Cairns's best Inclusive Great Barrier Reef Tours Visits two spectacular outer Barrier Reef locations and includes FREE scuba diving for certified divers and beginners, snorkelling, breakfast and BBQ Lunch.
Are you looking for the ultimate Great Barrier Reef tour? Step aboard Reef Experience is Cairns’s’ best all-inclusive Reef adventure, departing daily from Finger A, Cairns Marlin Marina.
Why Choose Reef Experience?
Discover why Reef Experience is renowned as Cairns’s best reef tour. It’s not just a day trip—it’s an all-inclusive adventure! With a FREE introductory scuba dive included for all guests, even beginners can dive into the vibrant world beneath the surface of the Great Barrier Reef.
Whether you’re a seasoned snorkeler or a first-time swimmer, our friendly crew will ensure you make the most of your visit to this World Heritage-listed wonder.
Your Adventure Starts Here
Your day begins with a convenient pickup from your Cairns accommodation. Onboard, we’ll treat you to our famous BBQ bacon, egg burgers, and fresh tropical fruits to fuel your adventure. As we cruise to two stunning Outer Reef locations, our onboard Marine Biologist will provide an engaging presentation, giving insight into the fascinating marine life that awaits you.
Explore the Reef—No Experience Necessary!
At the reef, dive into the crystal-clear waters for an up-close look at the vibrant coral gardens and marine creatures. Even if you are not confident in the water, our experienced team will guide you, ensuring everyone can enjoy this unforgettable Great Barrier Reef tour. Don’t worry if you have never snorkelled or dived before. We will be with you every step of the way!
Highlights of Your Day:
FREE Introductory Scuba Dive for every guest
Snorkeling at two pristine locations on the Outer Reef
Guided snorkel tours to discover the best coral and marine life
Educational talks by our onboard Marine Biologist
Delicious BBQ lunch served onboard
The Best Reef tour in Cairns
We aim to make this day the highlight of your time in Cairns. With Reef Experience, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef like never before. Whether you’re snorkelling, scuba diving, or simply soaking up the sun on the boat, it’s a day you’ll cherish forever.
Want to Stay Longer?
If one day isn’t enough, extend your adventure with a stay at our floating hotel, Reef Encounter. Spend the night under the stars and wake up to the magic of the reef all around you!
Book Your Great Barrier Reeftourr Today!
Ready to experience the best Reef tour in Cairns? Book your adventure on the Reef Experience and discover the world’s most extensive coral reef system like never before.
For more information or to secure your booking, contact us today! We can’t wait to welcome you aboard for an unforgettable Great Barrier Reef adventure.
Reef Experience Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What does the Reef Experience tour include?
Reef Experience offers an all-inclusive day on the Great Barrier Reef! The tour includes two reef locations, snorkelling, an introductory dive, equipment rental, breakfast, a BBQ lunch, afternoon snacks, and a marine biologist presentation. You’ll also have access to guided snorkel tours, and for those seeking extra comfort, the Top Deck Club VIP upgrade is available for a more personalized experience.
Do I need to know how to swim to join the tour?
Not at all! The friendly crew is experienced in helping non-swimmers enjoy the reef safely. Snorkelers are provided with flotation devices, and instructors can guide you in the water. The Top Deck Club upgrade also includes a personal reef guide who can assist you with snorkeling and make your experience even more comfortable.
Can beginners scuba dive with Reef Experience?
Yes! Reef Experience includes an introductory dive for beginners, so even if you’re new to scuba, you’ll have the chance to explore the reef up close. Certified dive instructors will guide you through the dive and provide safety briefings so you can dive confidently and enjoy the colourful marine life.
Is the Top Deck Club upgrade worth it?
The Top Deck Club upgrade is a fantastic option if you’re looking for an extra special experience. With this VIP package, you’ll have a personal guide, a reserved lounge area, and access to exclusive services. It’s great for couples, small groups, or anyone wanting a more personalized day on the reef.
How eco-friendly is Reef Experience?
Reef Experience is committed to sustainable tourism and reef conservation. The crew is passionate about protecting the Great Barrier Reef and follows eco-friendly practices onboard. Plus, with the marine biologist presentations, you’ll learn all about reef preservation and how you can help protect this natural wonder.
What should I bring with me?
Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen (reef-safe if possible!), a hat, and a camera to capture those underwater moments. Reef Experience provides everything you’ll need, including meals, equipment, and refreshments. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the day!
How long is the tour, and what time does it start?
The Reef Experience tour is a full-day adventure! Check-in typically begins around 7:30 am at the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, with departure at 8:00 am. You’ll return to Cairns around 4:30 pm, giving you plenty of time to explore two reef locations and enjoy your day.
Is Reef Experience suitable for families?
Yes, Reef Experience is family-friendly and suitable for guests of all ages. With snorkelling, introductory diving, and safe swimming areas, the tour is designed for kids and adults. Families can also enjoy the Top Deck Club upgrade, which provides a personal guide and added convenience for a stress-free day on the water.
Are there options for experienced divers?
