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
Reviews(1,351)
A Great Barrier Reef tour is a must for anyone visiting Cairns. We booked well in advance from Switzerland, and it was just as well, as the large catamaran taking us out to Green Island and the Outer Reef Pontoon was pretty full. The boat first went to Green Island, a roughly 45 minute ride, where we spent 90 minutes. The beaches are pristine and quite empty, and we enjoyed the walk along the beach around the island. The second leg to the outer reef pontoon takes about one hour, Once at the Pontoon, which is large, you are served a buffet lunch - it was fine. From the Pontoor, you can take a semi - submersible that takes you around to inspect the Reef and corals, as well as fish, for about 20-25 minutes. You can see, alas, how climate change and global warming have bleached part of the corals, but other large parts looked inact. On the pontoon , there is an underwater viewing deck, where you can watch fish . Snorkeling is probably the most popular activity. The equipment is included in the excursion price, and once out in the water, you can indeed admire a large variety of tropical fish, many of which are quite colourful. All in all , you spend some 3 hours at the Pontoon. The trip back to Cairns lasts 90 minutes. A Barrier Reef tour I can recommend.
A great experience extremely well organised and the staff are all amazing. Nothing was too much trouble to them and they made sure everyone had the best experience.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you had such a great experience with us. Our crew works hard to ensure every guest feels welcome, safe, and well looked after, so it's wonderful to know their efforts made a difference. We'll be sure to pass on your lovely feedback to the team. Thank you for choosing to explore the Great Barrier Reef with us—we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon!
Perfect trip to the GBR. Went to the quieter areas so less crowds to contend with. The Divers Den crew were great - good for divers but also did not neglect those of us snorkelling. Knowledgeable guides onboard and in the water with us! Heaps of fun, great lunch too!
Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had the perfect Great Barrier Reef experience. Visiting quieter reef sites is one of the things our guests love most, and we're delighted you enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. It's wonderful to know our Divers Den crew looked after both divers and snorkellers so well, and that our knowledgeable guides helped make your time in and on the water even more memorable. We're also glad you enjoyed the lunch! Thanks again for choosing to travel with us—we hope to welcome you back for another reef adventure soon
This was an incredible experience and I highly recommend it for anyone. They were so organized and on top of it, making everyone feel very safe regardless of experience in the water. We left at around 8:30 from the dock and got back around 4:15. You got two opportunities to snorkel / dive and they gave us plenty of time to explore. The boat is big which helps when the water is rougher.
Hi Chloe Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an incredible experience with us. It's great to know our crew made you feel safe and well looked after, and that you enjoyed plenty of time exploring the reef at both snorkel sites. We're also pleased the comfort of our spacious catamaran made the journey enjoyable, even in rougher conditions. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another Great Barrier Reef adventure soon! 🌊🐠
Our day was fabulous. Seas were choppy, but the water was so clear! The crew was great! Devon got us acclimated to the water and Peter took us on a second dive (we scheduled a second intro dive - SO WORTH IT!) Definitely a memory of a lifetime for each of us. Clown Fish, a six-foot white tipped shark, and several sea turtles made this well worth the commitment. Would definitely recommend this company if you are thinking about it.
Hi there, Thank you for your kind words! We’re so pleased to hear you had such a fabulous time out with us. It sounds like you had some incredible marine life encounters, and we really appreciate you taking the time to recommend us. Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team
Positives: very well organised, well maintained kit, focus on safety, friendly and helpful staff. Negatives: lunch had no alternative for veggies so carbs 3 ways and salad There are hidden costs: fuel $10; guide $20 per person per dive
Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to leave your review. We're delighted to hear that you found the trip well organised and that our friendly crew left such a lasting impression. We're sorry to hear that the lunch options didn't cater well to your dietary preferences, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and this will be shared with management. We're also sorry to hear that the additional fuel surcharge and guided dive fees came as a surprise. This information is listed on our TripAdvisor page, so we'd love the opportunity to understand where you made your booking and how this information may have been missed. If you could please send your booking details to us at info@diversden.com.au, we'll be happy to look into this further. Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team
Great experience with a great crew! We did the snorkeling and loved it! Two great spots, a good lunch, and great photographs from the crew (for purchase but so worth it) It was my favorite day of our trip!
Hi Rayna, Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that our crew made such a positive impression on you and hope your souvenirs serve as a wonderful reminder of your day with us exploring the reef. Wishing you safe travels ahead! Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team
I’m a big time scuba diver, I’ve been to 20+ countries and this is the best excursion I’ve ever done, I spent a total of 9 days with divers den and it was the best vacation of diving I’ve ever done. The food was absolutely delicious and the staff was so much fun to hang out with. Most importantly they took the safety of the divers extremely seriously. I miss being there already
Hi Luke, Wow! We feel incredibly lucky to hear that we have been such a highlight for you throughout your extensive diving journey. It's fantastic to know that we were able to keep you well-fuelled after your dives. We’d love the opportunity to welcome you back onboard in the future and really appreciate you choosing to travel with us! Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team
Absolutely the best snorkeling/diving day trip you can do from Cairns. Goes to a couple spots, lunch, gear and guide included with no previous experience necessary. Everyone is so professional and friendly, highly recommend this to anyone coming to cairns.
Hi Troy, Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear that our crew made such a positive impression on you and really appreciate your recommendation. Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team
We spent a wonderful day, thanks to Romain our diving guide !
Hi there, Thank you for your 5-star review! It’s fantastic to hear that Romain made such a positive impact on your day with us and that you enjoyed some wonderful dives! Many Thanks, Madeline and the Divers Den Team
