at the Reef Terminal counter to everyone on board. A special thanks to Simon, who oversaw safety throughout the tour and helped me spot fish while sharing details that I would have completely missed on my own. I am also especially grateful to Phoebe. She led the tour with such positive and warm energy, kept checking on people who were feeling seasick, and when my phone broke and I was panicking, she even drew me a map to help me get back to my accommodation. Thanks to her, I was able to get back safely and make it to my flight. I truly recommend Passion of Paradise to anyone visiting Cairns. It was a wonderful experience, especially as a solo traveller. Thank you to the whole team!
Well organised trip out to the reef
Navigate52663294996,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fabulous day going out to the reef. It was windy and very choppy but the team did a great job, working together to ensure everyone was ok. We felt safe and very well looked after on board and in the water. Due to the weather we only visited one reef site but there was plenty of time to explore. Food and beverages on board were plentiful and delicious. There was plenty of space to find a comfy spot for sailing and to move around. All equipment was in good condition. I recommend taking sea sickness tablets which we did following reading other reviews, although we don’t usually suffer. We were fine, lots weren’t.
10/10 Day
677meerac,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Phoebe and David During my experience at Passions of Paradise I had a wonderful time even though the weather was not ideal. David was an amazing instructor and made me and my friend less anxious and showed us some cool exciting things in the great barrier reef. Phoebe had an excellent presentation, I was impressed and remained interested throughout it. Definitely would book with them again!
Great crew, felt well...
Karenna B,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great crew, felt well taken care of and safe throughout whole experience. Intro dive with Marco was great!
Great day out on the...
Shelly R,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great day out on the reef. 2 snorkel/dive stops. About 2 hrs each way to the reef. Plenty of food throughout the day and a delicious lunch. Staff were wonderful. However we felt the catamaran was overcrowded with 97 on board.
Don’t pass up on this vessel!
Alexa R,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wow - this was such an exceptional experience. The crew clearly knows what they’re doing, are so friends, knowledgeable, and we felt completely safe the entire time. They all love what they do. We had great conversations with Lilly and David - both extremely knowledgeable about the reef and so kind. The food was great. I also saw staff helping other passengers who were sea sick in addition to supporting those who were a bit nervous. Please give this locally owned and operated vessel your business! You will not regret it.
Safe, interesting and personalised attention to detail.
michelefO91BZ,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful crew. Great style with calm, clear communication and easy balanced time management. Everyone relaxed and happy in their work. I felt safe.
Great times on the reef.
808juniperd,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The crew on the boat were amazing. They were so kind and helpful to me with my water anxiety. I saw lots of great fish and the beautiful coral. The lunch was delicious. We meet some lovely people at our table. I do recommend taking the sea sickness medication before you leave the dock, even if you think you wont need it... you probably will.
Amazing boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef
James B,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wow, what an amazing trip this was, we had a great time visiting the Barrier Reef and the boat trip was lovely. Would recommend to anyone.
The Best Day on the Great Barrier Reef
CatArmy15,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The most amazing day on the Great Barrier Reef! Our day started with an easy check-in in the center of Cairns, then a quick walk to the ship to board. We were welcomed with coffee, tea, and fruit to enjoy for our two hour ride to the outer reef. The ride was smooth and calm, and I appreciated the slow pace of the boat. Once at the reef, David was wonderful in showing us around both dive sites and pointing out cool things. He also constantly checked on my air pressure and made both my certified dives the best I have done. The wildlife was unmatched, as we saw parrotfish, giant clams, and a shark, among countless clownfish and other beautiful animals. The other members of my family did the snorkel eco-tour with Le’a, and she was absolutely wonderful. They learned so much, and even though they were nervous about snorkeling, Le’a did a wonderful job of making them feel secure while also pointing out the abundance of wildlife spotted along the reef. They had a wonderful time. The lunch food was delicious, and tea and coffee was offered on the cruise back. The amount of safety protocols was amazing. Passengers were counted multiple times during the day, and both the overall safety briefing and scuba/snorkel briefings were great. Overall, Passions of Paradise was a wonderful full-day reef experience. I would not have chosen any other tour company, as they made my day so special, fun, and safe. It would be a blessing to come back to dive with Passions in the future. Definitely choose Passions of Paradise for a full-day snorkel or dive!!
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