Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural Tour
Description
On this 8-hour tour from Cairns, cruise out to an activity platform on the outer Great Barrier Reef for a day of exploring this natural wonder in different ways. Reef Magic's location is selected for its water clarity, coral quality, and diversity of marine life, which you can see while snorkeling or taking a tour by glass-bottom boat or semi-submersible vessel. Learn about the wildlife from on-board marine biologists, and choose to participate in more activities, if you wish, like scuba diving or a helicopter ride (additional expense). All ages and swimming abilities are welcome. Buffet lunch is included as well as morning and afternoon tea.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please bring a swimsuit, hat, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and cash or credit card for any on-board purchases
- All diving is subject to the completion of an on-board medical questionnaire. Certain medical conditions (such as asthma, epilepsy, and high blood pressure) and medications may exclude individuals from diving. Minimum age to dive is 12 years with parent/guardian permission required for those under 18 years. Certified divers must produce their certification cards. After diving, intervals of 12-24 hours are recommended prior to flying in any type of aircraft dependent on depth of dives and total accrued dive time
- Helicopter flights: Route flown and type of aircraft used are subject to weather, air traffic control, aircraft availability and, ultimately, the pilot's discretion. Maximum of 1 infant allowed per flight. Maximum combined passenger weight limits apply
Reviews(855)
What an excellent day out with Reef Magic! The staff were attentive, friendly, and professional from start to finish, and the facilities were fantastic. The buffet lunch was fresh and plentiful, making the day even more enjoyable. I chose to do 2 scuba dives with Lou Lou. Although I'm certified, I don't have a lot of experience, and she made me feel completely comfortable and confident throughout the dive. The marine life was incredible, with the highlight being a black-tipped reef shark. An unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experience that I would highly recommend!
michellesB4837YL Magical Reef Magic Tripadvisor review: Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural Tour What an excellent day out with Reef Magic! The staff were attentive, friendly, and professional from start to finish, and the facilities were fantastic. The buffet lunch was fresh and plentiful, making the day even more enjoyable. I chose to do 2 scuba dives with Lou Lou. Although I'm certified, I don't have a lot of experience, and she made me feel completely comfortable and confident throughout the dive. The marine life was incredible, with the highlight being a black-tipped reef shark. An unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experience that I would highly recommend!
We had a pleasant day in paradise. Reef Magic Cruises did a top notch job in facilitating a fun filled day at the Great Barrier Reef. This cruise offered Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Underwater Observatory, glass bottom boating, and so forth. The facilities were clean and maintained well. The staff worked together in giving us a great atmosphere. They were friendly and helpful, knowledgeable, patient with beginners, and kept the focus on safety first.
Thank you for your fantastic review, Mike! We're delighted to hear you had a pleasant day in paradise with Reef Magic. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the variety of activities available on the reef and that our facilities, crew and overall atmosphere helped make the experience so memorable. Our team takes great pride in providing a safe, welcoming and enjoyable experience for guests of all ages and abilities, so we're especially pleased to hear that you found the crew friendly, knowledgeable, patient and focused on safety throughout the day. Thank you for choosing Reef Magic Cruises and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back to the Great Barrier Reef for another fun-filled adventure in the future! 🐠🌊💙☀️
Spent a day in April 2026 on the reef. Water was choppy on the way out, and some passengers got seasick. Out of the staff's control, but kudos to the staff who were wonderful, supportive and compassionate. Good quality snorkels, fins, and suits, flotation vests and pool noodles. Snorkeling on your own is limited to a area within the buoy line they set up, but it's a fairly large area and there are staff (including a lifeguard) keeping a watchful eye to ensure everyone was safe. Due to the winds, water at the reef was a bit choppy, but I still really enjoyed snorkeling there. Lots to do on the pontoon, including some add-ons for those interested. Lunch was delicious and plentiful. Note the pontoon is anchored and thus sways much less than the boat, but does sway a bit. Would recommend motion sickness meds on windy days for those prone to motion sickness. Overall a lovely day, and would recommend with the above precautions! Thanks again to the wonderful crew!
Thank you for your thoughtful review, Jeannette! We're delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable day on the Great Barrier Reef and that our crew helped make the experience a positive one, particularly during the choppier conditions on the journey out. While weather and sea conditions are beyond our control, our team is always committed to ensuring guests feel supported, comfortable and safe throughout the day. It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed the snorkelling, pontoon facilities, onboard safety measures, and the variety of equipment available. We're especially pleased that our lifeguards and crew helped create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy the reef at their own pace. Thank you also for sharing your helpful advice regarding motion sickness medication. Conditions can vary throughout the year, and being prepared can certainly help guests make the most of their day. We're thrilled you enjoyed the delicious lunch and the many activities available on the pontoon. Thank you for your recommendation and for recognising our wonderful crew. We hope to welcome you back to Reef Magic for another memorable Great Barrier Reef adventure in the future! 🐠🌊💙🐢
An action packed enjoyable day. The friendly crew work cohesively together to make sure you are well taken care of. Thank you for your hospitality and the wonderful opportunity we had exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
hank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable and action-packed day exploring the Great Barrier Reef with us. Our crew works hard to create a fun, safe and memorable experience for every guest, so it's fantastic to hear that their teamwork and hospitality made such a positive impression. Thank you for choosing Reef Magic and for allowing us to share this incredible natural wonder with you. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable reef adventure in the future! 🐠🌊💙☀️
I did a scuba dive with JT and the dive supervisor (who's name I forgot-sorry). They did an excellent job looking after me and keeping me safe.
Thank you for your great review, Janis! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your scuba dive and felt well looked after by JT and our dive team. Providing a safe, enjoyable and memorable diving experience is always our priority, so it's wonderful to know the team helped make your time on the reef such a positive one. We'll be sure to pass your kind feedback on to JT and the dive crew. Thank you for choosing Reef Magic, and we hope to welcome you back for another dive on the Great Barrier Reef soon! 🤿🐠💙🌊
Very good tour, lots to do and see, all equipment provided, good items for lunch, knowledgeable crew. Only issue was the extra fee for the snorkel tour of the reef wall, was a surprise. Did pay it and it was very good.
Thank you for your review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your day on the reef and appreciated the range of activities, quality equipment, buffet lunch and the knowledge of our crew. It's great to know you found plenty to see and do throughout the experience. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the guided snorkel tour. As this is an optional, small-group experience led by our marine experts, it is offered as an additional activity. We're pleased to hear that despite the surprise, you decided to join the tour and found it worthwhile. Thank you for choosing Reef Magic. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back to the Great Barrier Reef again soon! 🐠🌊💙🤿
Excellent organization, service and treatment of staff.
Wonderful day out on the reef, staff, food and boat excellent. Really lovely staff, so helpful and friendly, very enjoyable experience, highly recommend.
The staff were very helpful and knowledgeable. I appreciated having the cultural staff on board to teach about the aboriginal history. Snorkeling was well organized and equipment was in good repair. Would love to return again.
Friendly staff and a very well organised operation. The crew were knowledgeable and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The pontoon has good facilities and plenty of space to relax between activities. The weather was not the best on the day, but the team did a great job making the most of it and keeping everyone informed. Unfortunately the helicopter flight could not operate due to the weather, but the staff handled it very professionally, offering a prompt refund and keeping me updated so I did not miss out on other activities. Overall a great experience and a very well run reef trip. I would definitely recommend Reef Magic.