Absolutely! Certified divers can explore the reef independently or with guidance from the crew. Reef Experience provides quality dive equipment so you can dive confidently and discover the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef at your own pace.
If you have any other questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to make your Great Barrier Reef adventure a memorable one.
Up to 6 hours at two pristine Outer Great Barrier Reef Tour locations
2 spectacular outer Barrier reef locations
the best crew on the reef
Cairns Deluxe Itinerary for Great Barrier Reef tour Snorkeling and Diving
07:30 – First Board Reef Experience boat at the Cairns Marina ‘A-Finger’ for check-in
08:00 – Approximate departure and Safety Talk with snorkel briefing
08:30 – Marine Biology presentation, followed by a detailed scuba dive briefing.
09:30 – Arrive at our first spectacular reef site, snorkel and dive with thousands of vivid tropical fish, giant clams, plus more.
12:30 – Then enjoy a delicious Lunch
13:00 – Cruise to our second location to explore forests of coral, large sea fans and black coral trees in its shallow lagoons
15:00 – Depart the Great Barrier Reef.
15:30 – Glass of wine, tropical fruits, cheese and biscuits.
16:30 – Arrive back in Cairns.
Reef Experience has more inclusions and the best price.
Marine Biologist Presentation
Free certification or introductory dives are available.
Cairns hotel transportation
a bbq breakfast
an excellent lunch (Please advise any dietary requirements when you book)
a glass of wine and a small snack to enjoy on the way back home
All fees and taxes related to the Great Barrier Reef
Snorkelling gear and instruction are included in your day.
Flotation aids, including life rings and life jackets, as well as swimming noodles
Water, tea and coffee all day long (while the boat is stationary)
Underwater Digital Camera Hire
Snack Bar Purchases: Soft drinks, chocolate, chips, alcohol etc.
Marine Biologist Guided Snorkel Tour of the reef: Snorkel with an experienced Marine Biologist and learn about the marine life you see on an educational and interactive tour.
Great Barrier Reef souvenirs – T-shirts, hats etc.
Dive Guides for already qualified ‘Certified’ scuba divers (dive guides included for beginner divers)
Prescription Mask Hire our clients who wear contact lenses. Normally, you will be able to use them on the day.
Bus transfers from accommodation outside of the Cairns Business Area.
Second Scuba Dive at our beautiful afternoon Great Barrier reef location.
Cash and/or credit card for purchases
Swimming Clothes, Towel, Hat and Sunglasses,
Proof of qualification if you’re a Certified Diver
Cairns Great Barrier Reef Tour, Reef Experience departs from
Boarding commences at7:30 a.m. for check-in. The Reef Experience vessel arrived directly at Cairns Marina at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Where Can I Park?
Several parking stations throughout Cairns are within walking distance of the Marina. Click here to see where
Important Information for Scuba Diving
We are passionate about showing you Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, so please ensure you understand the scuba diving laws.
Queensland, Australia, has the strictest scuba diving rules globally and the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all regulations, including medical, as is the law.
We recommend that all of our passengers complete our dive medical questionnaire. Some medical conditions, age and medications may prevent you from scuba diving.
Our mission is always to provide our passengers with the best Great Barrier Reef experience.
Scuba Diving Medical Questionnaire
We are happy to help you with any questions you may have. Please contact our office on 07 4037 2700 or email us.
After scuba diving, you must not fly for at least 18 hours.
You should not fly for 24 hours after your last dive for multiple dives.
If you are Skydiving or Hot Air Ballooning, you must wait 24 hours after your dive.
We recommend waiting a minimum of 24 hours whenever possible.
A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required to re-schedule or alter all or part of a reservation.
Any changes to the booking (date, names, etc) incur a $20 administration fee.
We must notify the operator of any cancellations within the specified cancellation period. It is your responsibility to ensure you submit your cancellation request with adequate time, and during our standard business hours (9 am-5 pm), to allow us to contact the tour provider. All cancellation requests must be in writing and sent via email to [email protected]. Any emails received outside of these hours will be considered received the following day.
Cancellation fees are as follows:
20% cancellation fee 30 days or more prior to departure
50% cancellation fee if within 30 days prior to departure
100% cancellation fee within 14 days prior to departure
There will be no refund of any part of your tour costs should you fail to arrive at a scheduled tour departure time. Tour departures may not be delayed due to passenger circumstances - including events beyond your control, medical problems, airline delays, weather etc.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation insurance, evacuation and medical cover. Please read the wording of your insurance policy carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. No refund or compensation will be issued for unused equipment, prepaid/pre-booked courses and/or Scuba dives, or guides if you cannot complete the entire tour. Please see Scuba Diving – Important Information below.
Terms And Conditions
This website acts as a booking agent only for the tours advertised herein. Although we endeavour to provide accurate information, we are not liable for inaccurate information concerning services.
Check-in: If you are Making your own way (no return transfers booked), please check-in and board at 7.30 am. Reef Experience is located on A Finger, at Cairns Marlin Marina.
Terms and Conditions:
Children’s prices are from 4 to 11 years of age. If booking as a certified diver, adult rates apply.
