Great Barrier Reef Full Day Tour from Cairns
Description
Join Divers Den for an unforgettable day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, around 90 minutes from Cairns. Explore two exclusive reef sites on the Norman, Saxon, or Hastings reefs, where you’ll encounter vibrant corals, with frequent sightings of turtles, stingrays, and more. Whether you're snorkelling, trying an introductory dive, or enjoying certified dives, AquaQuest, our modern vessel, offers comfort and convenience with a spacious deck, easy water access, and state-of-the-art equipment. Relax on sun decks, enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, and freshen up with hot showers as you create unforgettable memories on the reef.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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, child rate is 4 - 14 years
- Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of customer on cruise ship
- Evidence of dive certification is required from all divers wishing to participate in a certified dive
- Please bring hat, towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses and credit or debit card
- It is required by Queensland law that you must wait at least 24 hours after diving before going to altitude or flying – there is no guarantee that following these recommendations will prevent decompression sickness. All participants will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to diving. Some medical conditions can pose a hazard during diving, and it is recommended that individuals with these conditions undergo evaluation by a physician, as they may be unable to dive.
- Tours are subject to the risks and perils of scuba diving in changeable conditions in an open water environment. The operator reserves the right, for customer safety and/ or the safety of our crew or other scuba divers, to prevent any customer’s participation in scuba diving if they are deemed physically or medically unfit to do so or in their sole discretion. The operator does not refund for failed dive medical questionnaires.
- No compensation is offered if you should be unable to complete all offered dives
- Please note that from 1st - 19th and 22nd - 28th of June 2026 our day trip vessels are undergoing refits. During these dates, only one day-trip vessel will be operating and it will also serve as the transfer vessel for our liveaboard guests. In the afternoon, the vessel will make a brief detour to transfer guests to our liveaboard before returning to Cairns.
Reviews(1,342)
We spent a wonderful day, thanks to Romain our diving guide !
We had a fantastic day on the Great Barrier Reef thanks to our brilliant instructor Romain. He’s a great teacher, patient and passionate about what he does. I highly recommend him!! Thanks also to Kim, with whom we had some wonderful dives too!
I did my open water course with Iván, and it was incredible, it exceeded all my expectations, highly recommended
Hi There, Congratulation on completing your Open Water Course! Learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef is an incredible experience, and we're so delighted to hear that it exceeded your expectations. Ivan will be so thrilled to receive your kind words! Thank you for choosing Divers Den and for your recommendation!
Great experience. Awesome crew, very accommodating, felt safe at all times. Gear was excellent, well maintained. Food was good. Enjoyed thoroughly!
Hi Lorina, Thank you for your kind words! We’re so pleased to hear you had such a fantastic day out on the reef with us, felt safe and that the crew left such a lasting impression. Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team
Team was wonderful. Although I think most of the ~20 visitors on the boat got seasick on the ride there, the crew was very prepared. They provided breakfast and lunch and had medicine for sea sickness. There was sunscreen provided everywhere on the boat. Hot showers were very nice after we finished diving around 1:30pm. When it came to diving instruction, the team was very knowledgeable and walked me, a first time diver, through step-by-step until I felt comfortable. Photos taken by an underwater photographer were available for purchase afterwards. The experience itself was unlike anything I’ve ever done before and so amazing. Definitely worth the money!
Hi there! Thanks so much for your detailed and positive feedback! It is fantastic to hear that you felt our crew were well prepared and looked after everyone on board, particularly in more challenging sea conditions. Guest comfort and safety are always our priority, and it is great to know the team supported you throughout the day. We are especially pleased you felt confident as a first time diver. Taking the time to guide guests step by step is a key part of what we do. It is also great to hear you enjoyed the facilities, catering and overall experience. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Worst company in Australia. Pay a little more amd do real diving.
Hi Rocko4, We are really sorry to hear that your experience did not match your expectation. We are sorry to see your review. If you haven't already and wish to discuss this is in more detail and are able to provide more clarity on your experience, please reach out to us via email. info@diversden.com.au
Divers den has to be worst. 2 boats with total of 100 divers all going down one rope to one piece of corral. Was obvious almost all staff were in training and knew very little about diving. Pay the extra money and go with professional company
Hi Rocko4, We are really sorry to hear that your experience did not match your expectation. We are sorry to see your review. If you haven't already and wish to discuss this is in more detail and are able to provide more clarity on your experience, please reach out to us via email. info@diversden.com.au
I have been on several snorkeling tours in the area with different operators, and this was unfortunately the worst experience. While we did see a sea turtle, the operation itself was disappointing and, in some cases, concerning. The boat wasn't too crowded which was nice. The GetYourGuide listing advertised 5 hours of in-water time, but we were only given 3. This felt like a "bait and switch" regarding the value of the tour. We were taken to a reef (Norman) with a heavy Blue Bottle jellyfish population (which I completely understand is just nature and out of their control) yet the stinger suits provided had holes in them. When I raised dismay of multiple stings to my face, staff were dismissive and invalidating. Providing damaged protective gear in known stinger conditions is a borderline lapse in Queensland duty of care laws. It is disheartening to see a reef operator provide non-reef-safe sunscreen. Furthermore, the guides shared incorrect identification features for wildlife and reinforced harmful shark stigmas rather than educating guests on marine conservation. The snorkeling area was tiny and heavily micromanaged, and the "bbq lunch" was served cold. For those looking for a professional, locally-owned experience that actually respects the reef, I highly recommend Passions of Paradise or Pure Snorkeling. Both have much friendlier, more knowledgeable staff and gear that is actually in good repair.
Hi Laurenb, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. It is regrettable that aspects of your day did not meet expectations. Our listing outlines up to 5 hours of in water time, with actual time varying based on conditions, site selection and operational requirements on the day. We aim to maximise time in the water wherever it is safe and practical to do so. Your comments regarding stinger suits, crew interaction, equipment condition and onboard experience are taken seriously. We operate under strict safety and environmental guidelines, and equipment is regularly checked and maintained, so this feedback is important for us to review internally. We would appreciate the opportunity to look into your experience further. Please contact our team directly at info@diversden.com.au so we can investigate in detail. Thank you again for your feedback.
Professional from top to bottom and start to finish. Every detail taken care of. Staff was both cordial and focused on safety the whole time. The underwater photographer was amazing! He deserves five stars on his own. Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting an authentic snorkel trip to the reef.
Hi MissyB, Thanks so much for your fantastic feedback! It is great to hear you found the experience professional from start to finish and that our team maintained a strong focus on safety while delivering a welcoming atmosphere on board. We are also pleased you enjoyed the work of our underwater photographer, I will be sure to pass on your kind words! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another reef experience soon!
No pre-preperations , Sea conditions was a bad factor they damaged the experience We need to be told of a possible rough ride and a opportunity to reschedule Staff were very friendly Worse the money? Leave that up to each person to judge
Hi Rateb_C, Thank you for your feedback. It is regrettable that the conditions and training environment did not meet your expectations. Our briefings are conducted on board as part of our standard procedures, and while conditions and vessel movement can add to the environment, our crew aim to deliver clear, efficient instruction while maintaining safety at all times. Sea conditions can vary, and trips proceed when they are considered safe to operate. We do recommend checking the weather prior to travel as conditions are uncontrollable, and guests are welcome to contact our team prior to travel to discuss suitability. We are pleased to hear you found the staff friendly, and we appreciate your feedback as it helps us continue to refine the experience we provide.
