SeaQuest Day Trips to Outer Barrier Reef
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
Experience an unforgettable snorkelling or diving adventure on a day trip from Cairns, with four magical hours aboard SeaQuest before meeting our liveaboard vessel OceanQuest for seamless transfers.
An introductory diver explores the reef under close supervision, no prior certification required.
A certified diver is trained and licensed to explore the underwater world independently and safely to set depths.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
No minimum age / Children 4-14 years
Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed by customer for any reason
Diving within 24 hours of flying is not recommended. All participants will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to diving. Some pre-existing medical conditions (eg asthma, heart conditions, etc) may prevent you from diving, please consult your doctor
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Guided snorkel tour
Free use of Wetsuits and Stinger suits
Hot fresh water showers
Visit two dive locations
Lunch
Coffee and/or Tea
Free use of Snorkel equipment. Masks, snorkel, fins and flotation devices
4 hours on the outer reef
Free prescription mask (deposit required)
Morning and afternoon tea
Snacks (choc, chips etc)
Alcoholic beverages
What To Expect
Discover the Great Barrier Reef on a full-day trip from Cairns. Begin with a 90-minute boat ride to the outer reef, where you’ll spend up to four hours exploring two exclusive sites selected from Norman, Saxon, and Hastings reefs. Enjoy vibrant corals, turtles, stingrays, giant Maori Wrasse, and colourful reef fish. Onboard, relax in air-conditioned lounges, use hot freshwater showers, and take advantage of provided snorkel gear, wetsuits/lycra suits, and prescription masks. A tropical buffet lunch with hot and cold options is included, along with morning and afternoon tea, tea, coffee, and chilled water. Guided snorkel tours are available. SeaQuest operates as a transfer vessel with pre-booked excursions only, and diving upgrades cannot be guaranteed. At 2:00 PM, the vessel docks alongside OceanQuest for liveaboard transfers before returning to Cairns. Introductory dives suit beginners under professional guidance, while certified dives allow qualified divers more independence and depth.
Options
2 Certified Dives (Accredited)
Certified scuba diving: A certified diver is trained and licensed to explore the underwater world independently and safely to set depths.
1 Introductory Dive (Beginner)
Introductory/first time divers: An Introductory diver explores the reef under close supervision, no prior certification required.
Snorkelling
The reef being just a few meters away from the waters surface, you will be able to explore all these wonders just by floating at the surface.
Reviews
141 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
LAURA IS THE BEST!!
409joeyl,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I booked the open water PADI course with an overnight on SeaQuest, and I cannot recommend it enough. For the course I was so lucky to have Laura as my instructor. I'm sure all the instructors are great but Laura is NEXT LEVEL. She is so experienced, calm and cool in the water and incredible at giving instructions and directions on how to do all the skills. She is also just an insanely rad person and you'll have so much fun with her in the pool and on the dives. You will never be nervous getting in the water for the first time with Laura as your instructor. Her enthusiasm and level of stoke for her students shines through from the beginning and you are so prepared for the final dive to become certified. I also cannot say better things about Laura or the overnight experience. The food was fantastic & delicious, the crew is awesome and the dive sites are beautiful. And the people onboard are so friendly.
Recommendation for PADI Open Water Course
Eloanda,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Five Day, Two Night PADI Open Water Course I completed my PADI Open Water Certificate with Divers Den in Cairns and had an absolutely amazing experience! Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. Each day, we were conveniently picked up on time from our hostel or hotel (no private accommodations). The first two days were spent in the pool learning all the theory and practicing essential diving skills. I was lucky to be in a small group, which meant everyone got plenty of attention and support. As a first-time diver, I always felt safe and confident throughout the training. A special highlight was my instructor, Laura. She’s an absolute sunshine — patient, calm, and incredibly supportive. She explained everything clearly, encouraged questions, and took her time to demonstrate and practice each skill until everyone felt comfortable. Even later in the open water dives, she always made sure we were all good and progressing well. I’m so grateful to have had her as my instructor! Thanks again Laura x The liveaboard experience was just as impressive. Three days and two nights on the Great Barrier Reef! The crew was super friendly, the food was delicious, and the twin cabins were clean and comfortable. Waking up surrounded by the ocean and diving right into the reef was unforgettable. Overall, this was an outstanding experience that I’ll never forget. I can 100% recommend Divers Den to anyone wanting to get certified or simply explore the Great Barrier Reef safely and with lots of fun!
Highly recommended!!!!
liliancG6340CF,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My partner and I just got our padi open water certificate with Divers Den, and the over all experience was amazing. All the staff were super nice. It is definitely a 5 stars experience. Our instructor, Laura from Denmark, was an insanely great teacher:) You can really feel her strong passion for diving and for the great barrier reef. She made the whole journey enjoyable. No matter your comfort level in water, she'll make you feel safe and encourage you:) I Can only give her the highest recommendation.
diving on the great barrier reef
I9163QWrubys,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00i did my open water course recently and it was amazing! My instructor Laura was so friendly and supportive. it was such an incredible experience.
Very good learning
arrauhaylera,
Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00With my brothers we did the Open Water Dive course at Divers Den and it was a super safe and fascinating experience. Our instructor Audrey facilitated and helped us in everything we needed and it was a pleasure. We couldn't have been with a better instructor or company.
Disappointing
TinGuitarJeffrey,
May 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Disappointing. Trip out to the Reef was awful. Conditions at the Reef were unsuitable for snorkeling due to the wind. (Ok for Divers ss they are below the surface). Stopped at 1 reef, not 2, due to the weather (not that it affected me as I didn't enter the water). Trip back to Cairns was awful. Should have been told about conditions beforehand, with option to cancel. Waste of money...
Will do it again with Divers Den!
687stepheniep,
Nov 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing crew! Nia and Lucas were so accommodating, making my scuba diving experience a memory of a lifetime I put Nia through the ringer and she still said I was her favorite, made me feel really good inside. Lucas got me going again after a little rough patch - thank you! My diving in Adelaide with the Leafy Sea Dragons was a success because you got me back on the proverbial seahorse. I'm ready to come back tomorrow! Or as soon as I can save up the money again ;) Micki had housekeeping running like a fine-tuned machine. Food was different every meal, keeping us looking forward to digging in. Thank you to the cooks! The live-aboard boat was spacious and beds were comfortable. My only complaint would be that the bathroom often smelled a bit like sewage was coming up from the floor drain. But you're on a dive boat, not a luxury yacht. It would have also been nice if we had a dive photographer on the boat who could have taken pictures while I was diving. I hate trying to take video and pictures when all I want to do is experience the moment. But this is a nice to have. Lesson learned for me though - don't try to put your fins on while sitting on a rope attached to a rocking boat. Just get in the water and ask for help to get them on. I twisted my knee half way through the trip and that put me into snorkel mode only. But honestly, the snorkeling was great! In some ways better than diving because the sun made all the corals, fish and sea anemones look so vibrant.
Great experience, so worth it
vickisW2113TI,
Jun 28, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fantastic tour. Deanna was an excellent instructor and guide. We had such a good time, loads of great dive sites and yummy meals to come back to. Great cabins and atmosphere.
Great reef viewing
Mark O,
Apr 28, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent staff. This tour takes you to two great locations to snorkel and see the reef. The lunch and morning and afternoon snacks were great also.
A great day trip to the reef
annettesH7217XK,
Jun 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brilliant diving with a terrific young crew who were very attentive to our needs. Gear was good quality. Lunch was tasty.
From A$255.00
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