If you have used a credit card to purchase your ticket for either Reef Experience or Reef Encounter directly from our websites, email or phone, please have this card present along with a matching valid photo ID of the cardholder at check-in. Boarding will be denied without them, or you may be asked to pay again.
Open-Dated Ticket: In certain cases, Open-Dated tickets may be issued. These tickets are valid indefinitely but are non-refundable. Any fare increase must be paid at the time of rebooking. Once a customer accepts an Open-Dated ticket, the cancellation policy applicable to the original booking date will remain in effect.
Schedules, vessels, dive locations, and itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances, with full consideration for your safety and enjoyment. We reserve the right to adjust tours, schedules, prices, and itineraries at any time without notice. We are not liable for any changes, cancellations, or delays, and we accept no responsibility for any loss, additional expenses, or out-of-pocket costs incurred as a result, whether caused directly or indirectly.
Neither this site nor any associated company or agent advertised through this site is responsible for your costs or losses resulting from alterations, cancellations, any loss, any damage, delays, deaths or personal injury.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance that covers personal injury and the events, including but not limited to your cancellation for any reason and the cancellation or alteration to the scheduled itinerary for reasons involving weather or passenger, crew or vessel safety. Please read your insurance policy's wording carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. Please be aware that all travel insurance companies do not cover scuba diving and other in-water activities. In a medical emergency, any evacuation, vessel relocation, medical expenses, or other expenses are the passenger's financial responsibility.
The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Encounter taking photographs or video recordings during the course of this activity/tour. The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Encounter receiving and using images of the passenger from third parties and using these images for marketing and promoting its services.
Please inform us of any special requirements 48 hours before your travel date, such as dietary requirements, allergies, mobility and disability issues. This can be done in the ‘Booking Message’ section of your online reservation or by contacting our friendly reservations team.
Scuba Diving – Important Information:
All Certified Divers must present a valid Certification Card. Failure to present a Certification Card may result in the customer being unable to participate in scuba diving. They can enjoy snorkelling activities instead. No refunds would be offered.
The minimum age for Introductory Diving is 12 years old. The minimum age for certified diving and Open Water Courses is 10 years old. All junior divers must either be accompanied by a certified parent or guardian or must dive with a dive professional at an additional charge. If the diver is under the age of 18 years, parental or guardian consent is required for that diver to undertake a dive. The parent or guardian should sign the medical declaration as witness.
Upon arriving at our vessel and before commencing any dive activities, all passengers must complete our liability forms. All information provided must be strictly accurate. If during the tour, it becomes apparent that a form has been incorrectly completed, either by omission or false statement, we reserve the right to prevent any customer from undertaking any scuba diving or snorkelling activities while on board our vessel. Any decision made in this regard will be at the absolute discretion of the Dive Crew aboard the vessel.
The dangers and risks associated with scuba diving in an open ocean environment under variable conditions apply to our tours. We reserve the right to prevent any customer from participating in scuba diving if we determine that they are physically or medically unsuitable to do so or if it is in the best interests of our crew or other scuba divers. Our crew are trained professionals, and it is up to their sole discretion who they take diving and/or snorkelling. No refunds would apply.
Please remember you must allow 24 hours from your last dive before flying.
Medical Conditions & Medications:
Queensland, Australia has some of the strictest scuba diving rules in the world but also the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules, including medical, as is the law.
All passengers participating in any Scuba activities must complete a Medical Questionnaire. If you’ve answered yes to any questions or take any prescribed medication, you will need further medical clearance. This must be arranged prior to your day of departure.
Medication: DO NOT presume that by taking medication is controlling your medical conditions, and you should be fine to scuba dive, as it is the medication that can be the problem when scuba diving. Particularly prescribed medication may require a medical clearance.
The medical certification should be provided in English, preferably by a medical practitioner with experience in diving medicine, within 90 days prior to the scuba dive. The certificate must state that the person is medically fit to dive.
No refunds are given for uncompleted dives due to medical conditions and/or prescribed medications or changes of mind.
Peak Season Surcharge - To be paid onboard on the day of travel:
➢ A Surcharge of $100 per person applies to 25 December 2025 & 2026 – Christmas Day
➢ A Surcharge of $50 per person applies to the following days:
• 18, 19, 20 & 21 April 2025 – Easter weekend
• 26 December 2025 – Boxing Day
• 3, 4, 5 & 6 April 2026 – Easter Weekend
• 26 December 2026 – Boxing Day
This was one of the best organised tours I have been to! Starting with hotel pick-ups, the hand out of diving equipement and the diving coordination! The crew was super friendly, informative and helpfull and their marine biologist snorkel tour was probably the best part of the day as it showed me parts of the reef I'd otherwise wouldn't have seen. Thank you guys!
Nikola
5This was one of the best organised tours I have been to! Starting with hotel pick-ups, the hand out of diving equipement and the diving coordination! The crew was super friendly, informative and helpfull and their marine biologist snorkel tour was probably the best part of the day as it showed me parts of the reef I'd otherwise wouldn't have seen. Thank you guys!